Holt at DeWitt – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 24, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

In the second half of tonight’s boy/girl basketball doubleheader, the DeWitt Panther boys will host the Rams from Holt. DeWitt has a 1-5 record in the CAAC Blue and is 7-8 overall. Holt is 1-5 in the league and 6-8 overall.

Here is the play by play of the girls’ game.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/01/25/holt-at-dewitt-girls-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-january-24-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

While we are waiting for the second game to start, I hope you will enjoy this cover of the Mavericks’ “All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down” from my You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et0d9YvK0u4

Both coaches were able to provide me with background information about some of their players.

Holt Coach A.J. Moore gave me this information about his Ram players. Taylor Knighten provides fine defense all over the court for the Rams. Manollo Williams is a tough rebounder and defender in the post. Kae’vion Wilson is a strong perimeter defender who is a big threat to score on slashes to the basket, mid-range jumpers and three point shots. Michael Aimery, who is an outstanding scorer as well is injured and will not play tonight.

DeWitt Coach Bill Flannery provided me with this information about his Panther players. Elliott Larner runs the point for the Panthers. He is an excellent perimeter defender who also handles the ball and passes well. Landon Kurncz is a versatile scorer who can slash to the basket or hit the three point shot. Matt Huhn is a tough perimeter defender who has a nice three point shot. Ben Johnson and Brendan Mensing are strong defenders and rebounders in the post.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the aging eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in ancient times past. Your Bleacher Denizen was never able to figure out that you should really only shoot at your own basket. This caused an incident where the Bleacher Denizen loved the cheers from opposing fans who roared every time your Bleacher Denizen deposited a three point shot into their basket. After three or four of these baskets, the coach found a permanent spot for the Bleacher Denizen on the team’s bench. Alas!!

Holt briefly wins the opening tap, but loses the ball out of bounds. Elliott Larner passes to a Panther teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Kae’vion Wilson passes to Mikah Williams, who drives and hits a layup to give Holt the first two points of the game. Mikah Williams knocks the ball away from DeWitt and Taylor Knighten picks it up for Holt. Taylor Knighten hits a fast break layup to give Holt a 4-0 lead.

Matt Huhn drives and hits a layup to give DeWitt its first two points. Kae’vion Wilson throws in a threeball from the top of the key for Holt. DeWitt misses a fifteen foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Brandon Mercer drives and hits an eight foot shot from the side to boost Holt to a 9-2 lead.

Brandon Mercer, one of the quickest players I have seen this year, steals the ball for Holt. Elliott Larner steals the ball for DeWitt. The Panthers miss a layup. Elliott Larner pulls down the offensive rebound for DeWitt. DeWitt misses a driving layup. Holt misses a fast break layup. Laterion Perkins hits a putback for Holt. Elliott Larner passes to Ben Johnson, who hits a layup to trim the Holt lead to 11-4.

Holt misses a threeball from the side and fouls on the rebound. DeWitt misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. Holt misses a three pointer from the wing. DeWitt reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the wing. Hudson Nobach gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Mikah Williams steals the ball for Holt and hits a fast break layup. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 2:46 remaining in the opening quarter, Holt has a 13-4 lead.

Laterion Perkins grabs the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Laterion Perkins blocks a DeWitt shot. Elliott Larner steals the ball for the Panthers and passes to Landon Kurncz, who hits a threeball from the corner to cut the Holt lead to 13-7.

Holt misses a layup. DeWitt is fouled, but misses two free throws. Holt misfires on a triple try from the corner. Laterion Perkins gets his hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds. DeWitt gets the ball back. Elliott Larner drives and hits a layup for Dewitt. Holt misses a layup just before the first quarter buzzer announces its presence.

After one quarter, Holt has a 13-9 lead.

Holt inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Mikah Williams drives and hits a layup for the Rams. Matt Huhn drives and hits a layup for the Panthers. Holt misses a sixteen footer near the free throw line and fouls on the rebound. Matt Juhn passes to Ben Johnson, who hits a layup for DeWitt to cut the Holt lead to 15-13.

Ethan Melville passes to Mikah Williams, who hits a layup for Holt. Taylor Knighten blocks a DeWitt layup. Holt misses a driving layup. Laterion Perkins pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Elliott Larner drives and his layup is goaltended to give DeWitt two points to trim the Ram lead to 17-15.

(Here, I’d like to note that the Bleacher Denizen respected the game far too much to ever even think about violating the rules by goaltending. Those of you who point out that I am only 5’9″ and severely lacking in hops are just being cynical.)

Kae’vion Wilson hits a three point shot from the wing for Holt. Nolan Colligan drives and hits a layup for DeWitt. Brandon Mercer drives and hits a layup for Holt. Mikah Williams blocks a DeWitt layup. Ben Johnson blocks a Holt layup. DeWitt misfires on a three pointer from the side and fouls on the rebound. Holt misses a threeball from the wing. DeWitt misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Brendan Mensing pulls down the offensive rebound for DeWitt and passes to Matt Huhn, who hits a three pointer from the top of the key to cut the Holt lead to 22-20.

Matt Huhn deflects the ball away from Holt, but the Rams recover. Brendan Mensing steals the ball for DeWitt. The Panthers miss a fast break layup. Mikah Williams hits a fast break layup for Holt. Brandon Mercer knocks the ball away from DeWitt and Kae’vion Wilson picks it up for Holt. Brendan Mensing draws a charging foul from Holt to negate a Ram layup.

