Lakeview at Saranac – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 6, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, there could be some feathers rustling as I hear that some wildcats are planning to battle with some red hawks near Saranac. Fortunately, I learned that the only rustling will be players rushing about on a basketball court as Saranac’s Red Hawks will host the Lakeview Wildcats in a girls basketball game!!

The Bleacher Denizen got to Saranac in time to have a pasty from the Bridge Street Pasty Shop. They make excellent pasties and are a regular stop for the Bleacher Denizen when he visits Saranac. One of the few good things about today’s freezing temperatures is that I was also able to buy a couple frozen pasties to put them in my freezer. (Today, they won’t thaw on my ride back to Lansing!!)

Lakeview enters this game with a 2-4 record while Saranac is at 0-4.

Lakeview Coach Dan Willison provided me with this information about his Wildcat players.

Kam Salladay is a tough defender that usually guards the other team’s primary ball handler. Savanna Scarlett is the leading scorer and is excellent scoring and rebounding in the post. She has a dependable mid-range shot as well. Molly Willison runs the point and is a fine perimeter defender who also leads the Wildcats in assists. Madi Bristol is a good perimeter shooter. Katelyn Buchner is an improving versatile player who can defend at three different positions.

Kaileigh Ripley and Megan Cogswell provide solid defense and rebounding in the post. Baylor Syrjala is an excellent scorer, rebounder and shooter with three point range. Unfortunately, she is injured and not able to play.

Saranac Coach Chance Wells provided me with this information about his Red Hawk players. Maycee Reed is a versatile player who can shoot from the three point line or slash to the basket to score. She is a strong post defender as well. Raeann Johnson is a top notch perimeter defender who runs the point on offense and can score on slashes to the basket. Lydia Rasmus is a fine three point shooter who has a lot of athletic ability.

Leah Wernet plays tough post defense and rebounds well. She gives the Red Hawks a threat from the three point line. Winnie Harder is a fine perimeter defender who has three point range on her shot and can slash to the basket. Elli Latvala is an exchange student who is very athletic. She can finish plays in the post and is a threat from the three point line.

Gabby Vroman is a gritty guard who provides tough perimeter defense. Alexis Smus is a wing with a fine basketball IQ who makes excellent cuts and has a good three point shot. Irelynn Pachulski is an athletic guard who is a good perimeter defender. Giulia Loverro provides energy and enthusiasm to the Red Hawks. She and Yu En Hsiao are both exchange students. Yu En Hsiao is a strong player in the post. Mylee Reed is a good three point shooter with solid athletic ability.

Abby Ferguson is another good perimeter defender; unfortunately she has an ACL injury and will not play.

I was able to watch the whole JV game. Saranac got out to a 9-2 first quarter lead and led 19-10 at halftime. The Red Hawks pulled away in the second half and won the JV game by the final score of 43-23.

Olivia Orr led the Wildcat JVs with 11 points. Avah Newman and Ashlyn Stockwell each added 4 points. Julianna Pluskhat and Vera Ibanez each tallied 2 points.

Alivia Elliott led the Saranac JVs with 12 points. Mylee Reed joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Alli Grose and Yu En Hsiao each chipped in with 8 points. Kaytlyn Day and Caylee Griffin each scored 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat clear lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to hoop. His hopeful future as a brilliant basketball mind was tarnished when his “brilliant” scheme for defending by putting a huge fan near the basket to blow away opposing shots was rejected out of hand.

Lakeview wins the opening tap. Winnie Harder gets her hand on the ball and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow and its Legal Defense Committee look up from their negotiation preparation and award the ball to Saranac. Savannah Scarlett ties up the ball for Lakeview. The Possession Arrow and its Legal Defense Committee decide not to file for an injunction and award the ball to Lakeview. Winnie Harder knocks the ball away from Lakeview, but the Wildcats recover. Lakeview misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Lydia Rasmus hits a fast break layup to give Saranac the first two points of the game.

Leah Wernet knocks a Wildcat pass out of bounds; Lakeview retains possession. The Wildcats commit an offnesive foul. Savannah Scarlett steals the ball. Lakeview misses a fast break layup and fouls on the rebound. Molly Willison gets her hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds; Saranac retains possession. Saranac misses a layup. Katelyn Buchner hits a three point shot from the wing to give Lakeview the lead. Molly Willison steals the ball and hits a six foot banked fast break shot to give her Wildcats a 5-2 lead.

