Fowler vs. Frankfort – – Girls Division 4 State Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 18, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen has headed to Cadillac, where the Fowler Eagles will play the Panthers from Frankfort in the Division 4 Girls Basketball Quarterfinal. Fowler enters this game with a 24-2 record; their only losses were to Division 3 Regional Finalist Pewamo-Westphalia. Frankfort has an 18-6 record; they won the Northwest Conference title.

I cover the teams in Fowler’s league regularly and have seen the Eagles a few times this year. With some help from Coach Nate Goerge earlier this season, here are some things I have learned about the Eagle players.

Katie Spicer is a returning all-state player for the Eagles. She is extremely athletic and will be attending college on a track scholarship. She is a tough defensive player who gets up and down the court fast. She has an excellent three point shot. She is especially tough when she attacks the basket because she creates her moves based on what the defense does. She is able to make layups and short hook shots from an infinite number of contorted positions that are generally not blockable by the defense.

Ella Hufnagel is a senior who is also very athletic. She has some of the quickest hands and feet of any girls I have ever seen. She generates opponent turnovers in bunches. On offense, she is a strong ball handler who can either attack the basket or shoot from the three point line. Izzy Halfmann is an intense, but versatile defender who is equally effective in the lane or on the perimeter. She has a great basketball IQ and is always in proper position on defense. She is an excellent rebounder who scores a lot of points of putbacks; she is also good at keeping the ball moving while avoiding turnovers.

Brooke Weber is an excellent rebounder and defender in the post; on offense, she has an excellent three point shot and is capable of sustained hot streaks. Paige Thelen and Neelah O’Rourke are tough defenders and rebounders in the lane; they get their share of putback baskets as well.

Selena Stump is another three point sniper who can go on hot streaks. She is also a solid defender on the perimeter and can drive to the basket. Saige Miller is an excellent athlete who defends well and can help generate turnovers in the Eagle press. Paisley Hansen is another tough Eagle perimeter defender.

Frankfort Coach Tim Reznich was generous with his time and provided some information about his Panther players. Frankfort was in the State semifinals last year. There is only one returning starter from that team, although two others got significant playing time.

Savina Anhalt is the returning starter from last year’s semifinalists. She is a versatile player who can defend any place on the floor. She rebounds well, blocks a lot of shots and has a great basketball IQ. She is also a versatile scorer who can hit the threeball, slash to the basket or score on putbacks. Addie Jarosz got some playing time on last year’s semifinalist. She scores well in the post and can also slash to the basket or hit the midrange shot. She helps to generate a lot of opposition turnovers in the Panther press.

Willa Roth also got some significant time with last years’ semifinalists. She is a top notch perimeter defender who runs the point for the Panthers and gets the ball to the scorers. Coach Reznich also praised her basketball IQ. Ella Newbold is a guard who is a strong perimeter defender. She is a quality three point shooter and a strong offensive rebounder who can also score on putbacks. Olivia Johnson is a tough rebounder and defender in the post who can help defend on the perimeter when needed.

Riley LaVack is a solid post defender who has strong post moves and can score near the basket. She is also a good rebounder. Aubrey Dubord is a smart player. She is a strong perimeter defender who rarely turns the ball over. Sage Myers is a good perimeter defender.

The last two weeks of the basketball season are always really hectic. Last week, I saw Fowler’s boys three times; the final time was in the Division 4 State Championship Game!!
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/03/15/east-lansing-vs-wayne-memorial-division-1-boys-basketball-final-the-bleacher-denizen-march-15-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

It was quite a drive from Lansing to Cadillac, but your Bleacher Denizen got to the game with few complications. The weather was nice and the GPS was accurate!!

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the hopefully accurate lenses of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the ancient times when he was considered to be “young.” It seems that he was never able to learn that you should only put the ball into your own basket. Your Bleacher Denizen enjoyed shooting at the other basket without defenders trying to stop him, but the coach was not a fan of points being scored for the other team. The Bleacher Denizen’s playing time quickly disappeared!

Fowler wins the opening tap. Katie Spicer is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Eagles. Izzy Halfmann grabs the offensive rebound for Fowler. The Eagles lose the ball out of bounds. Izzy Halfmann knocks a Panther pass out of bounds; Frankfort retains possession. Katie Spicer knocks the ball away from Frankfort and Ella Hufnagel picks it up for Fowler. Katie Spicer passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 4-0 lead.

