Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart at Fulton – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 19, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Fulton. In the past, your Bleacher Denizen’s trips to Fulton to watch Fulton sports (not just basketball – – football, softball and baseball have also been impacted) were frequently impacted by the “Fulton Weather Curse” which seemed to complicate many trips to Fulton with ice, snow, cold, sleet, wind and even lightning once at a football game.

However, despite tonight’s extremely cold temperatures, the Bleacher Denizen is defying the Fulton Weather Curse and will watch as the Fulton Pirate boys host the Irish from Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in a contest that features the top two teams in the Mid-State Activities Conference. Fulton is 14-2 in the MSAC and 15-5 overall. Sacred Heart is 15-0 in the league and 17-2 overall.

Your Bleacher Denizen is proud to announce that he took the “Fulton Weather Curse” head on and was able to get to the game! He is glad that he is not “Too Old to Cut the Mustard” in real life, even if he is in this You Tube video!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GOgZAHqxI

The Fulton Pirates have some fine players. Ian Lamkin is a fine three point shooter who is capable of torching other teams when he has a hot streak. Parker Billings is an excellent all-around athlete who mans the middle for the Pirates. He is tall, strong and fast which makes him a formidable defender near the basket. He is also a capable scorer in the post.

Bryson Sattler and Parker Duflo do a lot of the ball handling for the Pirates. Either of them has the ball handling and defensive skills to run the point. Bryson Sattler is hard to stop when he drives to the basket. Parker Duflo is a classic point guard and leader whose intensity helps drive the Pirates. He is a fierce perimeter defender. Both of these guys can hit the open three point shot as well.

Peyton Reynolds is a tough glue guy player. He plays excellent defense on the perimeter or in the post and is a tough screener who also takes his share of charging fouls from the opposition. Parker Hungerford is a solid perimeter defender whose passing helps keep the Fulton offense moving. Tanner Villalobos and Coltin Kus defend the perimeter well and are threats from the three point line.

Sacred Heart is coming off a previous season where they advanced to the final game of the State Tournament. They return two All-State Guards from that team, Grady Pieratt and Noah Zeien. Irish Coach Justin Sherlock gave me this information about his Irish players.

Both Noah Zeien and Grady Pieratt are complete guards who are quick and athletic. Both of them a strong perimeter defenders. They both have all the ball handling, passing and scoring skills a top notch guard will have. If they differ, Noah Zeien is a little more likely to shoot the three point shot and Grady Pieratt is a little more likely to drive to the basket although both of them are major threats to the opponent in either situation.

Brody Cherry is a strong three point shooter who is leading the Irish in scoring this season. Jason Boge is a tough defender and rebounder in the post. Brady Davis is a strong perimeter defender who can slash to the basket or score from the three point line. Joe McDonald is a tough defender, rebounder and scorer in the post.

Nate Siler is an athletic player who can defend on the perimeter or in the post; he also brings a solid three point shot to the Irish. Luke Hacker is a good perimeter defender. Ryan Wiggins defends and rebounds well in the post; he is also a threat from the three point line. Cody Dejong defends the perimeter well and is a good three point shooter.

I got to the gym in time to see most of the JV game. Sacred Heart got off to a 10-6 lead after one quarter, but Fulton outscored the Irish 23-10 in the second quarter to take a 29-20 halftime lead. Fulton won the third quarter by one point and led 42-32 going into the fourth quarter.

Sacred Heart scored the first three points in the fourth quarter on a steal and layup by Brody Collin and a free throw by Jonathan Egan to pull within seven points at 42-35, but Fulton shut out Sacred Heart after that until Nate Cromar hit a three point shot from the corner at the final buzzer. Fulton scored nine points in that time and won the JV game 51-38.

Hank McDonald led the Irish JVs with 13 points. Jonathan Egan and Brody Collin each contributed 7 points. Ben Kropf tossed in 5 points. Caden Hoeve and Nate Cromar each scored 3 points.

Zach Litwiller had 26 points to lead the Fulton JVs. Cameron Diana joined his teammate in double figures with 12 points. Levi Palacios added 6 points. Carter Brown had 4 points and Jacob Alexander put in 3 points.

Dakota Malek, a Fulton senior, has been announcing tonight. I’ve seen him announce before; tonight, he surprised me and did a fine job singing the National Anthem! He held his pitch and his confidence did not waver singing in front of a full gym!!! Kudos, Dakota!!! (As a person who was a professional musician most of his adult life, I always love to salute a student for a musical job well done!!)

It is now time to review the events of this contest through the occasionally accurate lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. He was showing a lot of promise as a dunker, but, alas, the basketball powers that be ruined everything by raising the basket from five feet to ten feet. All the painstaking practice on my dunk moves went to waste.

Sacred Heart wins the opening tap. Noah Zeien wastes no time hitting a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line to give his Irish the first two points of the game. Jason Boge plays tough defense in the middle and forces Fulton to miss a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Sacred Heart takes possession. Sacred Heart misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow.

