Fowler vs. Genesee Christian – – MHSAA Girls Basketball Division 4 State Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 20, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, in the second Division 4 semifinal, the Eagles from Fowler will compete with the Soldiers from Genesee Christian to see who will play in Saturday’s State Final. Fowler comes into the game with a 25-2 record. Genesee Christian has a 24-2 record.

Genesee Christian is rated #8 in the state. They have wins over #3 Morenci and #2 Kingston and #7 Clarkston Everett Collegiate in the tournament so far.

Haven Chapman averages 20.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 4.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Bella Boike scores 9.7 points per game and Reagan Gardner scores 7.5 points per game. Four Soldiers have hit at least twenty threeballs so far this season led by Reagan Gardner with 26.

Fowler is rated #3 in the state. The Eagles finished second in the state; their only two losses were to Division 3 Regional Finalist Pewamo-Westphalia. They have impressive wins over Frankfort, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and Michigan Lutheran Seminary. They also have beaten Division 1 Holt, who was good enough to win its district and Division 2 Alma.

The Eagles reached the State Semifinal by beating Frankfort in the Quarterfinal.

https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/03/19/fowler-vs-frankfort-girls-division-4-state-quarterfinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-18-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

Katie Spicer is a returning all-state player who averages 12.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game. She also has a smooth three point shot and has connected on 44 triples this season. Brooke Weber is a senior forward who averages 9.8 points per game and does much of her scoring from the three point line, where she has made 70 long bombs so far this year. Elizabeth Hugnagel averages 9.9 points and 4.4 steals per game.

Izzy Halfmann scores 7.1 points and averages 5.2 rebounds as well as 3.2 steals. Selena Stump averages 7.1 points and has hit 52 three point shots so far this year. Paige Thelen scores 7.5 points and pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game.

I also covered tonight’s other semifinal between Concord and Ewen-Trout Creek. Here is the play by play of that game.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/03/21/ewen-trout-creek-vs-concord-mhsaa-girls-basketball-division-4-state-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-20-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

It is now time to review the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play during those ancient times when at least some folks considered him to be “young.” The Bleacher Denizen had been showing some promise as a three point shooter, but everything was ruined when the basketball powers-that-be said he could no longer use a catapult to launch his three point shots. After the Bleacher Denizen’s shooting range decreased to two feet, his scoring average and playing time went, down, down, down.

Fowler wins the opening tap. Haven Chapman blocks an Eagle shot. Paige Thelen recovers the loose ball and hits a layup to give the Eagles the first two points of the game. Haven Chapman passes to Bella Boike, who is fouled on an eight foot shot in the lane. Bella Boike hits one of her two free throws to trim the Eagle lead to 2-1 with 7:24 to play in the opening quarter.

Madi Houle forces a Fowler traveling violation. Haven Chapman drives and hits a layup to give her Soldiers a one point lead. Katie Spicer is fouled on a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow. She hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 3-3 with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter.

Christian bounces a pass out of bounds. Madi Houle gets her hand on an Eagle pass; Fowler recovers. The Eagles miss a three pointer from the wing. Christian reciprocates and misses a three pointer from the wing. Fowler keeps the string going and misses a three pointer from the wing. Christian misses a layup. Madi Houle grabs the offensive rebound for the Soldiers. Christian misses a layup. Madi Houle knoocks the ball away from Fowler and Bella Boike picks if up for Christian.

Ella Hufnagel gets her hand on the ball and forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow is doing its spring cleaning. As it is focused on an especially grimy oven, it misses the play and awards the ball back to Christian. Haven Chapman passes to Bella Boike, who hits a three point shot from the side for Christian. Selena Stump passes to Izzy Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler to tie the game at 6-6.

Christian misfires on a triple try from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Haven Chapman blocks a Fowler threeball from the corner. Reagan Gardner passes to Haven Chapman, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give her Soldiers a 9-6 lead.

Bella Boike steals a Fowler pass into the lane. Izzy Halfmann steals a Christian pass. Paige Thelen passes to Katie Spicer, who throws in a threeball from the side for Fowler to tie the game. Christian misses a layup. Selena Stump alertly recovers a loose ball to prevent an Eagle turnover. Ella Hufnagel is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Fowler an 11-9 lead with 1:41 remaining in the opening quarter.

Haven Chapman drives and hits a layup for Christian. Fowler misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Izzy Halfmann snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Haven Chapman steals the ball for the Soldiers. Christian misses a threeball from the wing. Fowler misses a seventy foot heave as the first quarter buzzer shouts out the end of the period.

After one quarter, these teams are tied at 11-11.

Fowler inbounds the ball to begin the second quarter. The Eagles miss a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow. Ella Hufnagel grabs the offensive rebound, drives and hits a layup to give the Eagles the lead. Christian misses on a threeball from the corner. Ella Hufnagel passes to Paige Thelen, who drives and hits a layup to give Fowler a 15-11 lead.

Ella Hufnagel steals Christian’s inbound pass. She passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three pointer from the wing for Fowler. Brook Weber steals a Soldier pass. Haven Chapman blocks a Fowler driving layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get the ball back. Haven Chapman steals a Fowler pass. Christian misses a driving layup. Ella Hufnagel drives and hits a reverse layup to give Fowler a 20-11 lead.

Izzy Halfmann knocks a Soldier pass out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Brooke Weber knocks the ball away from Christian; the Soldiers are able to recover. Christian is fouled on a threeball from the side, but misses the three free throws. With 3:54 to play in the first half, the Fowler lead remains at 20-11.

