Fulton at Fowler – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 12, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is headed to Fowler, where the Eagles will host the Fulton Pirates in a non-conference game. Both these teams are having good seasons. Fowler is in second place in the CMAC and has a 9-2 overall record. Fultonis in third place in the MSAC and enters the game with a 7-4 record.

I’ve been able to see both teams play earlier this year.

Fowler’s Jacob Halfmann is a classic point guard and excellent all-around senior athlete who is in his fourth year of starting for the Eagle varsity. He has all the shooting, driving, ball-handling and passing skills you would expect from a good point guard. On defense, he is a quick and determined perimeter defender who is also big enough to defend in the post when necessary. Alex Halfmann is another four-year starter who plays in the post where he is big, tough and athletic. He is a formidable defender, rebounder and scorer in the post who can also hit three point shots when the situation calls for it.

Asher Koenigsknecht is an energetic perimeter defender who creates a lot of turnovers for the Eagle opponents. He is extremely persistent and determined on the defensive end. On the offensive end, he is a good ballhandler and slasher who can also hit the three point shot. Aaron Simon is an excellent three point shooter who can slash to the basket as well.

Joe Epkey is a strong post defender and rebounder. Dylan Pline handles the ball well and can slash to the basket. Isaac Thelen is a sophomore who can defend any position well and is a tough rebounder. Jonah Thelen is a fine offensive player who can score from the three point line or on slashes to the basket. Augustine Spitzley is tall enough to defend in the middle and quick enough to run the floor well on offense or defense. His height and speed give a unique challenge to Eagle opponents.

Fulton has some fine players, too!

Ian Lamkin is a top quality three point shooter. When he gets hot, Fulton can score a lot of points in a hurry. Parker Billings is a tall, athletic player who rebounds and defends well in the post. On offense, he is difficult to stop down low and can also hit his share of mid-range jumpers. Bryson Sattler is great slashing to the basket. He is a fine ball handler and passer who practically gives Fulton a second point guard. He is a really tough perimeter defender as well.

Parker Duflo is a classic point guard who defends the perimeter aggressively, handles the ball well and runs the Pirate offense. Peyton Reynolds is a tough post defender and rebounder who takes more than his share of charging fouls from opponents. Parker Hungerford defends the perimeter well and his passing adds a dimension to the PIrate offense.

Tanner Villalobos, who starred as a running back on Fulton’s successful eight-man football team is a tough, energetic perimeter defender who gives Fulton another threat from the three point line. Coltin Kus is also a strong perimeter defender who is a threat from the three point line.

Fowler won the freshman game. I got to the JV game in time to see that contest. Fowler led all the way and won the JV game by the final score of 72-25.

There was one fantastic play during the game; I have never seen this before while blogging basketball. During the third quarter, while racing back on defense, Fulton’s Lincoln Warren stumbled and fell head over heels. Somehow, it turned out just like it is supposed to in a tumbling class. He did a PERFECT forward roll, came back up on his feet and continued running like nothing happened. Kudos to Lincoln Warren. (Your Bleacher Denizen would have ended up in the hospital for sure had he tried that!)

Jaxson Grubaugh led the Fulton JVs with 10 points. Zach Litwiller added 6 points. Cameron Diana had 5 points and Carter Brown scored 4 points.

Anthony Epkey led the Fowler JVs with 21 points. Jesse Andros joined his teammate in double figures with 15 points. Drew Weber scored 9 points. Garrett Klein totaled 8 points. Hudson Fedewa tossed in 6 points. Carter Thelen added 5 points. Carson Hyland and Calton Thelen each contributed 4 points.

The Fowler Pep Band did a fine job on the National Anthem before the varsity game.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat clear lenses of an occasionally observent Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in days past. He was showing some promise as a lob passer, but he never learned that the pass needs to be around the rim and not over the top of the backboard. For the safety of fans sitting behind the basket, his coach was forced to greatly reduce his playing time.

Fowler wins the opening tap. The Eagles miss a driving layup. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Alex Halfmann passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give the Eagles the first three points of the game. Parker Billings passes to Bryson Sattler, who hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 3-2.

Jacob Halfmann throws in a threeball from the corner for the Eagles. Bryson Sattler passes to Parker Duflo, who hits a three point shot from the corner to slash the Eagle lead to one point. Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key and fouls on the rebound. Fulton misses a six foot shot from the side of the lane. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup to give Fowler an 8-5 lead.

Parker Duflo drives and hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to one point. Fowler is whistled for a traveling violation. Parker Billings drives and hits a layup to give Fulton a one point lead. Fowler loses a pass out of bounds. Ian Lamkin passes to a Pirate teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 4:09 left in the opening quarter, Fulton’s lead remains at 9-8.

Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Jacob Halfmann hits a fast break layup for the Eagles to retake the lead. Fulton misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Fowler msises a three point shot from the wing. Isaac Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Isaac Thelen hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 13-9 lead.

Alex Halfmann draws a charging foul from the Pirates. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing. Jonah Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Jonah Thelen passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton takes possession. Parker Billings passes to Ian Lamkin, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key to shave the Fowler lead to 16-12.

Ian Lamkin knocks a Fowler pass out of bounds; the Eagles retain possession. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Bryson Sattler drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misses a rushed three pointer from the wing as time expires in the opening quarter.