Frankfort misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Addie Jarosz steals the ball for the Panthers. Brooke Weber knocks the ball away from Frankfort and Katie Spicer picks it up for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a fast break layup for Fowler. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 6:10 to play in the opening quarter, Fowler has a 6-0 lead.

Paige Thelen blocks a Panther layup. Paige Thelen knocks the ball away from the Panthers and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow forgot that yesterday was St. Patrick’s day and is rushing to get the corned beef on the table today. It fails to see Ms. Thelen’s great hustle and awards the ball to Frankfort. Frankfort misses a three point shot from the wing. Riley LaVack steals the ball for the Panthers. Frankfort misses a fast break layup. Addie Jarosz hits a putback to trim the Eagle lead to 6-2.

Fowler misses a layup. Paige Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Audrey Dubord blocks a Fowler layup. Frankfort misses a layup. Izzy Halfmann hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Savina Anhalt is fouled on a six foot shot in the lane. She hits one of her two free throws to shave the Fowler lead to 8-3 with 4:12 remaining in the opening quarter.

Fowler misfires on a threeball from the wing. Katie Spicer gets her hand on the ball, but the Panthers recover. Frankfort misses a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a driving layup. Ella Hufnagel grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Selena Stump drives and dishes the ball to Neelah O’Rourke, who hits a layup to boost the Eagles to a 10-3 lead.

Frankfort misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow interrupts its cabbage chopping long enough to award the ball to Fowler. Fowler misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and Frankfort takes possession. Frankfort misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Selena Stump passes to Katie Spicer, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a 13-3 lead.

Frankfort misses a driving layup. Katie Spicer hits a fifteen foot shot off the dribble from the wing for the Eagles. Katie Spicer gets her hand on a Frankfort pass, but the Panthers recover. Frankfort misses a three pointer from the side and fouls on the rebound. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Savina Anhalf and Izzy Halfmann tie up the rebound. The Possession Arrow is getting potatoes ready to boil, but takes time to award the ball to Frankfort. Ella Hufnagel dives and nearly steals the ball for Fowler, but the Panthers recover. Frankfort misses a heave as the first quarter buzzer lets us know it’s here.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 15-3 lead.

Fowler has the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the side. Riley LaVack gets the rebound and goes coast to coast for a Panther layup to trim the Fowler lead to 17-5.

Katie Spicer passes to Paige Thelen, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Frankfort misses a six foot hook shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. The Panthers foul on the rebound. Katy Spicer passes to Selena Stump, who hits a three pointer from the corner for the Eagles. Frankfort misses a three point shot from the corner. Riley LaVack gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Frankfort misses a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Addie Jarosz passes to Ella Newbold, who hits a layup to shave the Eagle lead to 22-7.

Ella Newbold steals the ball for the Panthers. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball for the Eagles and hits a layup. Frankfort loses a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. The Eagles miss a putback. Frankfort misses a three pointer from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession.

Fowler misses a driving layup. Paige Thelen blocks a Frankfort layup and ties up the ball in the process. The Possession Arrow is ironing its Irish linen tablecloth and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Frankfort. Saige Miller and Katie Spicer double team Frankfort and cause a tieup. This time, the Possession Arrow takes a break from its ironing, sees the play and awards the ball to Fowler. Paige Thelen hooks in a layup to give Fowler a 26-7 lead.

Ella Hufnagel gets her hand on the ball; Frankfort recovers. Katie Spicer knocks the ball away from Frankfort and Ella Hufnagel picks it up for Fowler. Ella Hufnagel passes to Katie Spicer, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Paige Thelen steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a layup. Willa Roth passes to Addie Jarosz, who hits a ten foot banked shot in the lane for Frankfort. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the side. Addie Jarosz hits a layup for Frankfort and is fouled. She connects on her free throw. With 57.4 remaining in the half, Fowler has a 28-12 lead.

Savina Anhalt blocks a Fowler layup. Izzy Halfmann forces a tieup while blocking a shot. The Possession Arrow is frantically searching for a green shirt and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Frankfort. The Panthers miss a layup. Ella Hufnagel passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

At halftime, Fowler has a 31-12 lead.

