Fulton at Ithaca – – Girls Basketball – – B4Foundation Fundraiser – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 30, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

This afternoon, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Ithaca to cover the B4 Foundation Fundraiser. Today, the Ithaca and Fulton boys and girls basketball JV and varsity teams will play to promote this important cause. To learn more about the B4 Foundation and its work in suicide prevention, here is a link to their website.

https://www.theb4foundation.org/

In the first two games, the Ithaca Yellowjacket and visiting Fulton Pirate girls JV and varsity teams will compete. Ithaca’s varsity enters the game with a 1-3 record while the Fulton varsity has a 2-2 record.

While we wait for these games to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “Four In The Morning,” an early 1970s hit for Faron Young from my You Tube Channel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwKDbxp-uuE

I saw the Fulton Girls play earlier this year. At that time, Pirate Coach Brandon Trefil gave me the falling information about his Pirate players.

Dayten Lambert is a fourth year varsity senior. She can score either from the three point line or on drives to the basket. She is able to defend in the paint or on the perimeter. Kalyn Duflo is extremely competitive and defends the perimeter well. She runs the point for the Pirates and has a nice three point shot.

Brooklyn Kanous is an extremely energetic and disruptive perimeter defender. She generates a lot of turnovers and no opposing dribbler is truly safe when Ms. Kanous is defending her. She also rebounds well. Lynnae Podolak handles the ball and passes well. She is a good perimeter defender and is a threat to score on slashes to the basket. Camryn Cunningham is able to defend the paint or the perimeter and can score on putbacks or slashes to the basket.

Kerrigan Ryan is a strong perimeter defender who slashes to the basket well. Whitney Reniewicz is a solid post defender and rebounder who can also hit shots from the three point line. Norah Hnetynka is a solid perimeter defender and three point shooter. Lillian Reynolds, Jillian Davis, Addison Smolinski and Sage Anderson provide post defense and rebounding. Tessa Duflo and Ava Duflo defend the perimeter well..

Ithaca Coach Khris Nevins provided me with this information about his Yellowjacket players.

Libby Maurer is a four year varsity player who starts at the point. She is a fine defensive player on the perimeter and a dependable scorer who can either hit three point shots or slash to the basket. Riley Skinner can defend in the post or on the perimeter. She is also a good ball handler who can slash to the basket to score. Delaney Smith is a strong perimeter defender who is a great leader. She screens, passes and does a lot of the “glue” work that doesn’t get listed in the box score, but are necessary for a team to work.

Sophia Strand is a senior captain who defends and rebounds well in the post. She also has a nice midrange jump shot. Jazlyn Pratt is an excellent three point shooter who also defends the perimeter well. Alyssa Polash is coming back from an injury. She is a physical player who scores, rebounds and defends well in the post. Emma McCune is a good passer and an aggressive perimeter defender who creates a lot of turnovers.

I got here in time to see the second half of the JV game. Fulton’s JVs got off to a 10-5 lead after one quarter and extended their lead to 25-11 at halftime. The Pirate JVs controlled the second half and finished with a 47-25 win.

Allison Fidler led the Yellowjacket JVs with 9 points. Madelyn Smith supported her with 9 points. Emma Potter added 4 points. Addison Plumley and Ava Kowalesky each tallied 2 points.

Shyanne Abrams led the victorious Fulton JVs with 14 points. Addison Smolinski joined her in double figures with 13 points. Norah Hnetynka added 6 points. Lilly Morrison scored 5 points. Tessa Duflo tossed in 4 points. Ava Rahme had 3 points and Kerringan Ryan put in 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game from the occasionally observant eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball during the ancient times when he was actually considered to be “young.”

While he showed some promise getting up and down the court quickly to score and defend on fast breaks, everything fell apart when the basketball powers that be ruled he could no longer wear his jet pack during games. When he ceased being the first player up and down the court, his scoring totals and contribution to the defense (as well as his playing time) decreased dramatically.

Fulton wins the opening tap, but commits an over and back violation. The Yellowjackets misfire on a threeball from the side. Fulton misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Kalyn Duflo grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Libby Maurer drives and dishes the ball to Delaney Smith, who hits a layup to give Ithaca the first two points of the game.

Fulton misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity. Libby Maurer gets a hand on the ball, but Fulton recovers. The Pirates miss a twelve foot shot from the side. Kerrigan Ryan grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Ithaca misfires on a triple try from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton takes possession. Riley Skinner steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Delaney Smith passes to Sophia Strand, who hits a layup to give Ithaca a 4-0 lead.

Brooklyn Kanous drives and hits a six foot shot from the side for Fulton. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for the Pirates. (Somehow, I always love typing “the Pirates steal the ball, etc. It just seems so fitting!) Fulton misses a threeball from the side. Kalyn Duflo gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup. Kalyn Duflo gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates and Fulton misses another layup. Ithaca is fouled on a fast break layup, but misses two free throws. With 3:35 remaining in the opening quarter, the Ithaca lead remains at 4-2.

Fulton is whistled for a traveling violation. Libby Maurer gets into the lane and hits a fourteen foot banked shot for Ithaca. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Dayten Lambert hits a putback for Fulton to shave the Ithaca lead to 6-4.

