Fowler vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist – – MHSAA Boys State Basketball Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 14, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft
This evening, the MHSAA is holding the Division 4 boys’ basketball semifinals at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University. In tonight’s second game, the Chargers from Allen Park Inter-City Baptist will play the Eagles from Fowler.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist comes into the game ranked #6 with a 24-3 record. The Chargers hold impressive wings over Kingston, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Southfield Christian and Division 1 Riverview.
Ethan Esse is the scoring leader for the Chargers. He is a returning All-State player who averaged 22.3 points and 4.6 assists per game. He has throws 64 threeballs through the hoop so far this season. Carlos Jackson averages 11.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Mason Kowalski averages 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
Josh Hamilton, Asher Bettinger and Jack Dawson also play a big role for the Chargers.
Fowler is 24-3 and ranked #4 in Division 4. They have impressive wins over Bellaire, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and fellow semifinalist Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian as well as Fulton, Portland St. Patrick and Division 2 Marshall.
The Eagles are led by four seniors. (As I cover the Eagles games frequently, I know a bit more about their team than the others.)
Jacob Halfmann has been the Eagle starting point guard since his freshman year. He averages 12.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He is also an excellent leader who knows when he needs to take over on offense, which he is quite capable of. He has hit 41 three point shots so far this year. Alex Halfmann is another four year starter who works in the middle for Fowler. He averages 11 points and 6.7 rebounds.
Aaron Simon is a three point sniper who can get really hot. He scores 12.3 points per gme and has hit 65 three pointers this year and is a three year starter. Asher Koenigsknecht is also a three year starter for all practical purposes (he was a sixth man who played as much as the starters as a sophomore.) He averages 11.7 points per game and has hit 53 three point baskets.
The real star of the Eagle team is the defense anchored by the four seniors and Joe Epkey, who along with Alex Halfmann gives Fowler two huge men who can defend and rebound inside. Aaron Simon, Asher Koenigsknecht and Jacob Halfmann play tough defense on the perimeter.
The CMAC actually has two teams in the boys’ semifinals this year. I was here earlier today to cover the Pewamo-Westphalia semifinal game. Here is the play by play of that game.
It is now time to review this game from the perspective of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the ancient times when he was actually considered to be “young.” He was showing some promise as a three point shooter, but everything fell apart when the basketball powers that be ruled that he could no longer use a catapult to launch his shots.
Fowler wins the opening tap. Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler the first three points of the game. Inter-City Baptist misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Fowler misses a layup. Joe Epkey pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a ten footer from the side. Joe Epkey gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht passes the ball to Aaron Simon, who throws in a threeball from the corner to give Fowler a 6-0 lead.
Inter-City Baptist loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Inter-City Baptist reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Ethan Esse drives and hits a six foot shot in the lane to give the Chargers their first two points. The Halfmann connection comes through for Fowler as Alex passes to Jacob, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 9-2 lead.
Inter-City Baptist misses a threeball from the side. Mason Kowalski gets a hand on the ball for the Chargers, but the Eagles recover. Fowler misses a driving layup. Joe Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the side. Asher Koenigsknecht grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Asher Koenigsknecht hits a putback to give Fowler an 11-2 lead.
Carlos Jackson drives and hits a layup for Inter-City Baptist. Fowler misses a jump shot. Inter-City Baptist misses a driving six foot shot from the baseline. Jack Dawson gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Mason Kowalski passes to Carlos Jackson, who hits a three point shot from the side to trim the Fowler lead to 11-7.
Isaac Thelen passes to Aaron Simon, who throws in a threeball from the corner for the Eagles. Fowler’s defense prevents the Chargers from inbounding the ball in five seconds and they turn it over. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the corner. Joe Epkey forces a Charger traveling violation on a post move. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Jacob Halfmann knocks a pass out of bounds. Inter-City Baptist retains possession. The Chargers miss a threeball from the corner. Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 16-8 lead.
INter=City Baptist misses a threeball from the side. Aaron Simon is fouled on a six foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. He hits two free throws to boost the Fowler lead to 18-8 with 53.6 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
Inter-City Baptist misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Josh Hamilton grabs the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Josh Hamilton passes to Mason Kowalski, who hits a three pointer from the wing for the Chargers. Asher Bettinger knocks the ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles recover. Joe Epkey passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the wing just before the buzzer.
After one quarter, Fowler has a 21-11 lead.
Inter-City Baptist inbounds the ball to open the second period. Mason Kowalski passes to Ethan Esse, who hits an eight foot shot from the side for the Chargers. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Aaron Simon grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot. Joe Epkey gets the offensive rebound and passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a 24-13 lead.
Inter-City Baptist misses a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Alex Halfmann hits a putback for the Eagles. Inter-City Baptist misses an eight foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. The Eagles misfire on a threeball from the wing. Ethan Esse hits a fast break layup to trim the Fowler lead to 26-15.
Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Alex Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Jacob Halfmann is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Fowler a 28-15 lead with 5:03 to play in the first half.
Jack Dawson passes to Carlos Jackson, who hits a layup for the Chargers. Isaac Thelen passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who tosses in a threeball near the top of the key for Fowler. Inter-City Baptist misses a threeball from the wing. Fowler misses a layup. Isaac Thelen ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow mulls its options and awards the ball to Fowler. Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Fowler lead to 34-17.
Inter-City Baptist turns the ball over. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. The Chargers miss a driving layup. Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Augustine Spitzley, who hits a layup for Fowler. Carlos Jackson passes to Ethan Esse, who Ethan Esse, who hits a three point shot from the side to cut the Fowler lead to 36-20.
Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Asher Koenigsknecht chases down the long offensive rebound. He drives and hits a layup for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a threeball from the side. Ethan Esse drives and hits a layup for the Chargers. Fowler has a 38-22 lead.