After one quarter, Fowler holds a 16-14 lead.

Fulton has the ball to open the second quarter. The Pirates miss a three point shot from the side. Alex Halfmann drives from the side and hits a layup for Fowler. Fulton misses a driving twelve foot hook shot from the side of the lane. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Alex Halfmann hits a putback for the Eagles to boost their lead to 20-14.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the top of the key; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton retains possession. Aaron Simon gets his hand on a pass and Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Bryson Sattler drives the baseline and hits a layup for Fulton to shave the Fowler lead to 20-16.

Parker Duflo knocks the ball out of bounds; the Eagles retain possession. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Bryson Sattler drives from the side and hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. The Eagles get the offensive rebound, but miss a threeball from the corner. Alex Halfmann hits a putback to give Fowler a 22-18 lead.

Isaac Thelen dives and creates chaos for Fulton; the Pirates call time out to avoid a turnover. Isaac Thelen then closely guards Fulton’s ball handler for five seconds to force a Pirate turnover. Parker Billings blocks an Eagle layup. Fulton misses a fast break layup. Parker Duflo grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Parker Duflo hits a layup to cut Fowler’s lead to 22-20.

Asher Koenigsknecht throws in a threeball from the corner for the Eagles. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann blocks a Pirate layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Fulton retains possession. Augustine Spitzley steals the ball for the Eagles. Folwer misses a layup. Alex Halfmann hits a putback to boost the Eagle lead to 29-20.

Alex Halfmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Alex Halfmann blocks a Fulton layup. Fowler misses a driving reverse layup. Parker Billings hits a layup for Fulton. Aaron Simon passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the wing as the halftime buzzer decides to put things to a temporary stop.

At halftime Fowler has a 34-22 lead.

At halftime, Bryson Sattler leads the Fulton scoring with 8 points and Parker Duflo has 7 points.

Jacob Halfmann has 12 points for Fowler. Alex Halfmann has 10 points and Asher Koenigsknecht has 9 points.

The Fowler Pep Band played at halftime. They sounded great on Funky Town and a number of other pop classics!! Kudos. (As a professional musician, it is always nice to be able to give good high school musicians a shout out!!)

Fowler inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Eagles miss a threeball from the side. Aaron Simon snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Bryson Sattler steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fulton. Parker Billings purloins the ball for the Pirates. Fulton misses a fourteen foot shot in the lane. Jacob Halfmann passes to Joe Epkey, who hits a layup to give Fowler a 36-24 lead.

Alex Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Parker Billings drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Aaron Simon hits a three pointer from the wing for Fowler. Asher Koenigsknecht knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a three pointer from the wing. Aaron Simon passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to push Fowler to a 44-26 lead.

Aaron Simon steals the ball for Fowler and hits a fast break layup. Alex Halfmann blocks a Fulton layup. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Fulton misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. Aaron Simon passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner to boost the Fowler lead to 51-26.

Fulton misses a ten foot hook shot in the lane. Coltin Kus steals the ball from Fowler and draws a foul in the process. Dylan Pline steals the ball for Fowler. Coltin Kus steals it for Fulton. Parker Duflo is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Fulton. With 46.2 seconds left in the third quarter, Fowler holds a 51-28 lead.

Asher Koenigsknecht drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Fulton misses a three pointer from the top of the key as the third quarter comes to an end.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 55-28 lead.

Fulton inbounds the ball to begin the final quarter. The Pirates miss a three pointer from the wing. Peyton Reynolds knocks the ball away from Fowler and Connor Cunningham picks it up for Fulton. Fulton loses a pass out of bounds. Aaron Simon passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot form the wing to give Fowler a 58-28 lead.

Alex Halfmann knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Peyton Reynolds uses excellent footwork to free himself for a successful ten foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Parker Billings steals the ball for Fulton. Jonah Thelen blocks a Fulton fast break layup. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Ian Lamkin grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Connor Cunningham hits a layup for Fulton. Dylan Pline drives and hits a layup to giver Fowler a 60-32 lead.

Dylan Pline knocks the ball off a Fulton player and out of bounds; Fowler takes possession. Fowler misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. The rebound is tied up; the Possession Arrow considers things carefully and awards the ball to Fowler. The Eagles miss a ten footer from the side of the wing. Fulton misses a three pointer from the wing. Colin Kus grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton loses a pass out of bounds.

Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key. Aidan Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Aidan Riley is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to boost Fowler to a 62-32 lead with 1:34 to play.

Jonah Thelen steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Aidan Riley steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Brady Feldpausch gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler runs out the clock.

Fowler wins this game by the final score of 62-32.

Bryson Sattler led the Fulton scoring with 10 points. Parker Duflo supported him with 9 points. Parker Billings put in 6 points. Ian Lamkin added 3 points. Peyton Reynolds and Connor Cunningham each tallied 2 points.

Jacob Halfmann had 22 points to lead Fowler’s scoring. Asher Koenigsknecht contributed 16 points. Alex Halfmann scored 10 points. Aaron Simon added 5 points. Isaac Thelen totaled 3 points. Joe Epkey, Aidan Riley and Dylan Pline each had 2 points.