Ithaca misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Fulton misses a layup. Ithaca throws its fast break outlet pass too far and out of bounds. Fulton misses a six foot shot from the side. Libby Maurer drives and banks in a six foot shot to boost Ithaca to an 8-4 lead.

Fulton misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Ithaca misses a layup. Riley Skinner grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Emma McCune taps the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Alyssa Polash steals the ball for Ithaca. Brooklyn Kanous knocks the ball away from a Yellowjacket dribbler to foil a fast break. Ithaca retains possession. Just before the attention-seeking first quarter buzzer makes its presence known to everyone, Ithaca throws the ball out of bounds.

After one quarter, Ithaca holds an 8-4 lead.

Ithaca inbounds the ball to open the second quarter, but the Yellowjackets commit an offensive foul. Riley Skinner steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Whitney Reniewicz knocks a pass out of bounds to stop an Ithaca fast break. Ithaca inbounds the ball to Alyssa Polash, who hits a layup to extend the Yellowjacket lead to 10-4.

Libby Maurer forces a Fulton traveling violation. Ithaca responds by committing a traveling violation. Jazlyn Pratt gets her hand on the ball and causes a Fulton over and back violation. Whitney Reniewicz taps the ball away from Ithaca and Camryn Cunningham picks it up for Fulton. Alyssa Polash blocks a Fulton layup. Ithaca misses a twelve foot shot from their baseline. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get another possession. Delaney Smith passes to Alyssa Polash, who hits a layup to boost the Ithaca lead to 12-4.

Alyssa Polash blocks a Fulton layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Fulton gets it back. Alyssa Polash steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca is assessed with a double dribble violation. Sophia Strand steals the ball for Ithaca. Kerrigan Ryan knocks the ball out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. The Yellowjackets miss a three point shot from the side. Alyssa Polash makes a putback for Ithaca. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 4:54 to play in the first half, Ithaca has a 14-4 lead.

Libby Maurer steals the ball for the Yellowjackets and passes to Alyssa Polash, who hits a layup, which was her fourth basket of the quarter to give Ithaca a 16-4 lead.

Delaney Smith knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a layup. Dayten Lambert pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Alyssa Polash blocks a Fulton layup, corrals the ball and goes coast to coast for a Yellowjacket layup. Dayten Lambert is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to trim the Yellowjacket lead to 18-6 with 3:38 remaining in the opening half.

Whitney Reniewicz steals the ball and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws for the Pirates. Ithaca misses a layup. Delaney Smith hits a putback for the Yellowjackets. Tessa Duflo passes to Dayten Lambert, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Fulton. With 2:53 left in the half, Ithaca’s lead is at 20-9.

Ithaca misses a layup. Alyssa Polash hits a putback for the Yellowjackets. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Whitney Reniewicz gets her hand on a Yellowjacket pass and Ithaca turns the ball over. Alyssa Polash knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton gets the ball back. The Pirates miss a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow.

Brooklyn Kanous steals a Yellowjacket pass. Delaney Smith’s tough defense forces Fulton to throw the ball out of bounds. Ithaca misses a layup. Fulton is fouled, but misses two free throws. Ithaca misses an eight footer in the paint. Ithaca misses a driving eight foot shot in the paint. Riley Skinner gets her hand on the ball, but Fulton recovers. The Pirates miss a layup. The halftime buzzer announces an end to the half before Ithaca can shoot it.

Ithaca has a 22-9 halftime lead.

Alyssa Polash scored twelve of Ithaca’s fourteen points in the second quarter and leads the Yellowjackets with 12 points. Libby Maurer and Delaney Smith each have 4 points.

Dayten Lambert leads Fulton’s scoring with 6 points.

As we are not able to see or hear the halftime events, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel.

Here is a cover of “Down South in New Orleans!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QUZ5FrpeFA

And here is an original tune, “A Man Like Me!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_qnhfMT2k

Ithaca inbounds the ball to start out quarter number three. The Yellowjackets misfire on a threeball from the side and miss a couple putbacks. Fulton misses a fast break layup. Dayten Lambert gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup. Ithaca throws a pass out of bounds. Fulton misses a three point attempt from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another possession.

Riley Skinner harasses Fulton into throwing the ball out of bounds. Kalyn Duflo blocks a Yellowjacket layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Ithaca gets the ball back. The Yellowjackets miss a threeball from the side. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing. Lynnae Podolak hits a putback to trim the Ithaca lead to 22-11.

Dayten Lambert steals a Yellowjacket pass. Fulton misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Brooklyn Kanous chases down the long offensive rebound for Fulton. Fulton misses an eight foot shot from the side. Camryn Cunningham snags the offensive rebound for the PIrates. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Ithaca gets the ball. Riley Skinner passes to Jazlyn Pratt, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Ithaca a 25-11 lead.

Delaney Smith steals the ball for Ithaca. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for Fulton. Libby Maurer blocks a Fulton layup. Brooklyn Kanous grabs the loose ball for the Pirates. Kalyn Duflo drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Delaney Smith is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost Ithaca to a 26-13 lead with 3:36 remaining in quarter number three.

