Vestaburg vs. Breckenridge – – MHSAA Boys Basketball District First Round – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 24, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Time is rolling by quickly! It is now time for the March Madness to start even though it is just February. Your Bleacher Denizen is doing his best to prevent the February version of March Madness to keep from boggling his mind too much so he does not miss out on the excitement of the tournament.

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is in Vestaburg, where the hometown Wolverines are hosting the district. The Wolverines bring a 12-8 regular season record into this game and will compete with the Huskies from Breckenridge, who have a 10-11 record. The winner of tonight’s game will play Fowler in the District Semifinal Game on Wednesday.

It was a nice sunny day and the first road trip I’ve done in a few weeks where I didn’t have to deal with ice and snow! It reminds me a bit of the day I describe in this original song from my You Tube Channel!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

I have seen these teams play before this season when they played their conference game in Breckenridge. Here is some information I got from Coach Jeff Ostrander at that time.

Noah Barr is a fine athlete and excellent all-around player who is a versatile scorer that can score from the three point line or on slashes to the basket. Maddax McCaw is a strong ball handler and a tough perimeter defender who runs the point for the Huskies. Zander Mapes is a tough scorer, rebounder and defender in the post. Trey Most is a fine post defender and rebounder who gets his share of putback baskets.

Aimon Humm and Blaze Snyder are energetic perimeter defenders. Isaac Bush is a good defender in the post and rebounds well.

I got this information from Vestaburg Coach Ty Warczinsky.

Brehm Warczinsky is an excellent three point shooter who has incredible range on his shot. He handles the ball well and is a good perimeter defender. Landon Arntz is a tough defender and rebounder in the post. On offense, he also has excellent range on this three point shot and is a threat in the post or the midrange as well. Keegan Beetley is another accurate three point shooter for the Wolverines.

Jansen Scholer is an excellent perimeter defender who also rebounds well. He scores on slashes to the basket. Jace Janofski is an energetic defender in the post who is also a solid rebounder. Jayden Hilding is a tough defender and rebounder in the post; he is will to stand in and take charging fouls from opponents as well. Kofee Arntz defends and rebounds well in the post. He can score in the post or from the three point line.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he tried to hoop in the days of old. He was showwing some promise as a dunker until the basketball powers that be raised the rim from five feet to ten feet. All that time practicing windmill dunk moves went to waste as the Bleacher Denizen’s playing time disappeared.

Vestaburg wins the opening tap. Gavin Corbat steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Huskies. Vestaburg throws a pass through the lane and out of bounds. Maddax McCaw passes to Zander Mapes, who throws in a threeball from the side to give his Huskies a 5-0 lead.

Landon Arntz answers by making a three point shot from the side for Vestaburg. Kofee Arntz knocks the ball out of bounds; Breckenridge retains possession. Trey Most alertly saves the ball to keep it in bounds for Breckenridge. The Huskies miss a driving reverse layup. Vestaburg misses a threeball from the side. Brehm Warczinsky Breckenridge misse a layup. Vestaburg misfires on a triple try from the side. Brehm Warczinsky taps the ball away from Breckenridge and Keegan Beetley picks it up for Vestaburg.

Maddax McCaw steals the ball for Breckenridge. The Huskies miss a six foot shot from the baseline. Vestaburg misfires on a triple try from the wing. Breckenridge misses a jump shot from the three point line. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the side. The Bleacher Denizen misses seeing the ball go through the basket.

Brehm Warczinsky steals the ball for the Wolverines. Noah Barr streaks down the court and knocks the ball from behind and out of bounds to prevent Vestaburg from shooting a fast break layup. Vestaburg retains possession. The Wolverines miss a threeball from the corner. Vestaburg turns the ball over. Breckenridge misses a layup. Jansen Scholer passes to Brehm Warczinsky, who hits a long three point shot past the top of the key to give Vestaburg a 6-5 lead.

(If you ever watch a Vestaburg game, you will be amazed at how far from the basket Brehm Warczinsky can shoot accurately.)

Breckenridge loses a pass out of bounds. Vestaburg misses a long heave as the first quarter buzzer announces that the period is over.

After one quarter, Vestaburg has a 6-5 lead.

Vestaburg inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Wolverines throw an alley-oop pass near the basket, but miss the layup. Trey Most passes to Noah Barr, who hits a layup to give Breckenridge a one point lead. Noah Barr knocks the ball away from Vestaburg, but the Wolverines are able to recover. Kolton Kilmer passes to Jansen Scholer, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Vestaburg a 9-7 lead.

Breckenridge misses a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Vestaburg misses a threeball from the wing. Breckenridge misses a three point attempt from the top of the key. Kolton Kilmer passes to Keegan Beetley, who hits a three pointer from the side for the Wolverines. Keegan Beetley steals the ball and passes to Jansen Scholer, who hits a layup to give Vestaburg a 14-7 lead.

