Portland St. Patrick at Fowler – – CMAC Girls Basketball Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 4, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is in his second of there consecutive days at the Fowler Athletic Center where the hometown Fowler Eagles will host the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick in a girls basketball game. Fowler enters the game with a 3-9 record in the CMAC and a 3-10 overall record. St. Patrick is 7-3 in the league and 9-3 overall.

Both teams have at least one all-conference level player.

Grace Rockey is a great athlete and complete player for St. Patrick. She is tall and strong enough to play in the post where she is a phenomenal rebounder and interior scorer. She is quick, agile and skilled enough to play the perimeter and run the point as well. She is a competitor who does not back down from opponents. She is great at driving to the basket to score and is also a threat from the three point line.

Lily Sandborn usually runs the point for the Shamrocks. She is a tough perimeter defender who handles the ball well and is a good passer. She is a threat to score on slashes to the basket. Macie Smith is a versatile defender who can cover opponents on the perimeter or in the post. She sees the floor well and is a good passer. She rebounds well and can score on slashes to the basket.

Unfortunately, Mattie Honsowitz, who also could have been all-conference as an efficient post player is injured and out for the season. Freshman Macie Leonard has stepped into the starting lineup to replace her. She has strong guard skills and a good basketball IQ. She handles the ball well, defends the perimeter well and can hit the three point shot. Marian Davlin is a rugged defender and rebounder in the post. She communicates well on defense and can score in the post on layups and putbacks.

Izzy Halfmann is a junior who has started on a final four team her freshman year and for the Eagle State Champions last year. She has the athletic ability and skills to defend and to excel at any position on the floor. She is quick and skilled enough to play on the perimeter. She is tall and tough enough to defend and play in the post. She has the basketball IQ needed to run the point well. She can shoot the three point shot, drive to the basket and get points off putbacks.

Selena Stump played a lot on last year’s state champions. She is a gifted three point shooter who can get hot, hot, hot on a moment’s notice. Leah Thelen defends and rebounds well in the post. Sophia Thelen is a tough perimeter defender who is good at slashing to the basket for layups. Payton Rademacher is a goot three point shooter who is a scrappy, aggressive perimeter defender. Myah Rademacher has ball handling and passing skills; she also brings energy to the Fowler defense. She can also hit the three point shot.

I got to the gym in time to see the JV game. St. Patrick took a 12-10 lead after one quarter and extended their lead to 24-15 at halftime. St. Patrick controlled the game through most of the second half and finally won 46-30.

Ayana Canfield led the Fowler JV scoring with 9 points. Harleigh Antes supported her teammate with 6 points. Adeline Smith scored 5 points. Eva Thelen and Hadley Lackscheide each added 3 points. Isabell Schneider and Summer Thelen each tallied 2 points.

Olivia Lansdell led the St. Patrick JVs with 15 points. Adelle Martin chipped in with 9 points. Amelia Lansdell contributed 8 points. Alice Newman added 4 points. Joanna Dugan put in 3 points. Maci Morris, Julia White and Maria Austen each added 2 points. Jordyn Lansdell scored 1 point.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat alert eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play in ages past when many considered him to be “young.” It seems that he was showing a lot of promise beating opponents up the court to be a dominant fast break scorer. However, when the basketball powers that be ruled he could no longer use a jet pack to boost his running speed, his skills faded, the scoring stopped and the playing time dropped.

St. Patrick wins the opening tap. Sophia Thelen steals the ball for the Eagles. Macie Leonard steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Grace Rockey drives from the side and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Izzy Halfmann blocks a Shamrock layup. Peyton Rademacher is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the St. Patrick lead to 2-1 with 6:36 remaining in the opening quarter.

Izzy Halfmann gets her hand on the ball, but St. Patrick recovers. Izzy Halfmann ties up the ball for Fowler. The Possession Arrow is weeding its tomatoes, but catches the play and awards the ball to Fowler. Fowler misses a driving layup. St. Patrick misses a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. St. Patrick misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. The Bleacher Denizen misses seeing the ball go into the basket.

Selena Stump does not buy into the Bleacher Denizen’s negativity and secures the offensive rebound for her Eagles. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the side. Leah Thelen hits a putback to give Fowler the lead. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get another opportunity. St. Patrick misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Izzy Halfmann collects the inbound pass and goes coast to coast to hit a layup that gives Fowler a 5-2 lead.

St. Patrick travels with the ball. Lily Sandborn steals the ball for the Shamrocks and hits a fast break layup. Fowler misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Myah Rademacher steals the ball for the Eagles. Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Lily Thelen gets a hand on the ball and Myah Rademacher picks it up for the Eagles. Macie Smith blocks a Fowler layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity.

Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Macie Smith drives and hits a layup to give St. Patrick the lead. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get the ball back. St. Patrick misses a layup. Macie Leonard hits a putback to give St. Patrick an 8-5 lead.

Morgan Krieger steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a heave from the midcourt line.

