Saranac at Bath – – CMAC Boys’ Basketball – Co-Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 6, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s journey takes him to Bath High School where the Fighting Bees will host the Red Hawks from Saranac in the CMAC Boys’ Basketball Co-Game of the Week. (I also covered Pewamo-Westphalia at Saranac Tuesday night. I probably need a ruling from the official blog-naming powers that be to determine how I handle a “Game of the Week” when there are two games in the same week! The mind boggles.)

It was an icy morning, but it looked like most of the schools were open and the game would be played. I pointed the BleacherDenizenMobile in the direction of Bath and headed there to watch the game. When I got there, I learned that it was Bath’s Winter Homecoming Game and that the Pep Band would be performing.

As we can’t hear the pep band, I hope you will enjoy this video of “Down South in New Orleans” from my You Tube Channel!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QUZ5FrpeFA

The Bees enter this game with a 6-7 record in the CMAC; they are 6-10 overall. The Red Hawks are 5=8 in the CMAC and 7-10 overall.

As I’ve covered both teams before, I have been able to get information about the players from both coaches as well as from watching games.

Cody Whipple is generally the leading Red Hawk scorer. He is a strong three point shooter, but he also can hit midrange shots off the dribble or drive to the basket. Brody Stanton runs the point for the Red Hawks. He is a top ball handler and great driving to the basket to score. He is also a solid ball handler and can shoot the three point shot.

Eli Lauer is a determined, aggressive perimeter defender and works well in the Saranac press. On offense, he is a “glue guy” who does a lot of screening and ball movement. While these don’t make headlines, every good team has players who do this. Landin Parker is a solid rebounder and defender in the post. Brayden Griffin, Kolten Janse and John Sterzick are also capable three point shooters.

For the Bees, Jacob Kuhn is a strong defender, rebounder and scorer in the post. He can also step out and hit the threeball. Remington McCrimmon is a strong perimeter defender who can score either from the three point line or on slashes to the basket.

Ethan Wicks is a fine ball handler and perimeter defender who shoots well from the three point line and usually runs the point for the Bees. Aiden Wolf is a capable three point shooter who brings intensity and energy to the Bath press. The Bees play with a lot of energy, especially on defense and use a lot of players.

I got to the JV game at halftime and Bath already had a commanding lead in that game. The Bees controlled the second half as well and rolled to a 66-19 JV win.

Dionne Giles led the Saranac JVs with 6 points. Jacob Bush scored 4 points. Jace Smit and Brock Hopkins each added 3 points. Carter Lake scored 2 points and Cole Reagan put in 1 point. Thanks to JV Coach Derik Haller, who gave me the correct information when my notes were not clear when I got home!!

Hudson Holbrook led the victorious Bath JVs with 19 points. Camdyn Montano joined his teammate in double figures with 12 points. Andrew Pruitt contributed 9 points. Drew Prince scored 7 points. Mason Redman chipped in with 6 points. Jake Staake added 5 points. Hunter Tolliver and Mario Baker each tossed 3 points through the hoop. Apollo Wolfe had 2 points.

The Pep Band played the National Anthem and it was time for the game to start!!

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 ancient times when he attempted to play. The Coach had to dismiss him from the team when the bricks he threw started destroying the peach baskets we played on back in the day. It was simply too expensive to keep the Bleacher Denizen around!!

Bath wins the opening tap. The Bees misfire on a threeball from the side. Warren Hill passes to Cody Whipple, who hits a layup for the Red Hawks for the game’s first two points. Eli Lauer knocks the ball away from Bath, but the Bees recover. Bath misses a three point shot from the side. Andrew Briggs blocks a Saranac twelve foot shot from the baseline; the Red Hawks recover the loose ball. Jacob Kuhn’s tough defense forces Saranac to miss a pass in the lane and it goes out of bounds. Bath takes possession. (I’m wondering if any NFL scouts noticed Mr. Kuhn’s excellent pass defense!)

Bath loses the ball out of bounds. Saranac misses a reverse layup. Bath throws a pass out of bounds. Remington McCrimmon steals the ball for Bath and hits a fast break layup to tie the game. Brody Stanton passes to Cody Whipple, who hits a three point shot from the wing to make the score Cody Whipple 5 Jacob Kuhn 2.

Cody Whipple gets his hand on a Bee pass in the lane and Bath loses the ball out of bounds. Saranac throws a pass over the Bath press and Cody Whipple makes a great save for the Red Hawks to keep the ball in bounds, but Saranac travels. Bath misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Aiden Wolf pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees.

