Frankenmuth at Portland – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 9, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is at Portland High, where the host Raiders will take on the Eagles from Frankenmuth!! Both these teams come into the game undefeated, but to be fair, I suppose we should also admit that both teams come into the game winless as well; it is the opening game of the season for both teams!

Portland Coach Jason Haid provided the following information about his Raider players!

Lilly Thelen is a senior in her fourth year on the Raider Varsity. She is an excellent playmaker on both sides of the ball. She loves to push the pace and can score either on drives to the basket or from the three point line. She creates a lot of problems for opponents on defense with her length and her ability to get into passing lates.

Summer Stopczynski is a senior guard who is also in her fourth year on the varsity. She can hit the outside shot or score in the paint where she has the ability to finish even if she is fouled. She is a physical defender who rebounds well. Bella Spitzley is another senior in her fourth year on the varsity. She has a fine outside shot and is an excellent on-ball defender.

Claire Lyon is a forward who is a great passer, can shoot three point shots and uses great footwork around the rim to score. She is a physical defender who can guard multiple positions. Leigha Roberson is a junior forward who uses her excellent hands, great footwork and strength to score inside. She also has a strong midrange game and rebounds well. Because defenses have to be aware of her scoring ability, it opens up opportunities for her teammates away from the basket.

Selia Spitzley is a freshman forward who runs the floor well; she is an aggressive rebounded who is not afraid to be physical. Maggie Moore is a freshman guard who is an excellent outside shooter and can defend well. Kennedy Haid is a freshman who pushes the ball well in transition and can hit the outside shot. Jadyn Thelen is a sophomore forward with a good shot who rebounds well.

Frankenmuth Coach Joe Jacobs gave me this information about his Eagle players. Sophomore Macy Donovan is a tall guard who can defend in the post or on the perimeter. She is an excellent ball handler who passes well and can score on slashes to the basket or shots from the three point line. Junior Grace Brenner has been Frankenmuth’s starting point guard for two years. She is a tough perimeter defender and an excellent leader and ball handler.

Addie Bickel is a fine outside shooter who has a nice basketball IQ. She also defends the perimeter well. Lucy Conzelmann is a great on-ball defender who also brings a fine basketball IQ to the Eagles. Miranda Polley is a tough defender and rebounder in the post.

I got to the gym in time to see the JV game. Frankenmuth took an 11-8 lead after one quarter. The Portland JVs outscored Frankenmuth 6-2 in the second quarter to take a 14-13 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Frankenmuth outscored Portland by a 6-2 margin; the Eagles took a 19-16 lead into the fourth quarter.

Frankenmuth was able to shut out Portland for the fourth quarter until about 1:10 remained in the game. Brooke Bickel hit a basket and Landyn Kroeger hit a free throw to boost the Eagles to a 22-16 with 4:20 to go. Macey Kohagen hit two layups and a free throw to score the next five points to give Frankenmuth a 27-16 lead before Kameron Burnham hit a three for the Raiders. Mia Jacobs hit three free throws for Frankenmuth in the final minute and the Eagles won the JV game 30-19.

Elyse Leik and Jace Nye led the Portland JVs with 6 points each. Peyton Spedoske added 4 points and Kameron Burnham tossed in 3 points.

Mia Jacobs led the victorious Eagle JVs with 8 points. Brooke Bickel supported her with 6 points. Macey Kohagen and Reese Partridge each added 5 points. Landyn Kroeger tossed in 3 points. Lillian Sweiger had 2 points and Jaslyn Ke tallied 1 point.

It is now time to learn the events of this game through the occasionally observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he tried to hoop in times long past. He was starting to show some progress as a shot blocker, but everything fell apart when the basketball powers that be ruled he was no longer allowed to use his Pogo stick to help him jump during games.

Portland wins the opening tap. Summer Stopczynski passes to Claire Lyon, who hits a layup to give her Raiders the first two points of the game. Summer Stopczynski taps the ball away from Frankenmuth and Lilly Thelen picks it up for Portland. The Raiders miss a driving layup.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the wing. Lucy Conzelmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the side. Lilly Thelen passes to Claire Lyon, who throws in a threeball from the corner to make the score Claire Lyon 5 Frankenmuth 0.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Grace Brenner snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Lilly Thelen must really understand basketball spins as she launches a three point shot from the corner that bounces off the rim, hits high on the backboard and falls through the hoop to give Portland an 8-0 lead.

Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the side. Grace Brenner gets the offensive rebound, drives and hits a layup to give Frankenmuth its first two points. Portland loses the ball out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the side. Claire Lyon passes to Aaleigha Roberson, who hits a layup and is fouled, but misses her free throw. With 4:03 to play in the opening quarter, Portland holds a 10-0 lead.

Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Portland misses a layup. Selia Spitzley knocks the ball out of bounds to stop an Eagle fast break. Frankenmuth retains possession. Macy Donovan hits a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Kennedy Haid passes to Lilly Thelen, who hits a three pointer from the corner to give Portland a 13-5 lead.