After one quarter, St. Patrick has an 8-5 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Macie Smith’s tough defense forces a Fowler dribbler to step on the baseline. St. Patrick misses an up and under layup. (This was actually one of the Shamrock players, not the saint, himself.) Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the side. St. Patrick travels while trying to shoot a layup. Macie Leonard ties up the Fowler inbound pass. The Possession Arrow looks up from watering the tulips and awards the ball to St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a driving layup.

Fowler is called for a double dribble violation. Izzy Halfmann knocks a Shamrock pass out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Peyton Rademacher steals the ball for the Eagles. A Fowler dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Lily Sandborn drives and hits a layup to give St. Patrick a 10-5 lead.

Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Ayana Canfield hits a putback for Fowler. Ayana Canfield draws a charging foul from the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Lily Sandborn steals the ball for the Shamrocks.

St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get another opportunity. Ayana Canfield steals the ball for the Eagles. Macy Leonard steals a Fowler pass. Lily Sandborn passes to Marian Davlin, who hits a layup for St. Patrick. Izzy Halfmann drives and scoops in a layup to trim the St. Patrick lead to 12-9.

St. Patrick misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Macie Leonard pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Marian Davlin hits a putback for the Shamrocks. Leah Thelen passes to Izzy Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key to cut the Shamrock lead to 14-12.

St. Patrick misses a driving layup. Morgan Krieger gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. St. Patrick misses a ten footer off the dribble in the lane. Maria Austen gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the corner. St. Patrick turns the ball over. Izzy Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler to tie the game at 14-14.

Maria Austen hits a layup for St. Patrick; she is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. Sophia Thelen passes to Payton Rademacher, who hits a threeball from the wing to give Fowler a one point lead. Maria Austen passes to Macie Smith, who hits a layup to give St. Patrick an 18-17 lead.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks take possession. St. Patrick misses a driving layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. St. Patrick heaves the ball as the second quarter buzzer comes alive, but it misses the basket.

At halftime, St. Patrick has an 18-17 lead.

Izzy Halfmann leads the Fowler scoring with 9 points and Payton Rademacher has 4 points.

Macie Smith, Lily Sandborn and Marian Davlin each have 4 points to lead St. Patrick.

Fowler’s third grade girls put on a spirited exhibition at halftime to the delight of the crowd!

Fowler inbounds the ball to open quarter number three. The Eagles miss a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side. Selena Stump steals a Shamrock pass. Fowler misses a three point shot near the top of the key. Grace Rockey drives and scoops in a layup for St. Patrick. Lily Thelen is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Fowler to cut the St. Patrick lead to 20-19 with 6:48 remaining in quarter number three.

Macie Smith passes to Marian Davlin, who hits a ten foot shot from the side of the lane for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. St. Patrick misses an eight foot shot from the side. Lily Sandborn gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Fowler misses a driving six foot banked shot. Grace Rockey passes to Macie Smith, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give her Shamrocks a 23-19 lead with 5:06 to play in quarter number three.

Macie Leonard gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Lily Sandborn steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Selena Stump steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. St. Patrick fouls on the rebound. Selena Stump gets into the lane and hits a twelve foot shot to shave the Shamrock lead to 23-21.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Marian Davlin chases down the long offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Marian Davlin grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets the ball. St. Patrick misses a six foot shot off the dribble from the side. Grace Rockey blocks a Fowler threeball from the wing. Izzy Halfmann grabs the loose ball and hits a layup for Fowler to tie the game at 23-23.

Macie Smith passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup to retake the lead for the Shamrocks. Fowler drives from the side, misses a short hook shot and fouls on the rebound. St. Patrick misses a layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow is scattering very natural fertilizer on its row of beans, looks up and decides to give the ball to the Shamrocks. Maria Austen passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup to give St. Patrick a 27-23 lead.

This was Grace’s 1000th career point and the announcer lets the crowd know!! Congratulations to Grace Rockey on a fine career!!! (And she’s only a junior! She has played on St. Patrick’s varsity since eighth grade.)

Morgan Krieger gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Maria Austen steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball and hits a layup for the Eagles. St. Patrick misses an eight foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Fowler is fouled on a threeball from the wing, but misses three free throws with just 9.6 seconds remaining in the quarter. Sophia Thelen knocks the Shamrock inbound pass out of bounds. St. Patrick has just 1.1 seconds to shoot and misses a three pointer from the wing before the buzzer calls an end to quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, St. Patrick has a 27-25 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to start out the fourth quarter. Grace Rockey ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow admires her aggressive defense and decides to give the ball to St. Patrick. Leah Thelen blocks a Shamrock layup. St. Patrick steals the ball. The Shamrocks are fouled on a layup and miss two free throws. With 7:27 remaining in regulation time, the St. Patrick lead remains at 27-25.

Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. St. Patrick fumbles a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key and fouls on the rebound. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the corner. Grace Rockey hits a putback for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a five foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Ayana Canfield is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to cut the St. Patrick lead to 29-27 with 5:57 left on the fourth quarter clock.

Ayana Canfield steals the ball for the Eagles. Marian Davlin knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Macie Leonard gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Marian Davlin gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Lily Sandborn gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler’s dribbler recovers.

