Frankenmuth at Freeland – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 7, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is headed to Freeland where the host Falcon girls and boys will take on the Eagles from Frankenmuth. We will cover both the games tonight! The Falcons enter the game with a 7-1 record in the Tri-Valley Conference Red and are 11-3 overall. The Eagles are 10-0 in the Tri-Valley Conference Red and 14-2 overall. Freeland’s only loss to in the league was an away game at Frankenmuth.

I made the trip from Lansing to my hotel in Bay City with no problems. I got here in plenty of time to get set up and still get to both of tonight’s games. While we wait for the game to start, 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

Breanne Short, the Freeland Coach provided me with some information about her Falcon players.

Karie Keefer leads the team in scoring with nearly 20 points per game. She is excellent driving to the basket where she can either finish her shot or set up one of her fellow Falcons for a shot. She is also an aggressive defender who leads her team in steals and is a strong rebounder. Jozelynn Begick is a fine perimeter shooter who averages 15.1 points per game. She is also solid rebounder and defends well on the perimeter.

Addie Seemann is an excellent interior player who scores in the post and rebounds well; she brings in four offensive rebounds per game. She is also a good passer who brings a lot of energy to the Falcon defense. Gia Johnson is a strong rebounder who gets a lot of steals for the Falcons. Jenna Kowalski is a solid perimeter defender who gets her share of steals. She is also a good passer who gets over two assists per game.

Frankenmuth Coach Joe Jacobs helped me out with this information about his Eagle players.

Clare Conzelmann is a four year varsity player. She is a guard who is taller than most people who play her position. She is quick as well and this makes her a fierce perimeter defender. She is a big threat from the three point line and scores over 17 points per game for the Eagles. Rosemary Brenner is a great leader who defends well in the post. She is an important team leader and an excellent passer. Izzy Bernthal is a tough rebounder who can hit the threeball, the midrange shot and shots in the post.

Macy Donovan is very tall for a guard. Whe is a challenging defender on the perimeter who has the length and quickness to back it up. She is a good three point shooter as well. Grace Brenner brings a strong basketball IQ to the Eagle point guard position. She is an excellent defender on the perimeter as well as being a first class passer and ball handler.

Alyson Peterson and Lucy Conzelmann bring great energy to the Eagle perimeter defense. They are both aggressive defenders who get a lot of deflections and create turnovers.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the generally open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. It seems that your Bleacher Denizen was never able to master the concept of only throwing passes to teammates wearing the same color as he was. Your Bleacher Denizen felt that this restricted his creativity. The Coach kept bringing up this concept called “turnovers.” In the end, the coach’s vision won out and your Bleacher Denizen lost most of his playing time.

Freeland wins the opening tap. The Falcons turn the ball over. The Eagles misfire on a triple try from the side. Jenna Kowalski passes to Gia Johnson, who hits a layup to give the Falcons the first two points of the game. Frankenmuth is fouled on a driving layup, but the foul is ruled to be before the shot and the Eagles get the ball back. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the top of the key. They get the offensive rebound. Jozelynn Begick steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead.

Addie Seemann blocks a Frankenmuth fast break layup. Freeland misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth takes possession. Macy Donovan drives the baseline and hits a rebound for Frankenmuth. She is fouled on the play and sinks her free throw to trim the Falcon lead to 4-3 with 6:25 to go in the opening quarter.

Izzy Bernthal gets her hand on the ball, but Freeland recovers. Jozelynn Begick hits a driving layup for the FAlcons. Frankenmuth is called for a traveling violation. Clare Conzelmann blocks a Freeland twelve foot shot from the baseline. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Falcons get another opportunity.

Freeland misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Falcons get the ball back. Freeland misses a driving layup. Addie Seemann grabs the offensive rebound for the Falcons. Freeland misses a three point shot from the wing. Karie Keefer is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to boost her Falcons to a 7-3 lead with 5:16 remaining in the quarter.

Frankenmuth loses a pass out of bounds. Freeland commits an offensive foul. The Frankenmuth Brenner connection comes through as Grace passes to Rosemary, who quickly relays the ball to izzy Bernthal. Izzy Bernthal is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to cut the Freeland lead to 7-5 with 4:37 to play in the period.

Macy Donovan blocks a Freeland layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Falcons get another opportunity. Freeland throws a pass out of bounds. Izzy Bernthal passes to Rosemary Brenner, who hits a layup for Frankenmuth to tie the game at 7-7.

Addie Seeman drives and hits a layup for Freeland to retake the lead. Frankenmuth loses the ball out of bounds while triying to shoot a layup. Alyson Peterson knocks the ball away from a Freeland dribbler and out of bounds; Freeland retains possession. Clare Conzelmann knocks the ball away from Freeland; Alyson Peterson picks it up for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a fast break layup. Grace Brenner grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misfires on a threeball from the wing. Jenna Kowalski inbounds the ball to Karie Keefer, who throws in a threeball from the top of the key to give her Falcons a 12-7 lead.

Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Alyson Peterson harasses Freeland into an over and back violation. Rosemary Brenner passes to Clare Conzelman, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Frankenmuth. Jozelynn Begick hits a two point jump shot from the side for Freeland to give her Falcons a 14-10 lead.

Jenna Kowalski knocks a ball away from Frankenmuth and creates a tieup. The Possession Arrow consults its legal staff and decrees the Frankenmuth shall have the ball despite Ms. Kowalski’s fine, aggressive defense. Jenna Kowalski draws a charging foul from the Eagles. Grace Brenner steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a fast break layup.

Freeland travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. Somehow I doubt that traveling without the ball would be terribly newsworthy.) Frankenmuth misses a layup. Alyson Peterson hits a putback for the Eagles to pull Frankenmuth within two points. Freeland misses a ten foot banked shot from the side of the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Falcons get another possession. Freeland misses a three point shot from the side as the first quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After one quarter, Freeland has a 14-12 lead.

Freeland has the ball to open the second quarter. Rosemary Brenner gets her hand on the ball and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow and its legal staff were quite complementary about her defensive hustle and awarded the ball to Frankenmuth. The Eagles miss an eight footer from the baseline. Freeland misses a ten footer from the side. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Addie Seeman hits a six foot hook shot in the lane to push the Freeland lead to 16-12.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the side. Grace Brenner pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth watches a three point shot go in and out of the basket and then fouls on the rebound. Rosemary Brenner block a Freeland jumper from the free throw line. The Falcons recover the loose ball. Karie Keefer is fouled on a driving layup. Frankenmuth is assessed with a technical foul.

Karie Keefer sinks one of her two free throws. Another Falcon comes in to shoot the technical free throws, but misses both of them. With 6:00 to play in the first half, Freeland has a 17-12 lead.

Because of the technical foul, Freeland gets to inbound the ball. There is some jostling in the lane and the referees call a double foul. The Possession Arrow and its legal staff vote to award the ball to the Falcons. Addie Seemann hits a jump shot from the free throw line for Freeland. Emma Deshone steals the ball for the Falcons. Freeland misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Macy Donovan is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Frankenmuth to trim the Freeland lead to 19-14 with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter.

Grace Brenner gets her hand on the ball, but the Falcon dribbler is able to recover. Freeland misses a three point shot from the corner. Jozelynn Begick gets the offensive rebound for the FAlcons. Freeland misses a ten foot off the dribble in the lane. Jozelynn Begick is fouled on the putback and hits one of her two free throws to extend the Freeland lead to 20-14 with 4:11 to play in the second quarter.

The Brenner Connection comes through as Grace Brenner passes to Rosemary Brenner for an Eagle layup. Clare Conzelmann gets her hand on the ball, but Freeland is able to recover. Jozelynn Begick hits a fifteen foot shot from the baseline for Freelane. Gia Johnson blocks a Frankenmuth layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. Grace Brenner passes to Lucy Conzelmann, who drills a threeball from the side for Frankenmuth. Clare Conzelmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to chop the Freeland lead to 22-21.

Freeland misses a driving layup. Gia Johnson is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws for the Falcons. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the side. Clare Conzelmann taps the offensive rebound to an Eagle teammate. Karie Keefer steals the ball for Freeland. The Falcons miss a three point shot from the wing. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow defers to its Tax Subcommittee, who rules the ball belongs to Freeland. Karie Keefer hits a three point shot from the wing. Karie Keefer blocks an Eagle driving layup. Freeland is fouled on the rebound, but misses two free throws. With 1:10 remaining in the opening half, Freeland has a 26-21 lead.

Clare Conzelmann is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws for Frankenmuth. Julia Rodriguez runs at a would-be Falcon three point shooter in the corner and forces a traveling violation. Grace Brenner slings a crosscourt pass to Lucy Conzelmann, who hits a three pointer from the side to cut the Falcon lead to one point. Freeland misses a heave at the buzzer.

(Another interesting basketball cliche; I’m sure the shooter was throwing the ball at the basket, not the buzzer, but I digress.)

Freeland has a 26-25 lead at halftime.

Clare Conzelmann and Lucy Conzelmann each have 6 points to lead the Frankenmuth scoring. Macy Donovan has 5 points.

Jozelynn Begick has 9 points to lead Freeland at halftime. Karie Keefer has 6 points and Addie Seeman has 6 points.

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Eagles are fouled on a driving layup, but miss both their free throws. Macy Donovan pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Izzy Bernthal tosses the ball to Macy Donovan, who throws in a threeball from the side to boost Frankenmuth to a 28-26 lead.