Katelyn Buchner plays aggressive defense and Saranac loses the ball out of bounds. Saranac misses a threeball from the corner. Raeann Johnson gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac is fouled, but misses two free throws. With 4:09 remaining in the first quarter, the Lakeview lead remains at 5-2.

Lydia Rasmus gets her hand on a Wildcat pass, but Lakeview is able to recover. The Wildcats miss a short jump shot. Kamryn Salladay gets the offensive rebound for Lakeview. Lakeview is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Katelyn Buchner plays tough defense and Saranac loses the ball out of bounds. Elli Latvala gets her hand on the ball and Lakeview loses it out of bounds.

Saranac misses a three point shot from the wing. Lakeview misses a three point shot from the side. Kamryn Salladay ties up the offensive rebound. The Possession Arrow and its Legal Committee vote to award the ball to Lakeview. Lydia Rasmus steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Katelyn Buchner steals the ball for Lakeview and passes to Savannah Scarlett, who hits a fast break layup to boost the Wildcat lead to 7-2.

Saranac misses a driving layup. Raeann Johnson steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a fast break layup. Maycee Reed knocks the ball away from Lakeview and Elli Latvala picks it up for Saranac. Maycee Reed drives and hits a layup for Saranac. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to trim the Lakeview lead to 7-5 with 1:58 remaining in the opening quarter.

Lakeview is called for a three seconds violation. Saranac misfires on a threeball from the corner. Kamryn Salladay hits a twelve foot jumper off the dribble from the side of the lane for Lakeview. Kamryn Salladay knocks the ball out of bounds; Saranac retains possession. Saranac misses a driving layup. Gabby Vroman gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks and is fouled. She hits one of her two free throws to shave the Wildcat lead to 9-6 with 44.7 seconds to play in the quarter.

Gabby Vroman and Leah Wernet aggressively double team a Lakeview ball handler and cause a double dribble violation. Kamryn Salladay gets her hand on the ball and forces a Saranac traveling violation. Lakeview misses a three point shot from the side. Saranac does not have time to shoot before the quarter ends.

After one quarter, Lakeview holds a 9-6 lead.

Saranac inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Savannah Scarlett blocks a Red Hawk layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Saranac gets another opportunity. Saranac misfires on a triple try from the side. Leah Wernet snares the offensiver rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac commits a traveling violation. Maycee Reed gets her hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds; Lakeview retains possession. A Lakeview dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Maycee Reed passes to Lydia Rasmus, who throws in a threeball for Saranac to tie the game at 9-9.

Winnie Harder gets her hand on the ball and Lakeview loses it out of bounds. Winnie Harder passes to Lydia Rasmus, who hits a long three point shot from the wing to give Saranac the lead. After Saranac gets the ball back (because your aging Bleacher Denizen was slow on his notes, I’m not sure if Lakeview turned the ball over or missed a shot) Winnie Harder throws another pass to Lydia Rasmus, who hits yet another three point shot from the wing as she is fouled.

She misses her free throw, but still, she has hit three long three point bombs in less than two minutes of the second quarter. With 6:14 remaining in the half, Saranac has a 15-9 lead.

Winnie Harder knocks a Wildcat pass out of bounds; Lakeview retains possession. Lakeview misfires on a triple try from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Saranac takes the ball. Maycee Reed drives and banks in a ten foot hook shot for Saranac. Molly Willison hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Lakeview to trim the Saranac lead to17-11.

Savannah Scarlett blocks a Saranac layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Lakeview gets it. The Wildcats miss a three point shot from the side. Katelyn Buchner gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview is whistled for traveling. Saranac misses a driving layup. Lydia Rasmus taps the ball and a Lakeview dribbler loses it out of bounds. Raeann Johnson hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the baseline for Saranac. Molly Willison drives, spins and hits a layup for Lakeview. Saranac commits an offensive foul. Molly Willison passes to Madison Bristol, who hits a threeball from the side to cut the Saranac lead to 19-16.

Saranac misses a driving layup. Maycee Reed plays tough defense and forces a Wildcat dribbler to travel. Saranac misses a six foot shot in the lane. Lakeview travels on a drive through the lane. Savannah Scarlett stands tall and tough in the lane; she forces a Saranac traveling violation. Winner Harder steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a three point shot from the wing.