Summer Stopczynski steals the ball for the Raiders. Portland misses a threeball from the corner. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Macy Donovan blocks a Raider fast break layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Raiders take possession. Portland misses a three pointer from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth gets the ball. Grace Brenner passes to Nyla Sholten, who hits a three point shot from the side to slice the Raider lead down to 13-8.

Portland misses a three point shot from the side. Macy Donovan passes to an Eagle teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses both her free throws. Miranda Polley steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the corner. The Eagles get the offensive rebound, but Claire Lyon blocks a putback. Frankenmuth gets the offensive rebound, but a three point shot goes in and out of the basket. Nyla Sholten blocks Portland triple try from the corner at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Frankenmuth has a 13-8 lead.

Frankenmuth has the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the side. Nyla Sholten ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow is busy doing laundry and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Portland. The Raiders miss a three point shot from the wing. Nyla Scholten hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Portland misses a layup. Grace Brenner passes to Nyla Sholten, who throws in a threeball from the corner to tie the game at 13-13.

Lilly Thelen drives and hits a layup to retake the lead for Portland. Frankenmuth misses a three point attempt from the corner. Miranda Polley grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Grace Brenner drives, spins and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to trim the Portland lead to 15-14 with 5:26 to play in the second quarter.

Claire Lyon passes to Summer Stopczynski, who hits a three point shot from the side. Frankenmuth turns the ball over somehow (your Aging Bleacher Denizen had his notes in the notes and did not see it) and Summer Stopcynski hits a fast break layup to give Portland a 20-14 lead.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Lucy Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Nyla Sholten makes a nifty up and under move and hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Lucy Conzelmann gets her hand on a pass and it goes out of bounds; Portland retains possession. Kennedy Haid passes to Lilly Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Portland a 23-16 lead.

Frankenmuth misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Macy Donovan grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Summer Stopczynski steals the ball for the Raiders. Grace Brenner steals the ball for the Eagles. Summer Stopczynski steals the ball for the Raiders. Your Bleacher Denizen does not know whether to keep taking notes or to inform the authorities of this wave of thefts.

Portland misses a layup, but Kennedy Haid ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s angst and secures the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Grace Brenner steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misfires on a threeball from the side. Grace Brenner gets her hand on a ball and a Portland dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Grace Brenner drives and dishes the ball to Lucy Conzelmann, who hits an eight foot banked shot from the side to trim the Portland lead to 23-18.

Lilly Thelen is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Portland a 24-18 lead with 1:31 to play in the half.

Jadyn Thelen ties up the ball for Portland. The Possession Arrow was sorting its dark clothes and missed the play. The ball is awarded to Frankenmuth. Grace Brenner inbounds the ball to Mya Donovan, who launches and hits a threeball from the corner to cut the six point Portland lead in half. Portland misses a three pointer from the side. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the corner. Summer Stopczynski drives and hits a layup for Portland to give the Raiders a 26-21 lead.

Grace Brennan drives and hits a layup for Frankenmuth. Macy Donovan steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Frankenmuth. Portland misses a long heave that goes out of bounds with about a second to play in the half. Frankenmuth then also misses a long heave.

At halftime, the score is Portland 26 Frankenmuth 25. My heartfelt prediction is that Portland will also lead 26-25 at the start of the third quarter.

Nyla Sholten has 10 points to lead Frankenmuth’s scoring at halftime. Macy Donovan and Grace Brenner each have 5 points.

Lilly Thelen has 12 points to lead Portland. Summer Stopczynski has 7 points and Claire Lyon has 5 points.

At the start of the second half, your Bleacher Denizen is quite proud of the fact that he successfully predicted the score at the start of the third quarter. A couple of people rush from the stands to prevent the Bleacher Denizen from permanently wrenching his shoulder as he tries to twist so he can pat himself on the back.

While the Bleacher Denizen is composing himself, Portland inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Addie Bickel steals the ball for Frankenmuth. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the corner. Portland misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Lilly Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Macy Donovan steals the ball and races to the other end of the court where she is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 26-26 with 6:39 remaining in quarter number three.

Lucy Conzelmann steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the top of the key. Mya Donovan fights for the rebound and draws a Portland foul. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Portland misses a layup. Aaleigha Roberson grabs the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Portland gets another opportunity.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the corner. Portland misses a driving layup. Frankenmuth reciprocates and misses a driving layup. Lucy Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Portland watches as a three pointer from the corner goes in and out of the basket. Summer Stopczynski gets the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a layup. Grace Brenner drives and hits a layup for Frankenmuth to give the Eagles a 28-26 lead.

