Williamston at St. Johns – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 30, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is headed to St. Johns to cover the Redwings’ girls’ basketball game against the Hornets of Williamston for a CAAC-Red Conference game! Williamston has a 5-1 record in the conference and is 9-4 overall. St. Johns is 4-2 in the conference and has an 11-3 overall record.

While we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “Down South in New Orleans” from my You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QUZ5FrpeFA

After a week of generally icy roads, it was nice to drive to St. Johns. The only problem was self-inflicted as I missed a lane change on Cedar Street. A policeman pulled me over, but was merciful and did not write a ticket!

Coach Pete Cool generously provided the following information about his Hornet players.

Anna Judit handles the ball and passes well enough to handle the point guard spot at times and has an accurate three point shot. Jaiden Griffeth brings extreme quickness and strong defense to the Hornets. Thea Fortin is a threat to score either on drives to the basket or on shots from the three point line.

Madyson Bush plays strong interior defense and runs the floor well on the fast break. Sophia Gaytan brings scrappiness to the Hornet defense. Ky Dillingham is strong in the post and can also step out to shoot the three point shot. Abby Brannan starts at the point position and shoots the three point shot well. Lyla Hersey is a solid perimeter defender and shooter. Bella Eaton plays tough in the post and brings a lot of energy to the Hornets. Maya McCullen is an aggressive defender.

St. Johns Coach Rondi Fillwock was also really helpful with information about her Redwing players.

Joce Kotowicz is an excellent all-around player who is a tough scorer who can slash to the basket and finish in traffic or hit shots from the free throw line. She is a tough perimeter defender and a good rebounder as well. Paityn Chant is a dynamic defender who can cover opponents on the perimeter or in the post. She is able to generate turnovers. On offense, she is a solid ball handler who can hit the three point shot.

Rachel Jackson is a strong rebounder who can hit shots from the three point line. Jaelah Medina is a strong perimeter on-ball defender. Rowan Matice is able to slash to the basket to score or hit shots from the three point line. Sam Prince is a tough perimeter defender and a threat from the three point line.

Abby DeRosia is an energetic perimeter defender. Abby Tisdale and C.J. Pendleton are strong defenders in the post and rebound well. Sam Hallead has a nice three point shot. Taylor Cook would have been a big contributor this year, but unfortunately is injured and cannot play this season.

I got to the St. Johns gym in time to see the entire JV game. Williamston got off to a 12-6 lead after one quarter and extended their lead to 28-10 at halftime. The Hornets controlled the rest of the game and won by the final score of 51-21.

Oakley Davis led the Redwing JVs with 7 points. Hallie Foland scored 5 points. Brooklyn Harrison tossed in 3 points. Macy Kowatch, Maya O’Rourke and Arayah Medina each tallied 2 points.

Ava Eddy has 12 points for Williamston to lead all scorers. Aspyn Lott contributed 9 points. Sidney Fortin chipped in with 8 points. Maya McCullen scored 6 points. Ava Mauk and Claire Judit each tossed in 5 points. Stella Oxley added 4 points. Amelia Neville had 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to hoop in those ancient times when some considered him to be “young.” Alas, his coach never appreciated the Bleacher Denizen’s creativity. The Bleacher Denizen thought his imagination was stifled only passing to players wearing the same uniform as him. His coach kept complaining about this novel concept called “turnovers” and persisted in yanking him out of games until his playing time was non-existent.

St. Johns wins the opening tap. The Redwings miss a threeball from the top of the key. Rachel Jackson pulls down the offensive rebound for St. Johns. The Redwings miss a six foot banked shot from the side. Williamston misses a layup. St. Johns misfires on a threeball from the wing. Anna Judit passes to Jaiden Griffeth, who hits a layup to give Williamston the first two points of the game.

St. Johns is whistled for a traveling violation. Paityn Chant steals the ball for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a three pointer from the side. Joce Kotowicz grabs the offensive rebound for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a ten foot banked shot from the side. Rachel Jackson hits a putback for St. Johns. She is fouled on the play and hits two free throws to give St. Johns a 3-2 lead with 4:50 left in the opening quarter.

Williamston misses a driving layup. Sophia Gaytan gets the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Williamston misfires on a threeball from the wing. Joce Kotowicz passes to Paityn Chant, who hits a layup for the Redwings. On the other end, Paityn Chant forces Williamston into a traveling violation. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Rachel Jackson gets a hand on the ball and Williamston loses it out of bounds. Joce Kotowicz hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Redwings to an 8-2 lead.

