Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart at Fowler – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 7, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, our Bleacher Denizen’s journey (someday, I hope to earn the “gravitas” points that will permit me to describe my journeys as “odysseys”, but I am probably not there yet. The hometown Fowler Eagles will be hosting the Irish from Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in a battle of two teams that generally have strong basketball teams.

Sacred Heart has opened its 2025-26 season with wins over Evart and Ashley. Fowler has wins over Fulton and Saranac so far this season. One of these two undefeated teams will take their first loss tonight.

As I covered Fowler’s season opener against Fulton, Coach Kam Riley provided me with this information about his Eagle players. Joe Epkey, the only returning starter from last year’s State Tournament Runners-Up is a big, strong guy that does all the things you need from a post player. He defends well, rebounds ferociously and can score on post moves. When he is double-teamed, he is also good at passing to an open teammate.

Dylan Pline got a lot of playing time as last years’ first guard off the bench. He runs the point for the Eagles. He is an able perimeter defender and ball handler who can score on slashes to the basket. Isaac Thelen and Jonah Thelen are versatile forwards who are comfortable defending on the perimeter or in the post. Both of them are also threats to score from the three point line or to drive to the basket.

Aiden Riley is a strong defender who can cover opponents on the perimeter or in the post. He is also good at slashing to the pasket. Garrett Klein is a fine perimeter defender with an accurate three point shot. Anthony Epkey is a tough post defender and rebounder. Drew Weber is a pesky defender on the perimeter. Hudson Fedewa is tall and can score, defend in the lane and rebound.

Sacred Heart Coach Justin Sherlock gave me this information about his Irish players.

Noah Zeien is a senior four year starter who was All-State as a sophomore and as a junior. He is a complete guard and one of the best players in Michigan. He is a fine ball handler and passer. He is an exquisite shooter who hit catch and shoot shots, shoot three pointers accurately off the dribble and drive to the basket to score. He is also a strong defender.

Brady Davis is a returning senior who got a lot of experience on last year’s team. He is a physically strong player who defends the perimeter well. He can score either from the three point line or on slashes to the basket. Nate Siler is a versatile defender who can guard opponents in the paint or on the perimeter. He can score in the lane or from the three point line. Leelynd O’Connor is a freshman who is already a strong post player. He rebounds and scores well in the post.

Channing Sherlock is a freshman guard who frequently runs the point. He is a solid perimeter defender and ball handler who can hit the three point shot. Cody DeJong is an active perimeter defender who generates turnovers from the opposition. Hank McDonald defends, scores and rebounds well in the post. Jaxon Moore is an athletic perimeter defender who can hit the three point shot.

Fowler played Ovid-Elsie in a freshman game tonight. The Eagles beat Ovid-Elsie 60-41.

Logan Strachota was the leading scorer for Ovid-Elsie with 7 points. Trey Palatka, Gabe Lohr, Joey Kozlowski and Cade Fabus each added 6 points. Brady Latz scored 4 points; Cane Popovich and Thayden Raish each tallied 2 points.

Dominic Spitzley led the victorious Eagle Freshmen with 15 points. Andrew Platte supported his teammate with 12 points. Jonathan Epkey joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. Logan Platte and Isaac Koenigsknecht each tossed in 6 points. Gavin Thelen, Brennin O’Rourke and Weiler Sillman each had 3 points. Chase Katich put in 2 points.

In the JV game, Fowler outscored Sacred Heart 14-8 and extended the lead to 28-11 at halftime. The Eagles controlled the game in the second half and won by the final score of 58-22.

Daniel Birgy led the Sacred Heart JVs with 9 points. Reed Hacker added 4 points. Calvin Andera and Walter MacDonald each contributed 3 points. Brookston Theisen tossed in 2 points and Caden Hoeve tallied 1 point.

Eli Thelen led the Fowler JVs with 13 points and Jesse Andros supported him with 12 points. Jack O’Hare scored 9 points and Cam Rhynard had 7 points. Easton Myers and Dalton Thelen each added 5 points. Bryce Witgen tossed in 3 points. Thomas Spitzley and Ben Thelen each scored 2 points.