Portland turns the ball over. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Addie Bickel snags the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Addie Bickel is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Frankenmuth lead to 29-26 with 3:53 remaining in quarter number three.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the top of the key. Selia Spitzley knocks the ball away from Frankenmuth and Aaleigha Roberson picks it up for Portland. Aaleigha Roberson quickly gets up the court and hits a layup for Portland to cut the Frankenmuth lead to 29-28.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Portland misses a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Bella Spitzley gets a hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds, but Frankenmuth gets the ball back. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Lucy Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Lucy Conzelmann hits a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow to give Frankenmuth a 31-28 lead.

Grace Brenner knocks a Raider pass out of bounds; Portland retains possession. Bella Spitzley passes to Aaleigha Roberson, who hits a layup for Portland. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to tie the game at 31-31 with 1:30 to play in quarter number three.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Addie Bickel gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Addie Bickel drives and dishes the ball to Nyla Sholten, who hits a layup for the Eagles. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. Grace Brenner gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the corner and fouls on the rebound.

Grace Brennan’s tough defense forces a Portland traveling violation in the lane. Addie Bickel drives and dishes the ball to Lucy Conzelmann, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws with 4.8 seconds left in the quarter to give Frankenmuth a 34-31 lead.

Portland misses a heave as the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

With three quarters in the books, Frankenmuth has a 34-31 lead.

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. After a couple passes, a Frankenmuth pass receiver has her foot on the line in the corner, so Frankenmuth turns the ball over. Grace Brennan gets her hand on the ball, but Portland is able to recover. Portland misses a layup. Aaleigha Roberson hits a putback to trim the Frankenmuth lead to 34-33.

Frankenmuth misses a layup and a putback. Portland misses a three point shot from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Grace Brennan fires the ball to Nyla Sholten, who throws in a threeball from the corner to give Frankenmuth a 37-33 lead.

Grace Brennan draws a charging foul from Portland. Frankenmuth miss a three point shot from the wing. Nyla Sholten knocks the ball away from Portland and Grace Brennan picks it up for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a three point attempt from the side. Lilly Thelen hits a fast break layup for Portland to cut the Frankenmuth lead to 37-35.

Frankenmuth is whistled for an offensive foul. Addie Bickel steals the ball for the Eagles. Macy Donovan gets into the lane, spins and hits an eight foot shot for the Eagles. Portland misses a jump shot. The rebound goes out of bounds. A technical foul is called on Frankenmuth. Lilly Thelen hits two free throws to trim the Eagle lead to 39-37 with 4:50 left in the game.

Portland inbounds the ball after the technical foul. The Raiders miss a three point shot from the corner. Aaleigha Roberson goes to the floor to steal the ball for Portland. The Raiders miss a three point shot from the corner and foul on the rebound.

Frankenmuth misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Macy Donovan pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. Grace Brenner slings the ball to Addie Bickel, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost Frankenmuth to a 42-37 lead.

Bella Spitzley passes to Selia Spitzley, who hits a three point shot from the side for Portland to cut the Frankenmuth lead right back to two. Lilly Thelen ties up the ball for Portland. The Possession Arrow is reading the instructions on the fabric softener and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Frankenmuth. Lucy Conzelmann drives and dishes the ball to Nyla Sholten, who hits a layup to give Frankenmuth a 44-40 lead.

Portland misses a driving layup. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Portland misses a six foot hook shot in the lane. Aaleigha Roberson hits a putback for Portland. Grace Brenner is fouled and hits two free throws to give Frankenmuth a 46-42 lead with 40.4 seconds left on the clock.

Summer Stopczynski drives and hits a layup for Portland to cut the Frankenmuth lead back to two points. Grace Brennan is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Frankenmuth. Nyla Sholten ties up the rebound, but the ball is awarded back to Portland. Lucy Thelen is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Portland. With 10.2 seconds left, the Frankenmuth lead is at 47-45.

Macy Donovan is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Frankenmuth with just 7.6 seconds left. Portland was trailing by three points when Lucy Thelen was fouled on a half court heave with .7 of a second remaining. She was awarded three free throws. She hit her first free throw, but missed her second. With Portland needing two points, she tried to deliberately miss her free throw and hoped to get the rebound, but she did not hit the rim, so Frankenmuth inbounded the ball.

The Eagles threw the inbound pass full court, but no one touched it and it went out of bounds, so Portland inbounded the ball under its own basket with .7 of a second left. Portland got the ball into the middle, but the final shot had to be rushed and it missed.

Frankenmuth won this exciting season opening game against Portland by the final score of 48-46.

Lilly Thelen had 18 points to lead the Portland scoring. Aaleigha Roberson joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Summer Stopczynski supported her teammates with 9 points. Claire Lyon tossed in 5 points and Selia Spitzley added 3 points.

Nyla Sholten led the Frankenmuth scoring with 17 points. Grace Brenner chipped in with 10 points and Macy Donovan had 9 points. Lucy Conzelmann added 5 points. Addie Bickel scored 4 points and Mya Donovan had 3 points.