Brody Cherry gets the offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart misfires on a threeball from the side. Noah Zeien gets the offensive rebound, drives and is hammered on his way to the basket. (Your Bleacher Denizen’s entire body seemed to get a sympathy bruise when he saw the collision.) Noah Zeien got up, strode to the free throw line and calmly hit two free throws to give Sacred Heart a 4-0 lead with 7:00 remaining in the opening quarter.

Fulton misfires on a triple try from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity. Fulton misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Again, the rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity. Parker Duflo is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for the Pirates to trim the Irish lead to 4-2 with 6:21 to play in the first quarter.

Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the corner. Grady Pieratt knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton gets the ball back. Parker Billings is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Fulton to tie the game. Brady Davis drives and is fouled on a layup. He hits two free throws to give Sacred Heart a 6-4 lead with 5:37 to go in the quarter.

Peyton Reynolds passes to Parker Duflo, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for the Pirates to tie the game. Grady Pieratt drives the baseline and hits a layup for Sacred Heart to retake the lead. Bryson Sattler is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to tie the game at 8-8 with 4:55 to play in the quarter.

Sacred Heart misfires on a threeball from the wing. Parker Duflo goes coast to coast and hits a layup for Fulton to take the lead. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the side and fouls on the rebound. Bryson Sattler passes to Parker Billings, who spins and hits a layup for the Pirates. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Parker Duflo drives and shifts the ball between his hands while in the air before he makes a layup that gives Fulton a 14-8 lead.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. Nate Siler gets the offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart is whistled for a traveling violation. Bryson Sattler drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Sacred Heart loses a pass into the lane out of bounds. Fulton misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Jason Boge passes to Grady Pieratt, who hits a fast break layup for the Irish to stop a ten point Fulton run and trim the Pirate lead to 16-10.

Brady Davis and Jason Boge double team a Pirate in the lane and force a traveling violation. Parker Duflo draws a charging foul from the Irish. Peyton Reynolds passes to Ian Lamkin, who throws in a threeball from the wing for the Pirates. Brody Cherry drives and hits a twelve foot shot in the lane to trim the Fulton lead to 19-12.

Fulton misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Irish take possession. Brody Cherry passes to Noah Zeien, who takes a three point shot from the wing for the Irish and is fouled with just 1.2 seconds left in the period. Noah Zeien hits two of his three free throws to cut the Fulton lead to 19-14.

Fulton heaves the ball as the first quarter buzzer announces that the period is over.

After one quarter, Fulton holds a 19-14 lead.

Fulton has the ball to start the second quarter. The Pirates commit a traveling violation. Sacred Heart misses a layup. Ryan Wiggins gets the offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart misses a jump shot. Ryan Wiggins gets another offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart misses a shot. Fulton misses a jump shot and a putback. Grady Pieratt zooms up the court and hits a fast break layup for Sacred Heart. Parker Billings makes a layup for Fulton and is fouled. He hits his free throw to give the Pirates a 22-16 lead with 6:50 left in the first half.

Sacred Heart misses a layup. Fulton misses a driving layup. Peyton Reynolds is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for Fulton. Noah Zeien drives and hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Brody Cherry blocks a Fulton shot. The Pirates pick up the loose ball, but miss a layup. Parker Billings steals the ball for the Pirates. Jason Boge forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow declares that Sacred Heart shall get the ball. Noah Zeien hits a jump shot off the free throw elbow to shave the Fulton lead to 24-20.

Fulton misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton gets the ball back. Parker Duflo passes to Ian Lamkin, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key for Fulton. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the corner. Bryson Sattler passes to Parker Duflo, who throws in a threeball from the wing to give his Pirates a 30-20 lead.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. Grady Pieratt pulls down the offensive rebound for the Irish. Brody Cherry drives and hits a six foot shot in the lane for the Irish. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Sacred Heart misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. Fulton misses a threeball from the side. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the corner. Fulton misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Sacred Heart takes possession.

The Irish miss a driving layup. Noah Zeien pulls down the offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart misses a layup. Parker Duflo drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Sacred Heart misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton takes possession. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer from the side. Fulton is whistled for an over and back violation. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the side just as the halftime buzzer lets us know it is in the building.

Fulton has a 32-22 halftime lead.

Noah Zeien is leading the Sacred Heart scoring at halftime with 10 points and Grady Pieratt has 6 points.

Parker Duflo has 13 points at halftime to lead Fulton. Parker Billings has 7 points and Ian Lamkin has 6 points.

Fulton inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Parker Billings spins and hits a layup for the Pirates. Brady Davis passes to Noah Zeien, who hits a three point shot from the wing for the Irish. Peyton Reynolds drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Sacred Heart commits an over and back violation.

Parker Duflo passes to a Pirate teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Peyton Reynolds blocks an Irish shot. Jason Boge draws a charging foul from Fulton. Brody Cherry drives from the side and hits an eight foot shot in the lane for Sacred Heart. He is fouled on the shot, but misses his free throw. Bryson Sattler is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to boost Fulton to a 37-27 lead with 5:46 left in quarter number three.

Sacred Heart misses a layup. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Ian Lamkin steals the ball, zips up court with the ball, stops and pops in a threeball from the wing for Fulton. Noah Zeien drives and hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Parker Hungerford throws in a threeball from the wing for Fulton. Sacred Heart drives the baseline and misses a six foot shot. Parker Duflo is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to give the Pirates a 44-29 lead with 3:12 to play in quarter number three.