DeWitt misses a jump shot from the free throw line and fouls on the rebound. Holt misses a fifteen foot shot from the wing. Elliott Larner is fouled on a five foot scooped shot and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Ram lead to 24-21 with 1:33 remaining in the opening half.

Brendan Mensing draws another charging foul to negate another Holt layup. DeWitt misfires on a threeball from the corner. Holt misses a fast break layup. Dylan Sharp knocks the ball away from DeWitt and creates chaos. The ball finally goes out of bounds and Holt takes possession. The Rams miss a driving layup. Mikah Williams grabs the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Dewitt gets the ball. DeWitt misses a shot from half court as the buzzer ends the half.

Holt has a 24-21 lead at the end of the first half. If basketball conventions are upheld, I believe they will also lead 24-21 at the start of the third quarter!

It is now time for the third quarter to begin. Your Bleacher Denizen smugly grins as his prediction about the third quarter beginning score has come through!!

DeWitt inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Elliott Larner hits a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw to chop the Holt lead to one point. Taylor Knighten drives and hits a layup for Holt. Taylor Kinghton knocks the ball out of bounds; DeWitt retains possession. DeWitt misses a layup. Taylor Knighten hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane to give his Rams a 28-23 lead.

Mikah Williams knocks the ball out of bounds; DeWitt retains possession. The Panthers miss a layup. Elliott Larner grabs the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Mikah Williams steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Rams. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the wing. Brendan Mensing gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the corner. Holt fouls on the rebound.

DeWitt misses a layup. Brendan Mensing grabs another offensive rebound for the Panthers. Taylor Knighten steals the ball for Holt and passes to Laterion Perkins, who hits a fast break layup for the Rams. DeWitt commits an offensive foul. Holt misses a driving banked six footer from the side of the lane. Laterion Perkins gets his hand on the ball and DeWitt loses it out of bounds. Mikah Williams drives and is fouled on a layup. He hits one of his two free throws to give Holt a 33-23 lead with 3:33 remaining in quarter number three.

DeWitt misses a driving layup. Elliott Larner steals the ball for the Panthers. Taylor Knighten forces a DeWitt turnover. Manollo Williams hits a layup for Holt. Laterion Perkins blocks a Panther layup. Holt misses a three pointer from the corner. Braylon DeFoe gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a twelve footer from the side of the lane.

DeWitt misfires on a three pointer from the side. Taylor Knighten passes to Laterion Perkins, who hits a layup for Holt. Matt Huhn drives and hits a layup for DeWitt. He is fouled on the shot and hits his free throw to shave the Ram lead to 37-26 with 1:04 remaining in the quarter.

Braylon DeFoe is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Holt. Eric Stevenson passes to Ben Johnson, who hits a three pointer from the wing for DeWitt. Holt misses a three pointer from the side. DeWitt misses a half court heave as the quarter winds down.

After three quarters, Holt has a 38-29 lead.

Holt has the ball to start the fourth quarter. Braylon DeFoe drives and hits a layup for the Rams. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the wing. Kae’vion Wilson passes to Bryson Desmith, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give his Rams a 42-29 lead with 7:08 to go.

DeWitt msises a driving layup. Landon Kurncz gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Panthers get another opportunity. Bryson Desmith blocks a Dewitt layup. Holt is assessed with a traveling violation. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the corner. Kae-vion Wilson is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to boost the Holt lead to 44-29 with 5:37 left on the clock.

Matt Huhn throws in a threeball from the wing for DeWitt. Brandon Mercer drives and hits an acrobatic layup for Holt. Mikah Williams steals the ball for Holt and is fouled on a layup. He hits one of his two free throws. Ben Johnson drives the baseline and hits a layup for Holt. Brendan Mercer drives and hits an eight foot shot in the lane to give Holt a 49-34 lead.

DeWitt misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. Ian Sosebee steals the ball for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Panthers get another opportunity. DeWitt misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Holt misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Dewitt misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Brandon Mercer hits a fast break layup to give Holt a 51-34 lead.

DeWitt loses a pass out of bounds. Brendan Mensing steals the ball for DeWitt. The Panthers commit a traveling violation. Holt misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Brandon Mercer grabs the offensive rebound for the Rams. Taylor Knighten passers to Manollo Williams, who is fouled as he shoots a layup. Manollo Williams hits one of his two free throws and Holt has a 52-34 lead with 1:55 to go.

DeWitt misses a three point shot from the wing. Ian Sosebee grabs the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Dewitt misses a layup. Brendon Mercer drives and dishes the ball to Taylor Knighten, who banks in a threeball from the side for Holt. Lucas Brandell hits a three point shot from the corner. At this point, the Holt lead is at 55-37.

Ian Sosebee knocks the ball away from Holt and Lucas Brandell picks it up for DeWitt. Ian Sosebee is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws for DeWitt with 45.1 seconds to go. Josh Carpenter gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a layup. Holt runs out the clock.

Holt wins this CAAC-Blue Conference matchup 55-38.

Matt Huhn led the DeWitt scoring with 13 points. Ben Johnson contributed 9 points. Elliott Larner added 7 points. Landon Kurncz and Lucas Brandell each added 3 points. Nolan Colligan scored 2 points and Ian Sosebee tallied 1 point.

Mikah Williams led the victorious Holt team with 14 points. Brandon Mercer joined his teammate in double figures with 10 points. Taylor Knighten chipped in with 9 points. Kae’vion Wilson totaled 8 points. Laterion Perkins scored 6 points. Manollo Williams and Braylon DeFoe each tossed in 3 points. Bryson Desmith had 2 points.