Lakeview commits a double dribble violation. Saranac misfires on a threeball from the wing. Raeann Johnson knocks the ball away from the Wildcats and Winnie Harder picks it up for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a three point shot from the side. Katelyn Buchner passes to a teammate who is fouled as she shoots a layup. Lakeview misses two free throws. With 58.7 seconds to play in the half, the Saranac lead remains at 19-16.

Saranac is assessed with a traveling violation. Leah Wernet and Elli Latvala apply a tough double team to a Lakeview ball handler and she throws the ball out of bounds. Saranac misses a ten foot shot from the side. Lakeview misses a three pointer from the side just before the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

After one half, Saranac has a 19-16 lead.

Molly Willison has 6 points to lead the Lakeview scoring at halftime.

Lydia Rasmus has 11 points and Maycee Reed has 5 points for Saranac.

Lakeview inbounds the ball to open quarter number three. The Wildcats travel with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. Somehow, I just can’t believe that traveling without the ball would be newsworthy, but I digress.) Saranac misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Molly Willison passes to Savannah Scarlett, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to cut the Saranac lead to one point at 19-18 just twenty-seven seconds into the quarter.

Maycee Reed is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Saranac. A Lakeview pass receiver catches the ball with her foot on the line. Katelyn Buchner gets her hand on a Red Hawk pass; this leads to a tie up. The Possession Arrow and its Legal Committee are dining on caviar and miss the play. They decree that Saranac shall get the ball gack. Maycee Reed fires the ball to Leah Wernet, who hits a three point shot form the wing to give Saranac a 24-18 lead.

Maycee Reed’s aggressive defense forces Lakeview into a traveling violation. Katelyn Buchner knocks the ball away from Saranac and Savannah Scarlett grabs it for Lakeview. Lydia Rasmus knocks a Wildcat pass out of bounds; Lakeview retains possession. Raeann Johnson and Lydia Rasmus double team Lakeview and knock the ball out of bounds; the Wildcats retain possession.

Lakeview misses a driving layup. Savannah Scarlett ties up the offensive rebound. The Possession Arrow and the Legal Committee look up from their strategy discussion and award the ball to Lakeview. Lakeview is fouled on a ten foot shot in the lane, but misses two free throws. With 5:19 to play in quarter number three, the Saranac lead remains at 24-18.

Saranac misses a threeball from the side. Lydia Rasmus dives to tie up the offensive rebound for Saranac. The Possession Arrow and its legal committee are impressed and assign the basketball committee to give the ball to Saranac. Saranac throws the ball away and fouls trying to retrieve it. Lakeview misses a ten footer off the dribble from the side of the lane. Madison Bristol steals the ball for the Wildcats. Katelyn Buchner tosses in a three pointer from the wing to shave the Saranac lead to 24-21.

Molly Willison steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Wildcats to chop the Saranac lead to one point. Saranac misses a driving reverse layup. Madison Bristol passes to Savannah Scarlett, who hits a layup to give Lakeview a 25-24 lead.

Katelyn Buchner’s tough defense forces a Saranac traveling violation. Katelyn Buchner passes to Kamryn Salladay, who hits a ten foot shot in the lane for Lakeview. Molly Willison knocks the Red Hawk inbound pass out of bounds; Saranac get the ball back. Kamryn Salladay knocks the ball out of bounds; Saranac again retains possession. Savannah Scarlett steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Lakeview a 29-24 lead.

Kamryn Salladay knocks a Saranac pass out of bounds; the Red Hwks retain possession. LYdia Rasmuss passes to Elli Latvala, who hits a three point shot from the wing to stop an eleven point Lakeview scoring run. Lakeview misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Lydia Rasmus ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow and its legal committee pause from writing their lawsuit draft and award the ball to Lakeview. Raeann Johnson gets her hand on the ball, but Lakeview is able to recover.

Elli Latvala steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a fast break layup. Madison Bristol hits a three point shot from the side for Lakeview. Saranac misses a three point shot from the wing. Kamryn Salladay passes to Katelyn Buchner, who hits a three pointer from the wing to boost Lakeview to a 35-27 lead.

