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

In the second game of the boy/girl doubleheader tonight, the Freeland Falcon Boys will be hosting the Frankenmuth Eagles. Freeland enters this game with a 7-1 record in the Tri-Valley Conference Red and is 14-2 overall. Frankenmuth is 7-3 in the conference and 11-4 overall.

Usually your Bleacher Denizen does games near Lansing, where he lives, but seeing that Frankenmuth, his Alma Mater, is playing both boys and girls’ games tonight, he thought it would be great to come to Freeland and stay in a hotel in Bay City so he could cover both games.
Here is a link to the girls’ game played earlier tonight.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/02/08/frankenmuth-at-freeland-girls-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-february-7-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this instrumental of me and Bay City Trumpeter Extraordinare, John Rickert, playing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

Because there were two games and the gym was extremely crowded, I did not have much time with him, but Freeland Coach John Fattal was very gracious with information about his Freeland players. (I also liked the way that all the Freeland Coaches wore black suits with white shirts and ties. They were quite dapper!!)

Tristan Comer is the big guy in the middle for the Falcons. He is a tough defender, rebounder and scorer in the post. He knows how to use his size to his advantage! Wilson Huckeby is a fantastic three point shooter. Tucker Hileman and Connor Lasceski are great all-around players who have all the defensive, ball handling, passing, driving and shooting skills that a good guard needs to have.

Max Heyn is a tough perimeter defender. Ross Farrell is an accurate three point shoter. Zander Wheatly is a post player with strong athletic ability.

Frankenmuth Coach Andrew Donovan provided this information about his Eagle players.

Aiden Labissionere is an excellent three point shooter with the high basketball IQ one might expect from a quarterback who led the Eagle football team to the state final game. Caden Sommerfield plays inside and outside. He is a fine player who rebounds well, can slash to the basket and is a good paser. Ethan Edwards is a dangerous scorer at all three levels (three point, midrange and at the basket.) Hagan Wascher defends the perimeter well and runs the point on offense; he is a dependable passer and ball handler. Ethan McNiel is an excellent post defender and rebounder who slashes to the basket well. He is also a threat from the three point line.

Cash Tedford is an energetic perimeter defender who has a fine three point shot. Landon Jacobs scores well in the midrange and can hit the three point shot. Even though he is a sophomore, he already displays a great basketball IQ. Lleyton Hoard is a good post defender and rebounder who can step out and hit the three point shot. Timothy Greenwood is a tough physical presence in the post; he rebounds well.

Jae Shobbrook is dependable on the catch and shoot three point shot. Troy Trudell brings speed and a nice three point shot fto the Eagles. Matthew Schoenow is a good shot blocker, who runs the floor well and is a good scorer near the basket.

Before the game, the announcer saluted Freeland Coach John Fattal for his 100th coaching win and Wilson Huckeby for recently scoring his 1000th varsity point. (He is a junior this year and has a lot of games to add to this total.) Kudos to both these guys for their accomplishments!!

The Freeland Pep band played the National Anthem and did a fine job!

This game is Freeland’s “Clash for a Cure Game”. Many people are wearing pink shirts to support the cause.

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 back in the ancient times when he was considered to be “young.” Your Bleacher Denizen was showing some signs of being a quality leaper and a shot blocker. However, everything turned sour when the basketball powers that be ruled that he was no longer permitted to use a pogo stick to add height to his leaps. When opposing players began consistently rising over the groundbound Bleacher Denizen to score easy layups, his playing time plummeted rapidly.

The Falcons win the opening tap. Freeland misses a driving layup. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the corner. Caden Sommerfield pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Hagen Wascher passes to Caden Sommerfield, who hits a layup to give Frankenmuth the first two points of the game. Freeland misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Max Heyn runs at an Eagle ball handler and forces a traveling violation. Tristan Comer passes to Conner Lasceski, who hits a layup for Freeland to tie the game at 2-2.

Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the wing. Tristan Comer passes to Connor Lasceski, who hits a three point shot from the corner to make the score Connor Lasceski 5 Frankenmuth 2.

Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Freeland misses a reverse layup on the fast break and fouls on the rebound. Ethan McNiel drives and hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Connor Lasceski passes to Wilson Huckeby, who adds to his career point total by hitting a threeball from the wing for Freeland. Max Heyn’s tough defense forces a Frankenmuth traveling violation. Wilson Huckeby hits a three point shot off the dribble from the wing to boost the Falcon lead to 11-4.

Tristan Comer blocks a Frankenmuth layup. Ethan McNiel picks up the loose ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth msises a layup. Aiden Labissoniere steals the ball for the Eagles Frankenmuth misfires on a threeball from the side. Freeland misfires on a threeball from the wing and a putback. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the side. Ethan Edwards forces Freeland to miss a driving layup. Tristan Comer steals the ball for Freeland. Connor Lasceski throws in a threeball from the wing to push the Freeland lead to 14-4.