Brody Stanton steals the ball for Saranac. The Red Hawks miss a twelve foot jumper off the dribble from the side of the lane. Bath misses a threeball from the wing. Jacob Kuhn pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Aiden Biggs passes the ball to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup to make the score Cody Whipple 5 Jacob Kuhn 4.

Landin Barker passes to Warren Hill, who hits a ten foot shot from the side for Saranac. Jay Kressler passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for the Fighting Bees to make the score Saranac 7 Jacob Kuhn 6.

Landin Barker passes to Warren Hill, who hits a layup for Saranac. Bath misses a threeball from the side. Aiden Briggs pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Landin Barker blocks a Bee layup. Jacob Kuhn returns the favor and blocks a Red Hawk layup. Bath throws a pass out of bounds. Cody Whipple drives and scoops in a layup for Saranac to make the score Saranac 11 Jacob Kuhn 6.

Bath misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Saranac misses a threeball from the wing. Landin Barker gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a threeball from the side just before the first quarter buzzer makes its entrance.

After one quarter, the score is Saranac 11 Jacob Kuhn 6.

Saranac inbounds the ball to start the second quarter. Brady Smith steals the ball for the Bees. Bath turns the ball over. Brady Smith knocks a Saranac pass off the backboard; Remington McCrimmon picks it up for the Bees. Eli Lauer steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Brady Smith taps the ball away from Saranac, but the Red Hawks recover. Calvin Smith steals the ball for the Bees. Brayden Griffen steals the ball for the Red Hawks. (I wonder if the local authorities know about the theft crime wave happening in the Bath gym.)

Jay Kressler knocks the ball out of bounds; Saranac retains possession to put a halt to the crime wave, but then turns the ball over. Eli Lauer knocks the ball away from Bath and Brayden Griffeth picks it up for Saranac. Saranac misses a threeball from the corner. Landin Barker pulls down the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 5:08 to play in the first half, the Saranac lead remains at 11-6.

Bath misses a driving layup. Sam Dunckel pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Calvin Smith hits a putback for the first Bee points not scored by Jacob Kuhn. Aiden Wolf steals the ball for the Bees. Aiden Wolf is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to cut the Saranac lead to 11-10 with 4:02 to play in the first half.

Jay Kressler knocks the ball away from the Red Hawks and Connor VanEss grabs it for the Bees. Cody Whipple steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Jay Kessler taps the ball away from Saranac; Jacob Kuhn feels he has let his teammates score enough points for now and takes the ball in for a fast break layup that gives Bath a 12-11 lead.

Brody Stanton passes to Cody Whipple, who hits a jump shot from the free throw elbow for Saranac to retake the lead. Jay Kressler passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a jump shot from the free throw elbow to give the lead back to Bath at 14-13.

Jacob Kuhn blocks a Saranac five foot shot from the baseline. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Bath takes possession. Warren Hill knocks the ball away from Bath and Brody Stanton picks it up for Saranac.

A Saranac dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Warren Hill blocks a Bath layup. Remington McCrimmon steals the ball and passes to Jacob Kuhn, who drives and hits a layup for Bath. Saranac misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Bath misses a threeball from the side as the second quarter buzzer announces it is time for the halftime break.

Bath leads Saranac 16-13 at halftime.

Cody Whipple leads the Saranac scoring with 9 points.

Jacob Kuhn leads Bath with 10 points.

As it is halftime, there is a nice ceremony honoring the Winter Homecoming Court. Remington McCrimmon took time from his basketball duties to accept the King’s Crown and the Fighting Bee’s basketball sharpshooter Anna Schaibly was named queen!!

The Bath Pep Band did a fine job entertaining at halftime with songs like Elton John’s Crocodile Rock and several others.

Bath inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Warren Hill gets a hand on the ball, but Bath is able to recover. Bath misses a threeball from the top of the key and gets the offensive rebound. Remington McCrimmon hits a twelve foot shot in the lane for Bath. Cody Whipple hits a layup for Saranac to trim the Bath lead to 18-15.

Brody Stanton steals the ball for the Red Hawks. Saranac is whistled for a three seconds (in the lane) violation. Warren Hill steals a Bee pass. Landin Barker passes to Eli Lauer, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Bath lead to 18-16 with 5:58 to play in quarter number three.