Clare Conzelmann knocks the ball out of bounds; Freeland retains possession. Freeland misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Izzy Bernthal grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Rosemary Brenner gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Freeland misses a three point shot from the side. Macy Donovan hits a fast break layup to push Frankenmuth to a 30-26 lead.

Freeland misses a three point shot from the side. Addie Seemann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Falcons. Freeland misses a layup. Karie Keefer hits a putback from the Falcons. Frankenmuth misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Gia Johnson hits a three point shot from the side to give Freeland a one point lead. Rosemary Brenner passes to Clare Conzelmann, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Frankenmuth a 33-31 lead.

Rosemary Brenner steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a fast break layup. Macy Donovan grabs the offensive reound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Clare Conzelman blocks a Freeland driving layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Falcons get the ball back. Jozelynn Begick passes to Gia Johnson, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to tie the game at 33-33 with 4:16 to play in quarter number three.

Frnkenmuth misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Emma Deshone passes to Jozelynn Begick, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the Falcons a three point lead. Grace Brenner is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to trim the Freeland lead to 36-35 with 3:39 to play in the quarter.

Freeland mises a 6 foot hook shot off the dribble. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Alyson Peterson hits a putback to give the Eagles a one point lead. Jozelynn Begick hits a putback to return the lead to the Eagles. Jozelynn Begick drives from the side and is fouled on a layup. She sinks two free throws to boost Freeland to a 38-37 lead with 2:43 remaining in quarter number three.

Jenna Kowalski nearly steals the ball for Freeland, but her momentum carries her out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Two Eagles grab the rebound and Frankenmuth is called for traveling. Freeland misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the side. Jozelynn Begick passes to Karie Keefer, who hits a layup for Freeland. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Karie Keefer drives, hits a layup and is fouled. She makes her free throw to lift Freeland to a 43-37 lead with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Alyson Peterson hits a threeball from the side for Frankenmuth. Grace Brenner knocks a Freeland pass out of bounds; the Falcons retain possession. Freeland misfires on a triple try from the wing. Frankenmuth misses a reverse layup. Lucy Conzelmann knocks the ball away from Freeland, but the Falcons recover. Karie Keefer is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Freeland with 7.2 seconds to play in the quarter.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the side as the third quarter buzzer blasts.

After three quarters, Freeland has a 44-40 lead.

Frankenmuth has the ball to start the fourth quarter. The Eagles miss a driving layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow and its Legal Committee file several motions that result in Freeland taking possession. Clare Conzelmann knocks the ball away from Freeland. She pravails in a group of players all trying to grab the ball and dashes up the court for a Frankenmuth fast break layup that cuts the Freeland lead to 44-42.

Jenna Kowalski hits a three point shot from the corner for Freeland. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the side. Karie Keefer passes to Addie Seemann, who hits a layup for the Falcons. Frankenmuth loses a pass out of bounds. Macy Donovan steals the ball for Frankenmuth and passes to Clare Conzelmann, who hits a fast break layup to shave the Freeland lead to 49-44.

Lucy Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a ten foot banked shot from the side. Jenna Kowalski drives and hits a reverse layup for Freeland. Izzy Bernthal drives and hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Emma Deshone passes to Jozelynn Begick, who hits a fast break layup for Freeland. Macy Donovan is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Frankenmuth. With 4:02 left on the clock, Freeland has a 53-47 lead.

Clare Conzelmann steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Jozelynn Begick steals the ball for Freeland. The Falcons miss a fifteen footer from the side of the lane. Jozelynn Begick blocks a Frankenmuth layup and ties the ball up in the process. The Possession Arrow and its legal team issue a writ awarding the ball back to Frankenmuth. Freeland plays tough defense on the inbound and forces Frankenmuth to call timeout to avoid turning the ball over (for failing to inbound the ball in the required five seconds.) Grace Brenner passes to Izzy Bernthal, who hits a reverse layup to shave the Freeland lead to 53-49.

Freeland is whistled for spending three seconds in the lane. Clare Conzelmann drives and hits a layup to shave the Freeland lead down to two points. Freeland misses a layup. Karie Keefer blocks an Eagle layup. Frankenmuth gets the loose ball, but misses a layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow awards the ball to Freeland. Jozelynn Begick is fouled and sinks to free throws to boost Freeland to a 55-51 with 27.7 seconds to go.

Frankenmuth misses a layup. Julia Rodriguez gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth frantically shoots and misses several putbacks before the final buzzer sounds.

Freeland wins this game by the final score of 55-51.

Clare Conzelmann led the Frankenmuth scoring with 15 points. Macy Donovan joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Alyson Peterson contributed 7 points. Izzy Bernthal and Lucy Conzelmann each chipped in with 6 points. Rosemary Brenner scored 4 points and Grace Brenner tallied 2 points.

I also covered the boys game which was played right after this one. Here is the play by play of the boys’ game!
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/02/08/freeland-at-frankenmuth-boys-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-february-7-2025-by-chuck-krafft/