Macie Smith knocks the ball away from Fowler and Lily Sandborn picks it up for St. Patrick. Myah Rademacher blocks a St. Patrick ten foot shot from the baseline. Izzy Halfmann drives and banks in a six foot shot from the side for Fowler to tie the game. Marian Davlin passes to Grace Rockey, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to boost St. Patrick to a 31-29 lead with 3:52 to play.

Fowler misses a driving layup. Myah Rademacher grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Marian Davlin drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Morgan Krieger ties the ball up. The Possession Arrow looks up from hoeing its row of zucchini and gives the ball to St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a layup. Myah Rademacher passes to Sophia Thelen, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to shave the Shamrock lead to 33-30 with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Sophia Thelen steals the ball for Fowler and draws a foul as she does it. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler and hits a fast break layup to cut St. Patrick’s lead down to one point. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Grace Rockey hits a putback for the Shamrocks. Izzy Halfmann throws in a threeball from the wing for Fowler to tie the game at 35-35 with 1:03 left in the quarter.

St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. A Fowler basket is negated by a traveling call. Sophia Thelen gets her hand on the Shamrock inbound pass; the Shamrocks recover, but miss a rushed twenty-five foot shot from the side as time expires.

The game is tied 35-35 and we have OVERTIME at the Fowler Athletic Center!!

Fowler wins the overtime opening tap. Marian Davlin blocks an Eagle layup. Lily Sandborn passes to Grace Rockey, who is cutting to the basket; she hits a layup to give St. Patrick the lead. Sophia Thelen passes to Myah Rademacher, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a 38-37 lead.

Sophia Thelen blocks a Shamrock shot. Grace Rockey grabs the loose ball for St. Patrick. St. Patrick travels while shooting a layup. Sophia Thelen is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to boost Fowler to a 40-37 lead with 2:08 left in overtime.

St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets another opportunity. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot in the lane; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks and is fouled. She hits one of her two free throws to cut the Fowler lead to 40-38 with 1:45 to play.

Fowler beats the St. Patrick press, but Morgan Krieger hustles back and forces Fowler to miss its layup. St. Patrick misses a layup. Grace Rockey ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow loves her hustle and awards the ball to the Shamrocks. Macie Leonard inbounds the ball to Macie Smith, who hits a layup for St. Patrick to tie the game. Morgan Krieger gets her hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Sophia Thelen is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give Fowler a 41-40 lead with 48.8 seconds to go.

Grace Rockey drives from the side and scoops in an eight foot banked shot to give St. Patrick a one point lead with 8.6 seconds left. Fowler misses a driving eight foot shot in the lane. Myah Rademacher is fouled getting the rebound and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 42-42 with .8 of a second remaining in overtime.

St. Patrick throws the ball in and the buzzer ends the first overtime with the game tied at 42-42.

So we have DOUBLE OVERTIME at the Fowler Athletic Center!!

St. Patrick wins the opening tap, but is assessed with an over and back penalty. Macie Leonard knocks the ball away from Fowler and Morgan Krieger picks it up for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks throw a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. St. Patrick is whistled for carrying the ball. Grace Rockey knocks Fowler’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Eagles retain possession.

Macie Leonard steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Fowler is fouled, but misses two free throws. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Grace Rockey is fouled and hits two free throws to give St. Patrick a 44-42 lead with 2:33 left on the clock for the second overtime.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Selena Stump pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Myah Rademacher throws in a threeball from the corner to give Fowler a 45-44 lead.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Fowler misses a driving layup. Grace Rockey drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. She is fouled on the play and sinks her free throw to boost her Shamrocks to a 47-45 lead with 1:21 remaining in the second overtime.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Izzy Halfmann is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws with 1:05 left to pull Fowler to within one point. Maria Austen is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 48-46 lead with 49.0 seconds to go.

Morgan Krieger ties up the rebound for St. Patrick. The Possession Arrow is busy setting out bowls of liquid to trap slugs and misses the play; the ball is awarded to Fowler. Izzy Halfmann gets her hand on the ball and causes a tieup. This time the possession Arrow misses the play because it is dealing with angry slugs and awards the ball to St. Patrick. Macie Leonard is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 49-46 lead with 20.2 seconds to play.

Macie Leonard blocks a driving eight foot Fowler layup. Grace Rockey picks up the loose ball and is fouled. She hits two free throws with 5.9 seconds to lock up the game for the Shamrocks. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing as time expires.

St. Patrick wins this exciting double overtime game by the final score of 51-46.

Izzy Halfmann led the Fowler scoring with 22 points. Myah Rademacher contributed 7 points. Payton Rademacher, Lean Thelen and Ayana Canfield each scored 4 points. Sophia Thelen added 3 points. Selena Stump put in 2 points.

Grace Rockey led the Shamrock scoring with 26 points and got her thousandth career point while doing it. Marian Davlin supported her with 8 points and Macie Smith contributed 7 points. Lily Sandborn added 4 points. Macie Leonard and Maria Austen each had 3 points.