Jacob Kuhn passes to Calvin Smith, who hits an eight foot shot in the lane for Bath. Calvin Smith steals the ball for Bath. Brody Stanton steals the ball for Saranac. Landin Barker hits a twelve foot banked shot off the dribble from the side of the lane for Saranac. Andy Wonch passes to Calvin Smith, who hits a layup for Bath. Brody Stanton passes to Cody Whipple, who hits a threeball from the top of the key for Saranac to chop the Bath lead to 22-21.

Bath misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Eli Lauer passes to Brody Stanton, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give his Red Hawks a 24-22 lead.

Andy Wonch passes to Remington McCrimmon, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for Bath to tie the game. Saranac turns the ball over against the Bath press. Calvin Smith passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup to give the Bees a 26-24 lead.

Saranac is called for an illegal screen. Bath misses a three point shot from the corner. Calvin Smith pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Saranac misses a threeball from the top of the key. Kolten Janse grabs the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Calvin Smith blocks a Red Hawk layup. Bath turns the ball over. Cody Whipple is fouled and hits two free throws for Saranac to tie the game at 26-26 with 1:14 remaining in quarter number three.

Kolten Janse taps the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Bath misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Saranac gets the ball. A Saranac player is hit as he passes the ball; no foul is called, when the pass goes out of bounds, Bath gets the ball. Bath misses a three pointer from the side. Calvin Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath calls timeout with just 1.8 seconds left in the quarter. Connor VanEss inbounds the ball to Aiden Wolf, who throws in a threeball from the wing as the third quarter buzzer blares.

After three quarters, Bath has a 29-26 lead.

Saranac has the ball to start the fourth quarter. The Red Hawks miss a ten foot scooped shot. Bath misses a fast break layup. Brady Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Connor VanEss hits a putback for the Bees. Brady Stanton passes to Warren Hill, who is fouled on an eight foot shot from the side and hits two free throws to shave the Bath lead to 31-28 with 6:51 remaining in the contest.

Bath misses a threeball from the wing. The Saranac rebounder shuffles his feet and is called for traveling. Brady Smith passes to Jacob Kuhn, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for Bath. Saranac misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Bath shows some crisp passing as Connor VanEss passes to Aiden Briggs, who quickly relays the ball to Remington McCrimmon, who hits a layup to give Bath a 34-28 lead.

Brody Stanton hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the baseline for Saranac. Landin Barker draws a charging foul to negate a Bath layup. Conner VanEss knocks the ball out of bounds; Saranac retains possession. Saranac throws a pass out of bounds. Bath misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. The rebound goes out of bounds and Saranac takes possession. Brody Stanton bursts into the lane and hits a six foot jumper to cut the Bath lead to 34-32.

Bath misses a layup. Saranac is whistled for a traveling violation. Brayden Griffen knocks the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Bath commits an offensive foul. Brody Stanton is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Bath lead to one point at 34-33 with 3:07 left on the clock.

Jay Kressler passes to Aiden Briggs, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Bath. Brody Stanton drives from the side and hits an eight foot banked shot for the Red Hawks. Jacob Kuhn drives and hits a layup for Bath. Saranac throws a pass out of bounds. Jay Kressler is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give Bath a 40-35 lead with 1:20 to play.

Brayden Griffen hits a threeball from the side to pull Saranac to within three points. Landin Barker and Eli Lauer fiercely double team a Bath ball handler and force the Bees to call timeout to avoid turning the ball over. Jay Kressler is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Bath. Saranac misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Jay Kressler is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give his Bees a 42-38 lead with 32.0 seconds to go.

Cody Whipple is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Saranac. Landin Barker gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Aiden Wolf is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to boost Bath to a 43-38 lead with 26.6 seconds to play.

Aiden Briggs knocks the offensive rebound from the missed free throw to a Bee teammate. Thomas Vang is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Bath. Saranac misses an eighteen foot shot from the side. Brayden Griffen gets the offensive rebound for the Red Hawks. Saranac misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Bath dribbles out the final couple seconds.

The Bees win this exciting game by the score of 44-38.

Saranac’s Cody Whipple led all scorers with 16 points. Brody Stanton joined his teammate in double figures with 10 points. Warren Hill put in 6 points. Brayden Griffen had a huge three pointer late in the third quarter and scored 3 points. Landin Barker added 2 points and Eli Lauer tallied 1 point.

Jacob Kuhn led the Bath Bees with 15 points. Remington McCrimmon supported him with 8 points. Aiden Wolf and Calvin Smith each chipped in with 6 points. Jay Kressler and Aiden Briggs each entered 3 points into the books. Connor VanEss contributed 2 points and Thomas Vang scored 1 point.