Breckenridge throws a pass out of bounds. Maddax McCaw knocks a Wolvering pass out of bounds; Vestaburg retains possession. Vestaburg misses a three point attempt from the side and fouls on the rebound. Brehm Warczinsky forces a Breckenridge traveling violation. Landon Arntz passes to Jace Janofski, who hits a layup to boost the Vestaburg lead to 16-7.

Breckenridge misses a threeball frm the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Huskies get another opportunity. Noah Barr inbounds the ball to Gavin Corbat, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to trim the Vestaburg lead to 16-9 with 3:21 left in the second quarter.

Maddax McCaw and Isaac Bush team up to knock the ball out of bounds. Vestaburg retains possession. Vestaberg misses a layup. Jace Janofski grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Either a wild pass or wild shot by Vestaburg hits the backboard in the upper right corner. Breckenridge takes possession of the loose ball. Kofee Arntz blocks a Breckenridge layup.

Vestaburg misses a twelve footer in the lane. Kolton Kilmer steals the ball for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Jace Janofski grabs the long offensive rebound and throws in a threeball as he is fouled. He misses his free throw. Vestaburg has a 19-9 lead with 1:37 left in the second quarter.

Breckenridge misses a three pointer from the side. Vestaburg misses a fast break layup. Breckenridge misses a driving layup. Isaac Bush hits a putback for the Huskies. Vestaburg misfires on a three pointer from the side. Gavin Corbat passes to Zander Mapes, who makes a nice post move and hits a layup to trim the Wolverine lead to 19-13.

Vestaburg misses a driving scooped shot. Kolten Kilmer steals the ball for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses a long shot as the buzzer announces the end of the first half.

Vestaburg has a 19-13 halftime lead.

Jansen Scholer and Jace Janofski each have 5 points for Vestaburg.

Zander Mapes has 5 points and Gavin Corbat has 4 points for Breckenridge.

Breckenridge inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Noah Barr hits a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane for the Huskies. Keegan Beetley hits a threeball from the corner for Breckenridge. Noah Barr hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Breckenridge to shave the Wolverine lead to 22-17.

Vestaburg misses a ten foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Brehm Warczinsky steals a Breckenridge pass. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the wing. Breckenridge misses a three pointer from the corner. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the side; Breckenridge fouls on the rebound. Brehm Warczinsky inbounds the ball to Landon Arntz, who hits a swishes a threeball from the corner for the Wolverines. Zander Mapes drives and hits a layup for the Huskies. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw to cut the Wolverine lead to 25-20 with 5:39 remaining in quarter number three.

Zander Mapes gets his hand on the ball, but Vestaburg recovers. The Wolverines miss a three pointer from the corner. Gavin Corbat is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Vestaburg. The Wolverines miss a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Keegan Beetley knocks the ball out of bounds; Breckenridge retains possession. The Huskies miss a three pointer from the wing. Blaze Snyder pulls down the offensive rebound for the Huskies.

Breckenridge misses a three pointer from the wing. Vestaburg misses a fast break layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow muses about how it always get to decide who gets the ball, but never gets to play. It sadly allocates the ball to Vestaburg as it dreams of the fun the players are having. Jansen Scholer does not spend time commiserating with the Possession Arrow. Instead, he passes to Brehm Warczinski, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Vestaburg a 28-22 lead.

Breckenridge misses a threeball from the corner. Blaze Snyder hits a putback for the Huskies. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the wing. Blaze Snyder passes to Zander Mapes, who hits a six foot banked shot from the side for Breckenridge. Vestaburg misses a threeball from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Breckenridge misses a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane. Zander Mapes steals the ball and hits a layup for Breckenridge to tie the game at 28-28.

Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the side. Breckenridge misses a layup. Gavin Corbat snares the offensive rebound for the Huskies. Keegan Beetley knocks the ball out of bounds and Vestaburg takes possession. The Wolverines miss a twelve foot banked shot from the side. Landon Arntz is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Vestaburg a 29-28 lead with 1:54 to play in quarter number three.

The rebound from the missed free throw goes out of bounds and Vestaburg gets the ball. Gavin Corbat steals the Wolverine inbound pass. Breckenridge misses a fast break layup. Vestaburg misses a threeball from the side. Breckenridge is whistled for a traveling violation. Vestaburg misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Jace Janofski gets the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses a layup. Landon Arntz gets the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses another layup.

Breckenridge misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the wing. Breckenridge grabs the rebound as the buzzer tells all that this is the end of quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, Vestaburg holds a 29-28 lead.

Breckenridge inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter started. Gavin Corbat passes to Zander Mapes, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the lead to Breckenridge. Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the corner. Jansen Scholer gets the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses a layup. Jace Janofski gets the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses another layup. Gavin Corbat passes to Isaac Bush, who hits a layup to give Breckenridge a 33-29 lead.