Williamston loses a pass out of bounds. Kylan Dillingham steals the ball for the Hornets. Rachel Jackson knocks the ball out of bounds; Williamston retains possession. Abby DeRosia gets her hand on the ball and Sam Prince picks it up for St. Johns. Jaiden Griffeth gets her hand on the ball and Kylan Dillingham picks it up for Williamston. Williamston passes the ball through the lane and out of bounds. St. Johns takes possession.

Anna Judit knocks a Redwing pass out of bounds. St. Johns retains possession. Sam Prince drives into the lane and hits a ten foot banked hook shot for St. Johns. Williamston misses a driving layup. St. Johns travels on the fast break and turns the ball over. Jaiden Griffeth drives and hits a layup for Williamston to trim the St. Johns lead to 10-4.

St. Johns is whistled for a traveling violation. Williamston misses a three point shot from the side as the first quarter buzzer announces that the period is over.

After one quarter, St. Johns has a 10-4 lead.

Williamston inbounds the ball to start the second quarter. Sam Prince knocks the ball away from Williamston and Jaelah Medina picks it up for St. Johns. The Redwings misfire on a triple try from the top of the key. Williamston misses a three point shot from the top of the key. St. Johns misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Williamston passes the ball out of bounds. Jaiden Griffeth draws a charging foul from the Redwings. Jaiden Griffeth catches a touchdown pass and hits a fast break layup to trim the Redwing lead to 10-6.

Rowan Matice passes to Rachel Jackson, who hits a layup for the Redwings. Rowan Matice steals the ball and passes to Joce Kotowicz, who hits a layup for St. Johns and is fouled. She misses her free throw. Abby Brannan passes to Anna Judit, who hits a layup for the Hornets. St. Johns misses a threeball from the side. Williamston reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Madyson Bush gets the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Anna Judit drives and hits a layup to cut the St. Johns lead to 14-10.

St. Johns misses a three point shot from the side. Williamston misses a three pointer from the top of the key. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Jaelah Medina knocks the ball out to stop a Williamston fast break. The Hornets retain possession. Abby Brannan passes to Jaiden Griffeth, who hits a fast break layup and is fouled on the play. She sinks her free throw to chop the St. Johns lead to 14-13 with 2:52 remaining in the half.

St. Johns misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Rachel Jackson gets the offensive rebound and hits a reverse layup for the Redwings. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw. Williamston misses a layup. Bella Eaton pulls down the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Williamston misses a jump shot. Joce Kotowicz banks in a three point shot from the top of the key to give the Redwings a 20-13.

Williamston misses a layup. Abby Brannan steals the ball for the Hornets. Anna Judit hits a fast break layup for the Hornets. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the sing. Kylan Dillingham’s tough defense causes a St. Johns traveling violation. Jaiden Griffeth tosses the ball to Abby Brannan, who throws in a threeball to cut the Redwing lead to 20-18.

St. Johns misses a three pointer from the top of the key. The halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

At halftime, St. Johns has a 20-18 lead.

Jaiden Griffeth has 9 points and Anna Judit has 6 points for the Hornets.

Rachel Jackson and Joce Kotowicz each have 8 points for the Redwings.

St. Johns inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Redwings are whistled for traveling. Rowan Matice steals the ball for the Redwings. Jaiden Griffeth knocks a Redwing pass out of bounds; St. Johns retains possession. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Jaiden Griffeth drives and hits a layup to tie the game at 20-20.

St. Johns misses a three point shot from the wing. Williamston misses a driving layup. Jaiden Griffeth hits a putback for the Hornets to give Willimaston a two point lead. St. Johns misses a threeball from the top of the key. Anna Judit passes to Jaiden Griffeth, who is fouled on a twelve foot shot from the baseline and hits two free throws to give Williamston a 24-20 lead with 5:34 remaining in quarter number three.

Jaelah Medina passes to Abby Tisdale, who hits a three point shot from the side to shave Williamston’s lead to one point. Joce Kotowicz blocks a Williamston driving layup. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the side. Joce Kotowicz knocks the rebound to a Redwing teammate. Maya McCullen harasses St. Johns into losing the ball out of bounds. Williamston misses a driving, scooping layup.