Sacred Heart misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Fulton misses a driving layup. Sacred Heart misses a six foot banked shot on the fast break. Bryson Sattler his a three point shot from the side for Fulton. Sacred Heart misfires on a triple try from the wing. Brody Cherry pulls down the offensive rebound for the Irish. Jason Boge is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for the Irish to trim the Fulton lead to 47-30 with 1:53 remaining in the quarter.

Fulton misses a layup. Noah Zeien passes to Grady Pieratt, who hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Parker Duflo hits a driving layup for Fulton. Noah Zeien reciprocates and hits a driving layup for Sacred Heart. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Ian Lamkin pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton commits a traveling violation. Noah Zeien hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side for Sacred Heart. Fulton misses a long heave at the end of the period.

After three quarters, Fulton has a 49-36 lead.

Sacred Heart inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Noah Zeien, who has been sparkling all night, makes a nice dribble move and hits a three point shot from the top of the key for the Irish. (There are times when he makes it look easy. As a mere church league veteran, I know it is NOT.) Brody Cherry knocks the ball away from Fulton and Joe McDonald picks it up for Sacred Heart. Your Bleacher Denizen’s nose was in his notes as the fast pace went on. Announcer Dakota Malek said that Noah Zeien hit a two point shot for the Irish to trim the Pirate lead to 51-41.

Your aging Bleacher Denizen missed the play taking notes and will take Dakota’s word for it. Mr. Zeien, I don’t know how you scored. If you leaped, did a double summersault in the air and dunked it, I apologize for not seeing it. While the Bleacher Denizen is mired in guilt for missing the play, Fulton misses a layup and Parker Billings hits a putback to give Fulton a 51-41 lead.

Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the top of the key. Fulton misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Grady Pieratt drives and hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Fulton commits an offensive foul. Grady Pieratt drives and hits a reverse layup for Sacred Heart to trim the Fulton lead to 51-45.

Brady Davis and Jason Boge double team Fulton’s ball handler and forces the Pirates to call timeout to avoid turning the ball over. Brody Cherry knocks Fulton’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. Noah Zeien steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to slash the Pirate lead to four points at 51-47.

Parker Duflo is fouled on a driving layup and sinks one of his two free throws for Fulton. Parker Billings hits a putback of the missed free throw for the Pirates. Sacred Heart misses a driving layup. Ryan Wiggins snags the offensive rebound for the Irish. Peyton Reynolds knocks the ball away from Sacred Heart and to a Pirate teammate. Parker Billings spins and hits a layup to push the Fulton lead to 56-47.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. Brady Davis and Jason Boge stand tough in the lane and force a Fulton traveling violation. Noah Zeien hits a sixteen footer off the dribble from the wing for Sacred Heart. Parker Duflo drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. Noah Zeien knocks the ball out of bounds to prevent a Fulton layup. Peyton Reynolds inbounds the ball to Parker Duflo, who hits a layup to give Fulton a 60-49 lead.

Brady Davis hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Fulton misses a six foot shot in the lane. Peyton Reynolds blocks an Irish layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Irish get another opportunity. Noah Zeien passes to Grady Pieratt, who hits a three point shot from the wing for the Irish. Noah Zeien steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to cut Fulton’s lead to four points. Peyton Reynolds drives and misses a layup, but he quickly puts the rebound back up and through the basket as he is fouled. He misses the free throw. With 1:28 left on the clock, Fulton has a 62-56 lead.

Brady Davis hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Peyton Reynolds is fouled and sinks two free throws for Fulton. Grady Pieratt passes to Brady Davis, who hits a three pointer from the corner for the Irish and chops Fulton’s lead to three points. Bryson Sattler is fouled and hits two free throws to give Fulton a 66-61 lead with 42.2 seconds to go.

Bryson Sattler steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fulton to give the Pirates a seven point lead. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer from the corner. The action is fast; a Pirate (I think it was Bryson Sattler but am not sure) steals the ball and passes to Peyton Reynolds who hits a fast break layup for Fulton. He is fouled, but misses his free throw. Fulton leads 70-61 with just 15.8 seconds left.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the side. With 7.4 seconds left, Ryan Wiggins is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws. Fulton dribbles out the clock.

Fulton wins this fiercely contested contest by the final score of 70-62.

Noah Zeien put on an amazing all-around performance for the Irish and led all scorers with 30 points. (He is a returning all-State guard for a reason!!) Grady Pieratt also had a fine game and scored 15 points. Brady Davis supported his teammate with 9 points. Brody Cherry tossed in 6 points. Jason Boge and Ryan Wiggins each tallied 1 point.

Parker Billings played an excellent game in the post and led Fulton with 20 points. Parker Duflo supported him with 18 points. Bryson Sattler joined his teammates in double figures with 12 points. Ian Lamkin had three treys for 9 points. Peyton Reynolds had six points in the final two minutes and scored 8 for the game. Parker Hungerford contributed one threeball for three points.