Ethan Edwards hits a twelve foot turnaround shot from the side for Frankenmiuth. Tucker Hileman drives, fakes and hits a layup for Freeland. Frankenmuth misses a ten foot banked shot from the side. Freeland fouls on the rebound. Ethan Edwards passes to Caden Sommerfield, who hits a layup to trim the Freeland lead to 16-8.

Freeland misfires on a triple try from the side. Tucker Hileman aggressively ties up the rebound for Freeland. The Possession Arrow and its Summer Decoration Committee are looking through flower catalogs and miss the play. The ball is awarded bak to Frankenmuth. Wilson Huckeby rests his shooting elbow and steals the ball for the Falcons. Cash Tedford ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow and the Decoration Committee pause their planning meeting to reward Mr. Tedford’s hustle by awarding the ball to Frankenmuth.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Lleyton Hoard grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Freeland holds the ball for the last shot of the quarter. Wilson Huckeby passes to Ross Ferrell, who hits a three point shot from the side for Freeland. Frankenmuth does not have time to shoot before the quarter ends.

After one quarter, Freeland has a 19-8 lead.

Freeland has the ball to open the second quarter. The Falcons miss a threeball from the corner. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Ethan Edwards grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Tristan Comer blocks a Frankenmuth layup. Freeland misses a three pointer from the corner. Max Heyn is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give the Falcons a 20-8 lead with 6:43 remaining in the second quarter.

Tucker Hileman gets his hand on a Frankenmuth pass; the Eagles recover. Frankenmuth loses a pass out of bounds. Landon Jacobs steals the ball for the Eagles. Aiden Labissoniere passes to Lleyton Hoard, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Frankenmuth to shave the Freeland lead to 22-11.

Max Heyn drives and dishes the ball to Tucker Hileman, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Freeland. Caden Sommerfield hits a three pointer near the top of the key for Frankenmuith. Aiden Labissoniere knocks a Freeland pass out of bounds; the Falcons retain possession Freeland misses a threeball from the corner.

Frankenmuth reciprocates and misses a threeball from the corner. Ethan McNiel gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth loses the ball out of bounds. Freeland misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Aiden Labissoniere hits a long three point shot from the wing for Frankenmuth. Hagan Wascher gets his hand on the ball, but Freeland recovers. Zander Wheatley hits a layup to boost the Freeland lead to 27-17.

Hagan Wascher passes to Aiden Labissoniere, who hits another long threeball from the wing for the Eagles. Connor Lasceski passes to Tristan Comer, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give Freeland a 29-20 lead with 2:08 to play in the half.

Tristan Comer blocks a Frankenmuth layup. Freeland is whistled for a traveling violation. Connor Lasceski dives and knocks the ball out of bounds; Freeland gets the ball. Lleyton Hoard and Caden Sommerfield double team a Freeland player closely and he commits an offensive foul. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the corner. Caden Sommerfield tips the ball to Aiden Labissoniere, who is fouled on a layup. Aiden Labissoniere hits two free throws to trim the Freeland lead to 29-22 with 52.4 seconds left in the game.

Tucker Hileman drives and dishes the ball to Zander Wheatley, who hits a layup for Freeland. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Freeland misses a three point shot from the side just before the second quarter buzzer makes its presence know.

Freeland has a 31-22 halftime lead.

Aiden Labissoniere has 8 points for Frankenmuth at halftime and Caden Sommerfield has 7 points.

Connor Lasceski has 8 points for Freeland and Wilson Huckeby has 6 points.

The Freeland Pom Pom Team does a nice routine to entertain the fans at halftime! It was well-choreographed and well-rehearsed!

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Eagles miss a three pointer from the side. Freeland misses a threeball from the top of the key. Ethan Edwards hits a twelve foot shot from the side for Frankenmuth. Aiden Labissoniere steals the ball for Frankenmuth and Ethan Edwards hits a fast break layup to cut the Freeland lead to 31-26.

Ethan McNiel knocks the ball out of bounds; Freeland retains possession. Aiden Labissoniere blocks a Freeland layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Falcons get another opportunity. Ethan McNiel steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Aiden Labissoniere steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the wing. Freeland misses a threeball from the corner.

Frankenmuth commits a traveling violation. Freeland misses a three point shot from th wing. Tucker Hileman blocks a Frankenmuth layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth gets another opportunity. Wilson Huckeby knocks Frankenmuth’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Eagles get the ball back. Caden Sommerfield hits a three point shot off the inbound pass from the corner for the Eagles. Freeland misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Lleyton Hoard passes to Hagan Wascher, who hits a layup for the Eagles to tie the game at 31-31.