Mason Kowalski steals the ball for the Chargers. Inter-City Baptist misses a fast break layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Inter-City Baptist misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Fowler holds the ball for the last shot. The Eagles are fouled on a driving layup, but miss two free throws with 4.7 seconds to play in the half. Joe Epkey gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the baseline as the second quarter makes its presence known.
At halftime, Fowler has a 38-22 lead.
Ethan Esse has 11 points to lead Inter-City Baptist at halftime. Carlos Jackson has 8 points.
Aaron Simon has 13 points to lead Fowler at halftime. Jacob Halfmann has 11 points and Asher Koenigsknecht has 10 points.
Inter-City Baptist inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Chargers miss a threeball from the wing. Jack Dawson knocks that ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles recover. The Eagles miss a threeball from the wing. Joe Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving reverse layup. Inter-City Baptist misses a layup. Mason Kowalski steals an Eagle pass. Ethan Esse drives and hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 38-24.
Alex Halfmann drives and hits a layup for the Eagles. Inter-City Baptist misses a twelve foot turnaround shot in the lane. Carlos Jackson steals the ball for the Chargers. Asher Koenigsknecht knocks the ball out of bounds; the Chargers retain possession. Joe Epkey knocks the ball away from the Chargers and Jacob Halfmann picks it up for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Inter-City Baptist gets the ball.
Inter-City Baptist misses a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Aaron Simon grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving layup. Carlos Jackson passes to Ethan Esse, who hits a three point shot from the wing to trim the Fowler lead to 40-27.
Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Inter-City Baptist takes possession. Inter-City Baptist misfires on a triple try from the wing. Fowler misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Inter-City Baptist misses a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Isaac Thelen blocks a Charger fast break layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Inter-City Baptist gets another opportunity. The Chargers commit a traveling violation. Jacob Halfmann tosses the ball to Alex Halfmann, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the baseline to give Fowler a 42-27 lead.
Inter-City Baptist misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Asher Koenigsknecht somehow manages to hit a three point shot from the wing as he is falling down. Inter-City Baptist misses a six foot shot in the lane. Fowler reciprocates and misses a six foot shot in the lane. Ethan Esse gets into the lane and hits a six foot shot for the Chargers. Fowler’s lead is at 45-29.
Fowler fails to get the ball over midcourt in the required ten seconds and turns the ball over. Carlos Jackson gets in to the lane, makes a post move and is fouled on a shot. He hits two free throws for the Chargers. With 1:19 remaining in quarter number three, Fowler has a 45-31 lead.
Ethan Esse knocks the ball away from Fowler and Carlos Jackson picks it up for Inter-City Baptist. Jacob Halfmann taps the ball away from the Chargers, but they are able to recover. Inter-City Baptist misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Jacob Halfmann launches a thirty footer off the dribble from the wing and hits it for Fowler just before the buzzer brings an end to quarter number three.
With three quarters in the books, Fowler holds a 48-31 lead.
Fowler inbounds the ball to open the final quarter. The Eagles miss a driving layup. Inter-City Baptist misses a threeball from the wing. Mason Kowalski blocks a Fowler driving layup. Inter-City Baptist misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Ethan Esse passes to Carlos Jackson, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for the Chargers. With 6:41 left on the clock, Fowler’s lead is at 48-32.
Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Ethan Esse hits a fast break layup for Inter-City Baptist. Mason Kowalski knocks the ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles recover. Carlos Jackson knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Alex Halfmann drives and banks in a six foot hook shot for Fowler. Ethan Esse drives and hits a layup for Inter-City Baptist. Fowler misses a jump shot. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Ethan Esse blocks a Fowler layup. Asher Koenigsknecht recovers the loose ball and hits a layup to give Fowler a 52-36 lead.
Inter-City Baptist misses a threeball from the top of the key. Josh Hamilton grabs the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Carlos Jackson is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Inter-City Baptist. With 4:10 to go, Fowler has a 52-37 lead.
Mason Kowalski steals the ball for the Chargers. Inter-City Baptist misses a three point shot from the corner. Jack Dawson gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Inter-City Baptist misses a jump shot. Aaron Simon hits a layup for Fowler. Alex Halfmann blocks a Charger threeball from the side. Fowler misses a driving layup. Asher Koenigsknecht pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Jacob Halfmann passes to Joe Epkey, who hits a layup to give Fowler a 56-37 lead.
Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler, but steps on the baseline. Mason Kowalski inbounds the ball to Ethan Esse, who hits a three pointer from the wing for the Chargers. Mason Kowalski steals a Fowler pass. Inter-City Baptist misses a three point shot from the corner. Josh Hamilton gets the offensive rebound for Inter-City Baptist. The Chargers miss a threeball from the wing. Joe Epkey is fouled on the rebound and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 57-40 lead with 54.2 seconds showing on the clock.
Evin Dela Paz hits a three point shot from the corner for Inter-City Baptist. Ford Phillips is fouled and hits two free throws for Fowler with 29.9 seconds left. Inter-City Baptist misses a three point shot from the wing. Dylan Pline rebounds the ball for Fowler just before the final buzzer sounds.
Fowler wins this game 59-43 and will play Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian in the State Final on Saturday.
Inter-City Baptist’s Ethan Esse had 25 points to lead all scorers. Carlos Jackson joined his teammate in double figures with 12 points. Mason Kowalski and Evin Dela Paz each put in 3 points.
Asher Koenigsknecht and Aaron Simon each had 15 points to lead Fowler. Jacob Halfmann contributed 14 points. Alex Halfmann chipped in with 8 points. Joe Epkey scored 3 points. Augustine Spitzley and Isaac Thelen each tallied 2 points.