Let’s take a look at the events of this game through the occasionally open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball during the ancient times. My coach was always critical of my ability to move side to side on defense, but in my defense, I will let you know that many people struggled to move sideways quickly in the togas and Roman sandals we wore for basketball back then.

Fowler wins the opening tap. The Eagles miss a layup. Sacred Heart misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. Fowler misses a three point try from the corner. Isaac Thelen knocks an Irish pass out of bounds; Sacred Heart retains possession. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Sacred Heart gets another possession. The Irish miss a three pointer from the corner. Isaac Thelen passes to Aidan Riley, who hits a twelve foot shot in the lane to give Fowler the first two points of the game.

Sacred Heart misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. Fowler misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. Joe Epkey hits a outback for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the side. Fowler turns the ball over. Your Aging Bleacher Denizen does not understand the referee’s motion, so I guess we will leave that at that. Sacred Heart misses a driving layup. Joe Epkey hits a outback to give Fowler a 6-0 lead.

Channing Sherlock passes to Hank MacDonald, who hits a layup to give the Irish their first points of the game. Jonah Thelen throws in a threeball from the side for Fowler. Brady Davis drives and hits a layup for Sacred Heart. Noah Zeien taps the ball away from Fowler; Brady Davis picks up the ball and hits a fast break layup to cut the Fowler lead to 9-6.

Noah Zeien steals the ball for the Irish. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Fowler misses a three point try from the top of the key. Isaac Thelen hits a outback to give Fowler an 11-6 lead.

Channing Sherlock passes to Noah Zeien, who hits a twelve foot shot from the baseline for the Irish. Joe Epkey hits a layup for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer from the wing. Fowler misses a three point attempt from the corner. Sacred Heart turns the ball over. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the corner. Aidan Riley hits a outback for the Eagles just before the attention-seeking first quarter buzzer decides to blare.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 15-8 lead.

Sacred Heart has the ball to open the second quarter. The Irish miss a three point shot from the top of the key. Leelynd O’Connor gets the offensive rebound for the Irish. Sacred Heart misfires on a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Dylan Pline pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Bodies for each team go to the floor to try to get the rebound, but if finally goes out of bounds and the Irish get the ball.

Noah Zeien passes to Nate Siler, who hits an eight for shot in the lane for the Irish. Joe Epkey is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Garrett Klein steals the ball for Fowler. Noah Zeien steals a Fowler pass and hits a fast break layup for the Irish. He is fouled on the play and sinks his free throw to tie the game at 16-16 with 4:49 to play in the first half.

Dylan Pline passes to Isaac Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the lead back to Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer near the top of the key and fouls on the rebound. Joe Epkey passes to Isaac Thelen, who does his Steph Curry imitation and hits another three point shot from the side for Fowler to give the Eagles a 22-16 lead.

Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the top of the key. Leelynd O’Connor gets the offensive rebound for the Irish. Aidan Riley knocks the ball away from Sacred Heart and Isaac Thelen picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Joe Epkey gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Joe Epkey hits a outback for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. Dylan Pline passes to Steph Curry – – (oops, that was actually Isaac Thelen, but you have to admit that was a natural mistake given how Mr. Thelen is shooting). Isaac Thelen hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 27-16 lead.

Noah zein hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the baseline for Sacred Heart. Isaac Thelen hits an eight foot turnaround shot in the lane for Fowler. Dylan Pline ties up the ball for the Eagles. The Possession Arrow and its Christmas Decoration Committee are both impressed with Mr. Pline’s aggressive hustle and awards the ball to Fowler. Dylan Pline drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses an eighty foot heave as the halftime buzzer announces its presence.

At halftime, Fowler has a 31-18 lead.

Noah Zeien has 7 points to lead the Sacred Heart scoring at halftime and Nate Siler has 5 points.

Isaac Thelen (who else?) leads Fowler’s scoring with 15 points and Joe Epkey has 7 points.