Saranac misses a layup. Raeann Johnson gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Red Hawks get another opportunity. Saranac misses a threeball from the wing. Raeann Johnson pulls down the offensive rebound for Saranac. Saranac is fouled, but misses two free throws. With 1:18 remaining in the third quarter, the Lakeview lead remains at 35-27.

Lakeview misses a three pointer from the side. Saranac misses a three pointer near the top of the key. Lakeview misses a three pointer from the wing and Raeann Johnson is fouled on the rebound. Raeann Johnson hits one of her two free throws to trim the Lakeview lead to 35-28 with 29.1 seconds to go in the quarter.

Alexis Smus gets her hand on the ball and causes a Lakeview turnover. Saranac misses a three point attempt from the side. Lakeview does not have time to shoot before the third quarter buzzer brings the period to its end.

With three quarters in the books, Lakeview is holding a 35-28 lead.

Saranac inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Molly Willison steals the ball and passes to Katelyn Buchner, who hits a fast break layup for Lakeview. Saranac misses a three point shot from the wing. Winnie Harder ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow is squabbling with its legal committee about court strategy and misses the play; the ball is awarded back to Lakeview.

Lakeview misses a layup. Savannah Scarlett grabs the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview misses a three pointer from the side. Katelyn Buchner gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview misses a jump shot. Leah Wernet passes to Raeann Johnson, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for Saranac to trim the Lakeview lead to 37-30.

Lakeview misses a layup. Kamryn Sallaway hits a putback for the Wildcats. Saranac misses a three point shot from the corner. Winnie Harder knocks the ball out of bounds; Lakeview retains possession. Raeann Johnson steals the ball for Saranac. The Red Hawks misfire on a threeball from the wing. Lakeview misses a twelve footer from the baseline. Kamryn Sallaway gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Leah Wernet blocks a Lakeview six footer from the side. Saranac throws a fast break outlet pass out of bounds. Molly Willison passes to Savannah Scarlett, who hits a layup to boost the Wildcat lead to 41-30.

Saranac misses a three point shot from the side. Elli Latvala steals the ball for Saranac. Katelyn Buchner steals the ball for Lakeview. Lakeview misses a layup. Saranac is called for traveling. Lakeview misses a fifteen footer from the side. Megan Cogswell ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow and the legal committee appreciate her hustle and award the ball to Lakeview. Katelyn Buchner passes to Molly Willison, who hits a six foot hook shot for Lakeview. Maycee Reed is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Saranac. With 4:08 left on the game clock, Lakeview has a 43-32 lead.

Gabby Vroman steals the ball for Saranac; one of Lakeview’s starters commits a foul trying to get the ball back. Saranac misses a ten foot shot. Raeann Johnson gets her hand on the ball, but Lakeview is able to recover. Lakeview misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Katelyn Buchner gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview misses a layup. Maycee Reed is fouled and hits two free throws to trim the Lakeview lead to 43-34 with 3:03 left in the contest.

Gabby Vroman steals the ball for Saranac. Kamryn Salladay steals the ball back for Lakeview. The Wildcats misfire on a triple try from the wing. Madison Bristol chases down the long offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Savannah Scarlett is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Lakeview lead to 44-34 with 2:27 left to play.

Raeann Johnson is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Saranac. Savannah Scarlett drives and hits a six foot banked shot for the Wildcats. Saranac misses a three point shot from the wing. Lakeview misses a driving layup. Saranac misses a three point shot from the corner. Lydia Rasmus causes a tieup; the Possession Arrow is done with meetings. It admires the hustle and awards the ball to Saranac. Saranac is fouled, but misses two free throws with 49.3 seconds remaining.

Leah Wernet steals the ball for Saranac. The Red Hawks miss a three point attempt from the wing. Winnie Harder grabs the offensive rebound for Saranac. Maycee Reed drives and makes in a shot for Saranac. Lakeview misses a three pointer from the side. Savannah Scarlett pulls down the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Lakeview dribbles out the clock.

Lakeview wins this game by the final score of 46-37.

Maycee Reed led the Saranac scoring with 13 points. Lydia Rasmus joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Raeann Johnson scored 6 points. Leah Wernet and Elli Latvala each contributed 3 points. Gabby Vroman tallied 1 point.

Savannah Scarlett led the Lakeview scoring with 13 points. Katelyn Buchner supported her teammate with 11 points and Molly Willison chipped in with 10 points. Katelyn Salladay and Madison Bristol each added 6 points.