Tucker Hileman passes to Tristan Comer, who hits a reverse layup to retake the lead for the Falcons. Landon Jacobs passes to Ethan Edwards, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give Frankenmuth a one point lead. Freeland misses a short hook shot. Landon Jacobs passes to Ethan Edwards, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side to give his Eagles a 36-33 lead.

Tucker Hileman passes to Tristan Comer, who hits a layup for Freeland. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Lleyton Hoard gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Tristan Comer is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give Freeland a 37-36 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

Max Heyn gets his hand on an Eagle pass; the ball goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth gets the ball back. Lleyton Hoard passes to Aiden Labissoniere, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the lead back to Frankenmuth. Connor Lasceski passes to Tristan Comer, who hits a layup for Freeland to tie the game at 39-39.

Max Heyn and Zander Wheatley team up on the Freeland press to force a Frankenmuth traveling violation. Connor Lasceski passes to Wilson Huckeby, who fakes, takes a hard dribble and throws in a threeball from the side for Freeland. Wilson Huckeby knocks the ball away from Frankenmuth and the EAgles lose the ball. Freeland misses a three point shot from the corner. Cash Tedford fires in a long three pointer from the side for Frankenmuth to tie the game at 42-42.

Tristan Comer drives and hits a layup to give the lead back to Freeland. Lleyton Hoard passes to Cash Tedford, who hits a three point shot for Frankenmuth to retake the lead. Wilson Huckeby hits a three point shot off the dribble from the wing just before the buzzer sounds.

With three quarters in the books, Freeland has a 47-45 lead.

Freeland has the ball to begin the fourth quarter. The Falcons miss a layup. Zander Wheatley grabs the offensive rebound for the Falcons. Wilson Huckeby hits a three point shot from the wing for Freeland. Tristan Comer tips a pass out of bounds; Frankenmuth retains possession. Zander Wheatley blocks a Frankenmuth threeball from the wing; it leads to a Frankenmuth up and down (traveling) violation. Connor Lasceski passes to Tucker Hileman, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Freeland a 53-47 lead.

Ethan McNiel hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Freeland misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth takes possession. Wilson Huckeby steals the ball for Freeland. The Falcons miss a three point shot from the top of the key. Tristan Comer steals a Frankenmuth pass. Freeland loses the ball out of bounds on a too fat break. Hagan Wascher inbounds the ball to Ethan McNiel, who hits a layup for Frankenmuth to trim the Falcon lead to 53-49.

Ethan McNiel steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Tristan Comer steals the ball for Freeland. Freeland misses a layup. The rebound goes long and bodies start hitting the floor. Frankenmuth accidentally kicks the ball and Freeland takes possession. Connor Lasceski drives from the side and hits a layup to give Freeland a 55-49 lead.

Tristan Comer blocks a Frankenmuth layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. Frankenmuth travels driving in for a layup. Hagan Wascher knocks Freeland’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Falcons get the ball back. Caden Sommerfield knocks the ball away from Freeland and another Eagle picks it up for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a jump shot.

Ethan Edwards knocks the ball away from Freeland, but the Falcons are able to recover. Freeland travels while driving in for a layup. Ethan McNiel passes to Caden Sommerfield, who hits a layup to cut the Freeland lead to 55-51.

Caden Sommerfield steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Caden Sommerfield passes to Aiden Labissoniere, who takes a dribble and throws in a threeball from the top of the key to slash the Freeland lead to one point. Ethan Edwards knocks a Falcon pass out of bounds, but Freeland retains possession. Aiden Labissoniere plays tough defense and a Freeland dribbler steps on the sideline. Caden Sommerfield drives and hits a layup to give Frankenmuth a 56-55 lead.

Freeland misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound is tied up and the Possession Arrow gives the ball to Frankenmuth. Conner Lasceski steals a Frankenmuth pass. Wilson Huckeby fakes a three pointer from the corner and drives to the basket for a layup that gives Freeland a 57-56 lead.

Frankenmuth calls timeout with 22.4 seconds. The Eagles move the ball around as Freeland keeps anyone from getting open to shoot, so Frankenmuth calls another timeout with 3.1 seconds left. When play resumes, Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Freeland gets the ball with .2 of a second left. Freeland throws a long pass; the ball is touched and the final buzzer sounds.

Freeland wins this game by the final score of 57-56.

Aiden Labissoniere and Caden Sommerfield each scored 14 points to lead the Frankenmuth scoring. Ethan Edwards joined his teammates in double figures with 11 points. Cash Tedford and Ethan McNiel each added 6 points. Lleyton Hoard had 3 points and Hagan Wascher scored 2 points.

Wilson Huckeby led the Freeland scoring with 17 points. Tristan Comer supported his teammate with 14 points. Connor Lasceski contributed 10 points. Tucker Hileman chipped in with 8 points. Zander Wheatley tossed in 4 points. Ross Ferrell added 3 points and Max Heyn tallied 1 point.