St. Johns loses a pass out of bounds. Paityn Chant’s fierce defense forces Williamston into a traveling violation. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Jaiden Griffeth is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two shots to give Williamston a 25-23 lead with 3:12 left in the quarter.

St. Johns misses a three pointer from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Williamston misses a three point shot from the side. Jaiden Griffeth steals the ball for Williamston. Kylan Dillingham passes to Abby Brannan, who spins and hits a layup to boost the Hornet lead to 27-23.

St. Johns misses a driving layup. Williamston fouls on the rebound. St. Johns misses a layup. Sam Prince ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow is just waking up and misses the play. It ignores Ms. Prince’s aggressive work and awards the ball to Williamston. Rachel Jackson knocks a pass out of bounds; Williamston retains possession. Paityn Chant steals the ball for the Redwings. Paityn Chant is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Williamston lead to 27-24 with 59.7 seconds to go in quarter number three.

Joce Kotowicz steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to cut the Williamston lead to one point. Williamston holds the ball for the final shot of the quarter. The Hornets miss a three point shot from the wing. The third quarter sounds as the ball is being rebounded.

With three quarters in the books, Williamston has a 27-26 lead.

St. Johns inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Jaiden Griffeth knocks the ball away from St. Johns and Thea Fortin picks it up for Williamston. Williamston turns the ball over. Thea Fortin knocks the ball out of bounds, but St. Johns gets the ball back. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the side. Williamston throws a pass out of bounds. St. Johns misses a driving six foot banked shot.

Williamston misses a driving layup. St. Johns misfires on a threeball from the wing. Paityn Chant races to the sideline, saves the ball and gets it to a teammate before her momentum takes her out of bounds. Rachel Jackson is fouled on a six foot banked shot and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 27-27 with 5:51 to play.

Paityn Chant knocks the ball out to prevent a Williamston layup; the Hornets get the ball back. Paityn Chant ties up the ball and foils a Hornet layup; the Possession Arrow has not had its coffee yet, misses the play and awards the ball to Williamston. Sophia Gaytan passes to Anna Judit, who throws in a threeball from the side to give Williamston a 30-27 lead.

Rachel Jackson hits an eight foot shot off the dribble from the baseline for St. Johns to cut Williamston’s lead to one point. Williamston throws a pass out of bounds. Joce Kotowicz drives and hits a reverse layup to give St. Johns a one point lead. Williamston misfires on a threeball from the side. Joce Kotowicz passes to Paityn Chant, who hits a three point shot from the side for St. Johns. The Redwings have scored the last seven points in a row and have a 34-30 lead.

Williamston misses a three point shot from the wing. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Williamston misses a three pointer from the side. Anna Judit pulls down the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Rowan Matice steals the ball for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a layup. Joce Kotowicz hits a putback to give St. Johns a 36-30 lead.

Williamston throws a pass out of bounds. Lyla Herley forces a St. Johns dribbler to step on the sideline. Lyla Herley passes to Thea Fortin, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Redwing lead to three points. St. Johns misses an eight foot shot in the game. Jaiden Griffeth drives and dishes the ball to Abby Brannan, who swishes a three pointer from the side for Williamston to tie the game at 36-36!

Rowan Matice passes to Piatyn Chant, who hits a layup to give the lead back to St. Johns. Williamston misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Williamston quickly fouls twice for their fourth and fifth fouls of the quarter to force St. Johns to shoot free throws. Jaelah Medina hits one of her two free throws for the Redwings to boost their lead to 39-36 with just 26 seconds left on the clock.

Williamston misses a jump shot from the free throw line. The rebound goes out of bounds and Williamston gets another opportunity with 6.9 seconds to go. Williamston misses a three point attempt from the side. Madyson Bush throws the rebound off a St. Johns player and out of bounds to give her Hornets one last chance with about two seconds left. Rachel Jackson blocks a Williamston three point shot from the wing as time expires.

St. Johns wins this exciting battle by the final score of 39-36.

Williamston’s Jaiden Griffeth had 16 points to lead all scorers. Anna Judit supported her with 9 points and Abby Brannan contributed 8 points. Thea Fortin scored 3 points.

Joce Kotowicz led the St. Johns scoring with 14 points. Rachel Jackson joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Paityn Chant chipped in with 8 points. Abby Tisdale added 3 points. Sam Prince scored 2 points and Jaelah Medina hit a clutch free throw late in the fourth quarter to score her 1 point.