Alyssa Polash gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for the Pirates. Sophia Strand’s defense causes Fulton to travel with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. I don’t imagine that traveling “without the ball” would be terribly newsworthy.) Kalyn Duflo steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to shave the Yellowjacket lead to 26-15.

Kalyn Duflo blocks a Yellowjacket layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Ithaca gets another possession. Whitney Reniewicz steals the ball for Fulton. The Pirates miss a ten foot shot from the side. Whitney Reniewicz gets the offensive rebound for Fulton. Fulton misses a layup. Libby Maurer drives and hits a layup to give Ithaca a 28-15 lead.

Emma McCune steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Brooklyn Kanous knocks the ball away from Ithaca and Kalyn Duflo picks it up for Fulton. Fulton steps out of bounds with the ball. Ithaca missed a three pointer form the wing. Alyssa Polash grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for the Pirates. Alyssa Polash forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow ignores her fine aggressive play and decrees the Fulton shall get the ball back.

Fulton commits an offensive foul. Ithaca misses a layup. Alyssa Polash knocks a pass into the lane out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. Alyssa Polash blocks a Pirate layup. Libby Maurer hits a fast break driving six foot shot in the lane for Ithaca. Fulton misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Kerrigan Ryan gets the offensive rebound for Fulton. The PIrates are fouled on a layup, but miss two free throws with just half a second left in the quarter. Ithaca does not have time to shoot before the third quarter buzzer blares.

After three quarters, Ithaca holds a 30-15 lead.

Ithaca inbounds the ball to open the final quarter. Kalyn Duflo knocks the ball out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. Jillian Davis gets a hand on the ball and Brooklyn Kanous grabs it for Fulton. The Pirates miss a threeball near the top of the key. Brooklyn Kanous ties up the offensive rebound. The Possession Arrow applauds her tough, aggressive play and awards the ball to Fulton.

The Pirates miss a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Ava Duflo gets her hand on the ball, but Ithaca recovers. Ithaca misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Brooklyn Kanous drives and dishes the ball to Kalyn Duflo, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fulton. McKenzi McClain drives and dishes the ball to Jazlyn Pratt, who hits a three pointer from the side to push her Yellowjackets to a 33-18 lead.

McKenzi McClain closely guards a Fulton player for five seconds to force a Pirate turnover. Libby Maurer hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side for Ithaca. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Kerrigan Ryan hits a putback for Fulton and is fouled. She misses her free throw. With 4:47 left on the clock, Ithaca’s lead is at 35-20.

Dayten Lambert gets the offensive rebound from the missed free throw for Fulton. The Pirates are whistled for a traveling violation. Ithaca misses a threeball from the wing. Camryn Cunningham reacts quickly to prevent an errant Pirate pass from becoming a turnover. Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the side. Dayten Lambert gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup.

Ithaca misses a jump shot. McKenzi McClain gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get another opportunity. Libby Maurer is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Ithaca a 46-30 lead with 2:29 remaining.

Libby Maurer gets a hand on the ball, but Fulton recovers. Ava Duflo drives and banks in a six foot shot from the side for Fulton. Jillian Davis knocks Ithaca’s inbound pass out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. A Yellowjacket dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Maddy Smith knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. The Pirates are fouled, but miss two free throws. A technical foul is called on Ithaca for some reason (I saw nothing unsportsmanlike, but do not know what happened.) Sage Anderson steps to the line and hits one of her two free throws to trim Ithaca’s lead to 36-23 with 1:29 to go.

Fulton inbounds the ball after the technical free throws. Izabelle LaLone blocks a Fulton shot in the lane. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Fulton gets another possession. Izabella LaLone steals the ball for Ithaca. The Yellowjackets miss a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Ithaca gets the ball back. Ithaca missed a three point shot from the side. Fulton misses a layup. The Pirates get the offensive rebound.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Jillian Davis knocks the ball out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. Maddy Smith throws in a threeball from the side for Ithaca. Jillian Davis throws in a threeball from the side for Fulton. Allison Fidler hits a jump shot from the free throw line just before the final buzzer decides to end the game.

Ithaca wins this game by the final score of 41-26.

Kalyn Duflo led Fulton’s scoring with 7 points and Dayten Lambert supported her teammate with 6 points. Jillian Davis scored 3 points. Brooklyn Kanous, Lynnae Podolak, Ava Duflo and Kerrigan Ryan each had 2 points. Sage Anderson and Whitney Reniewicz each tallied 1 point.

Alyssa Polash scored 12 points (all in the second quarter when Ithaca broke the game open) to lead Ithaca’s scoring. Libby Maurer joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Jazlyn Pratt hit two threeballs and scored 6 points. Delaney Smith added 5 points. Maddy Smith scored 3 points. Allison Fidler and Sophia Strand each added 2 points.

The boys also played a JV and varsity game as part of the B4 Foundation Fundraiser. Here is the play by play of that game!! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/12/31/fulton-at-ithaca-boys-basketball-b4-foundation-fundraiser-the-bleacher-denizen-december-30-2025/