Haven Chapman gets the offensive rebound for the Soldiers. She drives from the side and hits a layup. Ella Hufnagel passes to Brooke Weber, who throws in a threeball from the side for the Eagles. The Soldiers miss a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Katie Spicer and Brooke Weber team up to force a Soldier traveling violation as they shoot.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Izzy Halfmann knocks a Soldier pass out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Izzy Halfmann gets her hand on the ball, but the Soldiers recover. Christian misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Soldiers get another opportunity. Christian misses a three point attempt from the top of the key. Ella Hufnagel drives and hits a layup to give Fowler a 25-13 lead.

Paige Thelen gets her hand on the ball, but Christian is able to hang on. The Soldiers miss a three pointer from the side and foul on the rebound. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Izzy Halfmann grabs the offensive rebound just before the second quarter buzzer announces its presence.

Fowler has a 25-13 lead at halftime.

Haven Chapman has 9 points to lead Christian at halftime.

Ella Hufnagel has 8 points and Brooke Weber has 6 points for Fowler.

Christian inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Soldiers miss a three pointer from the side. Katie Spicer throws a long touchdown pass; Brooke Weber catches it in stride and hits a layup for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann knocks the ball away from Christian and Katie Spicer picks it up for Fowler. Madi Houle steals the ball for the Soldiers. Christian misses a layup. Fowler misfires on a three pointer from the corner. Reagan Gardner drives and scoops in a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 27-15.

Fowler misses a driving layup. Paige Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for Fowler. Fowler misses a layup. Izzy Halfmann blocks a Christian layup. Paige Thelen is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Fowler a 28-15 lead with 5:21 remaining in quarter number three.

Katie Spicer rebounds the missed free throw and hits a putback for the Eagles. Ella Houle passes to Reagan Gardner, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key for the Soldiers. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the side. Paige Thelen hits a putback to give the Eagles a 32-18 lead.

Christian misfires on a triple try from the side. Haven Chapman pulls down the offensive rebound for the Soldiers. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Madi Houle gets the offensive rebound for the Soldiers. Christian misses a jump shot. Reagan Gardner steals the ball for the Soldiers. Christian misses a layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side.

Ella Hufnagel gets a hand on the ball and a Christian dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses an eight foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Ella Hufnagel knocks the ball away from Christian and Izzy Halfmann picks it up for Fowler. Katie Spicer hits a ten foot shot from the side to give Fowler a 34-18 lead.

Christian misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Fowler commits an offensive foul. Saige Miller steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Christian misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Fowler misses a twelve footer off the dribble from the wing. Haven Chapman drives and dishes the ball to Reagan Gardner, who hits a three point shot from the side to trim Fowler’s lead to 36-21.

Selena Stump passes to Paige Thelen, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Christian loses a pass out of bounds. Izzy Halfmann passes to Selena Stump, who pours in a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Haven Chapman tosses in a three point shot from the wing as the buzzer lets us all know that it is time to end quarter number three.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 41-24 lead.

Christian inbounds the ball to start out the final quarter. The Soldiers miss a three pointer from the top of the key. Madi Houle ties up the offensive rebound for the Sodiers. The Posseession Arrow is finally getting the oven a bit cleaner, but is focused on the oven and misses the play. The ball is awaded to Fowler. Ella Hufnagel passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 44-24 lead.

Reagan Gardner drives and banks in a ten foot shot from the side for Christian. Tori Ferguson ties up the ball for the Soldiers. The Possession Arrow takes a moment away from its cleaning. It admires Ms. Ferguson’s toughness and awards the ball to the Soldiers. Christian misses a driving layup. Ella Hufnagel passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a 47-26 lead.

Christian misses a three point shot from the corner. Madi Houle gets her hand on the rebound and forces a tie up. The Possession Arrow has started washing walls and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Fowler. Haven Chapman blocks a Fowler layup. The ball goes out of bounds and Christian takes possession. Izzy Halfmann steals a Soldier pass. Katie Spicer drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Reagan Gardner passes to Haven Chapman, who hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 49-28.

Reagan Gardner passes to Haven Chapman, who hits a ten foot shot in the lane for Christian. Ella Hufnagel is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Fowler a 50-30 lead with 3:46 left on the clock.

Brooke Weber knocks the ball away from Christian and Kaite Spicer picks it up for Fowler. Ella Hufnagel passes to Paige Thelen, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Fowler. Christian throws a pass out of bounds. Katie Spicer drives and hits an eight foot shot from the baseline for Fowler. Haven Chapman drives and hits a layup for Christian. Ella Hufnagel is fouled and hits two free throws to give her Eagles a 56-32 lead with 1:07 to go.

Christian is whistled for a traveling violation. Selena Stump is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for the Eagles. Paisley Hansen steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler is fouled and misses two free throws. Christian misses a three point shot just before the final buzzer.

Fowler wins this game by the score of 57-32 and will play Ewen-Trout Creek in Saturday morning’s State Division 4 Final Game.

Christian’s Haven Chapman scored 18 points to lead all scorers. Reagan Gardner joined her teammate in double figures with 10 points. Bella Boike had 4 points.

Fowler put four scorers in double figures. Brooke Weber scored 14 points. Ella Hufnagel supported her teammate with 13 points. Katie Spicer tossed in 12 points. Paige Thelen added 11 points. Selena Stump contributed 4 points and Izzy Halfmann chipped in with 3 points.