Vestaburg misses a driving layup. Noah Barr hits a layup for Breckenridge. Jansen Scholer passes to Landon Arntz, who hits a turnaround twelve footer in the lane for Vestaburg. Breckenridge misses a layup. Isaac Bush pulls down the offensive rebound for the Huskies. Keegan Beetley steals the ball for the Wolverins. Landon Arntz passes to Keegan Beetley, who hits a three point shot from the corner to slash the Breckenridge lead to 35-34.

Noah Barr hits a twelve foot turnaround shot from the wing for Breckenridge. Vestaburg misfires on a triple try from the wing. Breckenridge fouls on the rebound. Landon Arntz drives and hits a reverse layup for the Wolverines. Breckenridge misses a twelve footer off the dribble from the side of the lane. Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Keegan Beetley snags the long offensive rebound on the wing; he fires it right back up and hits a threeball to give the Wolverines a 39-37 lead.

Landon Arntz blocks a Huskie driving layup. Vestaburg misses a layup. Jace Janoski is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Vestaburg a 40-37 lead with 3:43 to go.

Blaze Snyder reacts quickly to prevent a bad pass from becoming a Breckenridge turnover. Breckenriddge misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Zander Mapes pulls down the offensive rebound for the Huskies. Gavin Corbat drives and hits a layup in traffic for Breckenridge. Landon Arntz is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Vestaburg a 42-39 lead with 2:37 left.

Carter Suhr hits a seventeen foot shot off the dribble near the top of the key for Breckenridge. Landon Arntz responds by hitting a seventeen foot shot from the wing for Vestaburg. Gavin Corbat inbounds the ball to Zander Mapes, who spins, makes a post move and hits a layup for Breckenridge as he is fouled. He makes his free throw to tie the game at 44-44 with 1:48 left in the final quarter.

Vestaburg misses a threeball from the corner. Maddax McCaw passes to Zander Mapes, who sinks a threeball from the side to give Breckenridge the lead. Kolton Kilmer passes to Landon Arntz, who hits a layup for Vestaburg. Noah Barr is fouled and hits two free throws to give Breckenridge a 49-46 lead with 29.2 seconds left on the clock.

Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Vestaburg gets possession. The Wolverines miss a three point shot fromt he corner. Breckenridge is fouled, but misses two free throws with 14.1 seconds to play. Jansen Scholer passes to Landon Arntz, who hits a three point shot for Vestaburg to tie the game at 49-49 with just a couple seconds left.

Breckenridge misses a buzzer heave. The game is tied 49-49 after four quarters and there will be OVERTIME in the district tournament at Vestaburg!

Breckenridge wins the opening tap in overtime. The Huskies miss a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Kolton Kilmer is fouled on the rebound and hits one of his two free throws to give his Wolverines a 50-49 lead with 3:44 left in overtime.

Breckridge misses a driving layup. Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Landon Arntz grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Zander Mapes knocks the ball away from Vestaburg, but the Wolverines recover. Vestaburg misses a threeball from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Vestaburg takes possession. Noah Barr drives and hits a layup to give the Huskies a 51-50 lead.

Isaac Bush knocks the ball out of bounds; Vestaburg retains possession. Jansen Scholer is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to tie the game at 51-51 with 2:25 left in overtime.

Landon Arntz blocks a Breckenridge driving layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Huskies get another opportunity. Jace Janofski ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow decides to give the ball to Vestaburg. Carter Suhr nearly steals the ball for Breckenridge, but he cannot corral the ball before it goes out of bounds. Vestaburg gets another opportunity. Carter Suhr steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Breckenridge a 53-51 lead.

Kolton Kilmer passes to Landon Arntz, who hits a layup for Vestaburg to tie the game. Carter Suhr is fouled and hits two free throws to give Breckenridge a two point lead. Vestaburg misses a three pointer from the corner. Noah Barr is fouled and hits two free throws to give Breckenridge a 57-53 lead with 39.2 seconds to go in overtime.

Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the corner. Keegan Beetley hits a putback for Vestaburg and is fouled. He misses his free throw. With 28.7 seconds left, Breckenridge holds a 57-55 lead.

Jace Janofski grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolverines. Vestaburg misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Breckenridge gets the ball with 6.3 seconds left. Noah Barr is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for the Huskies. With 5.0 seconds remaining, Breckenridge has a 58-55 lead.

Vestaburg misses a thirty foot shot from the wing as overtime comes to an end.

Breckenridge wins this District first round game 58-55 in overtime and will play Fowler in the District Semifinal on Wednesday.

Vestaburg’s Landon Arntz led all scorers with 22 points. Keegan Beetley supported his teammate with 14 points. Brehm Warczinsky, Jansen Scholer and Jace Janofski each contributed 6 points. Kolton Kilmer tallied 1 point.

Zander Mapes led Breckenridge with 21 points. Noah Barr chipped in with 17 points. Gavin Corbat had 8 points and Carter Suhr added 6 points as Breckenridge got fourteen points from its two freshmen! Isaac Bush scored 4 points and Blaze Snyder put in 2 points.