Sacred Heart inbound the ball to open quarter number three. Dylan Pline gets a hand on an Irish pass and knocks the ball out of bounds, but Sacred Heart retains possession. Jonah Thelen steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Irish get the ball. Nate Siler passes to Noah Zeien, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Fowler lead to 31-21.

Aidan Riley dribbles in and hits a layup for Fowler. Sacred Heart misfires on a triple try from the corner. Isaac Thelen passes to Dylan Pline, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Fowler lead to 36-21.

Sacred Heart misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side. Fowler throws an outlet pass too far and out of bounds. Jonah Thelen hits the ball and Isaac Thelen picks it up for the Eagles. Fowler misses a spinning jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Sacred Heart misses a twelve footer off the dribble from the side of the lane. Isaac Thelen drives and hits a layup for the Eagles, he is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. Joe Epkey gets the offensive rebound and is fouled on a putback. He hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 39-21 lead with 4:25 left in the quarter.

Sacred Heart misses an eight foot shot from the side. Isaac Thelen drives and hits a layup for the Eagles. Noah Zeien hits a three point shot off the dribble from the wing for the Irish. Channing Sherlock knocks an Eagle pass out of bounds, but Fowler retains possession. Dylan Pline drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a threeball on the wing, but Fowler fouls on the rebound. Nate Siler is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Eagle lead to 43-25 with 2:39 remaining in quarter number three.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Joe Epkey hits a outback for the Eagles. Sacred Heart misses fifteen footer off the dribble from the wing. Fowler misses a driving layup. Joe Epkey snags the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 2:02 to play in the quarter, the Eagle lead is at 45-25.

Sacred Heart misses threeball from the top of the key and fouls on the rebound. Fowler misses a driving layup. Noah Zeien is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Sacred Heart. Joe Epkey is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 46-27 lead with 1:21 to go in quarter number three.

Dylan Pline steals an Irish pass. Jonah Thelen drives and dishes the ball to Joe Epkey for a Fowler layup. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer off the dribble from the wing. Fowler misses a heave as the third quarter buzzer sounds off.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 48-27 lead.

Fowler inbound the ball to get the final quarter underway. Dylan Pline passes to Garrett Klein, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Garrett Klein knocks the ball away from Sacred Heart and Joe Epkey picks it up for Fowler. Dylan Pline hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Sacred Heart misses a five foot banked shot from the side. Fowler commits an offensive foul. Brady Davis passes to Noah Zeien, who fakes and hits an out-of-rhythm three point shot from the wing for the Irish. Aidan Riley passes to Garrett Klein, who relays the ball to Dylan Pline, who hits a three point shot from the side to push the Fowler lead to 56-30.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the corner. Garrett Klein hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Sacred Heart misfires on a triple try from the side. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Sacred Heart misses a threeball from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Irish get another opportunity. Brady Davis passes to Noah Zeien, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Irish. Fowler’s lead is at 58-33.

Isaac Thelen drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Sacred Heart misses a three pointer from the wing. Noah Seien steals the ball for the Irish. Sacred Heart misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Garrett Klein hits a three pointer from the side to boost the Eagle lead to 63-33.

Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the side. Cody DeJong hits a outback for the Irish. Fowler misses a layup. Sacred Heart misses a driving layup. Fowler bounces a pass out of bounds. Drew Weber gets his hand on the ball, but Sacred Heart is able to recover.

Sacred Heart throws a pass out of bounds. Fowler reciprocates and throws a pass out of bounds. Carter Thelen steals the ball for Fowler. Joe Schafer makes a nice pass to a teammate, who misses a layup. Sacred Heart misses a three point shot from the wing. The Final Buzzer decides that it is time for the game to end.

Fowler wins this game 63-35.

Noah Zeien led the Sacred Heart scoring with 21 points. Nate Siler added 6 points and Brady Davis scored 4 points. Cody DeJong and Hank MacDonald each tallied 2 points.

Isaac Thelen scored 21 points to lead Fowler. Joe Epkey contributed 13 points. Dylan Pline joined hits teammates in double figures with 12 points. Garrett Klein added 8 points. Aidan Riley put in 6 points and Jonah Thelen had 3 points.