Addie Jarosz has 7 points to lead the Frankfort scoring.

Brooke Weber and Katie Spicer each have 8 points to lead Fowler.

Fowler inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Eagles miss a layup. Paige Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles and passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Frankfort misses a three pointer from the side. Fowler commits an offensive foul.

Frankfort misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Panthers get another opportunity. Frankfort misses a driving layup. Addie Jarosz is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws for the Panthers. With 5:44 to play in quarter number three, Fowler’s lead is at 34-13.

Willa Roth knocks the ball away from Fowler and Riley LaVack picks it up for Frankfort. Izzy Halfmann steals a Panther pass into the lane. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Frankfort misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Fowler misses a driving layup. Izzy Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles.

Fowler misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. Fowler misses a layup. Ella Hufnagel dives and steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler loses an outlet pass out of bounds. Frankfort misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Fowler misses a driving layup. Paige Thelen is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to boost Fowler to a 35-13 lead with 3:45 left in quarter number three.

Paige Thelen ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is frantically trying to dye its blue T-shirt green before its St. Patrick Day guests arrive and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Frankfort. Paige Thelen knocks Frankfort’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Panthers get another opportunity. Ella Hufnagel steals a pass and hits a layup to give Fowler a 37-13 lead.

Saige Miller knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler takes possession. Fowler misses a layup. Izzy Halfmann hits a putback for the Eagles. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball and passes to Saige Miller for an Eagle layup. Frankfort misses a three point shot from the side. Riley LaVack hits a putback for Frankfort. Fowler loses the ball out of bounds. Katie Spicer steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Frankfort misses a fast break layup. Katie Spicer passes the ball to Brooke Weber, who pours in a threeball from the wing to give Fowler a 44-15 lead.

Riley LaVack drives and hits a layup for Frankfort. Katie Spicer throws in a threeball from the side for Fowler. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball and hits a layup for Fowler. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw. Ella Hufnagel knocks the ball out of bounds; Frankfort gets the ball back. The Panthers miss a threeball from the wing as the buzzer blares to end quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 50-17 lead.

Fowler has the ball to start out the final quarter. Ella Newbold gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Ella Hufnagel is fouled on a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane and hits one of her two free throws for the Eagles. With 7:36 left on the clock, Fowler has a 51-17 lead.

Frankfort commits an offensive foul. Fowler misses a driving layup. Neelah O’Rourke grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Katie Spicer drives and banks in an eight foot shot for Fowler. Frankfort commits an offensive foul. Katie Spicer drives and hits a twelve foot shot from the side for Fowler. Savina Anhalt his a layup for Frankfort and is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 6:22 remaining, Fowler’s lead is at 55-19.

Willa Roth steals the ball for the Panthers. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles and passes to Ella Hufnagel, who hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a threeball from the corner. Selena Stump gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler loses the ball out of bounds. Paige Thelen and Brooke Weber double team Frankfort and force a traveling violation.

Fowler misses a jump shot from the side. Frankfort misses a twelve footer from the baseline. Katie Spicer drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Ella Hufnagel steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Saige Miller steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Frankfort misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Panthers get another opportunity. Frankfort is fouled on a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. The Panthers miss their free throws. With about 2:15 left on the clock, Fowler has a 61-19 lead.

Payton Rademacher passes to Cali Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Karstyn Lackscheide steals the ball for Fowler. Ella Newbold steals the ball for Frankfort and hits a fast break layup. Addie Jarosz knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Aubrey Dubord steals the ball for the Panthers. Frankfort misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Fowler dribbles out the clock.

Fowler wins this game by the final score of 64-21 and will play Genesee Christian in Thursday’s state semifinal at 7:30 pm.

Addie Jarosz led the Frankfort scoring with 8 points. Riley LaVack added 6 points. Ella Newbold scored 4 points and Savina Anhalt had 3 points.

Katie Spicer led Fowler’s scoring with 17 points. Ella Hufnagel and Brooke Weber each contributed 14 points. Paige Thelen chipped in with 5 points. Izzy Halfmann tossed in 4 points. Selena Stump and Cali Thelen each scored 3 points. Saige Miller and Neelah O’Rourke each tallied 2 points.