Lansing Christian at Laingsburg – – CMAC Girls Basketball Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 11, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the BleacherDenizenMobile is pointed at Laingsburg High where the hometown Wolfpack will host the Pilgrims from Lansing Christian. Christian enters this game in sixth place with a 5-7 record in the CMAC. The Pilgrims are 7-7 overall. Laingsburg is in third place in the league with a 10-2 CMAC record. The Wolfpack is 14-2 overall.

It has been a busy day for the Bleacher Denizen. He had to drive back from Frankenmuth where he watched the undefeated Frankenmuth Eagle boys defeat Goodrich (and stayed overnight.) Then he entertained seniors in St. Johns and went to the music studio.

While we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “Blues Stay Away from Me.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtsKUnqw7g.

Then, I hope you will enjoy this product that we finished up at the studio today. (Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHucLvxuQx8

I have seen Laingsburg a couple weeks ago. Coach Daniel Morrill provided me with this information about his Wolfpack players.

Brooklyn Holm is a complete player. She is tall and strong enough to defend in the post and has the basketball IQ, coordination and quickness to defend on the perimeter. She is a strong rebounder and can score in the post, but she also has complete guard skills that enable her to pass with precision, handle the ball, drive to the basket or hit the three point shot.

Mallory Woodbury defends the post well and brings a strong basketball IQ to the Wolfpack. Lilli Morrill is a tall post player who defends well and is a good rebounder. She has a knack for finding lanes to drive to the basket and scoring on layups. Harper Strouse is a tall, athletic leaper who defends, rebounds and scores well in the post. (She is also a quality catcher for the Wolfpack softball team!)

Payge Woodworth is a skilled point guard who handles the ball well, passes well, aggressively defends the perimeter and hits the three point shot. Leah Mills is a solid perimeter defender who is a dependable ball handler for the Wolfpack.

Pilgrim Coach Jason Salsbury provided this information about his players.

Alyssa Shank is in her third year of starting for the Pilgrim varsity. She has been a point guard who handled and distributed the ball well, but really distinguished herself with fierce perimeter defense. She has added scoring to her responsibilities and is good at slashing to the basket. Natalie Adams is a versatile defender that can defend the post or the perimeter. She is a threat to score on slashes to the basket.

Juliette Tallon runs the point for the Pilgrims. She is a solid passer, ball handler and perimeter defender. Leal Potter is a tall wing who defends the perimeter well and has a good basketball IQ. She is a good passer. Katie Leavitt is a scrappy, physical post defender who sets screens, passes well and does a lot of things necessary for a good team that do not end up in the box score. Esther Lee is a strong post scorer and rebounder. She has a number of effective post moves she can go to to score.

I got to the gym in time to see most of the JV game. Lansing Christian took a 9-2 lead after one quarter. The Wolfpack JVs and Christian played to a 9-9 second quarter tie, so Christian’s lead was 18-11 at halftime. Christian outscored Laingsburg 6-0 in the third quarter and went on to win by the final score of 30-14.

Allie Brasseur and Aleigha Highfield each had 6 points for Laingsburg and Addison Westfall had 2 points.

Evah Foster led the Pilgrim JVs with 11 points. Annie Scholten and Mia Mendoza each supported her with 6 points. Faith Perrault scored 4 points and Sonnet Thiele tallied 3 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally observant lenses of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to hoop in ages past. It seems that the bricks the Bleacher Denizen threw at the peach baskets we used to use back in the day wrecked too many of the baskets. It was simply too expensive to keep your Bleacher Denizen on the team.

It is senior night at Laingsburg, so the Wolfpack is starting its five seniors, Savvy Stirm, Bella Latuszek, Harper Strouse, Mallory Woodbury and Peyton Stahr. As soon as Laingsburg won the opening tap, substitutes came in for Bella Latuszek and Peyton Stahr, who were too injured to play much real time. At least they got to be introduced with their senior teammates. Back to the game!!

Laingsburg misfires on a threeball from the wing. Harper Strouse blocks a Christian layup. Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Alyssa Shank passes to Juliette Tallon, who throws in a threeball from the corner to give Christian the first three points of the game.

Laingsburg misses a driving layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow looks up from its jigsaw puzzle and decrees that Christian shall have the ball. Christian misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Laingsburg gets the ball. Lael Ritter knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Esther Lee grabs the ball for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a layup.

Laingsburg misses a threeball from the wing. Savvy Stirm grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg loses the ball out of bounds. Lilli Morrill blocks a Pilgrim layup and forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow, while celebrating finding a corner piece decides to award Ms. Morrill’s hustle and awards the ball to the Wolfpack. Brooklyn Holm passes to Mallory Woodbury, who shows senior leadership and drills a threeball from the corner for Laingsburg to tie the game at 3-3.

Christian misses a threeball from the top of the key. Alyssa Shank dives and steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Christian misfires on a triple try from the side. Brooklyn Holm throws in a threeball from the wing to give Laingsburg the lead. Christian misses a three pointer from the corner. Laingsburg throws a pass out of bounds. In a Deja vu moment, Christian misses another three pointer from the corner and Laingsburg throws another pass out of bounds.

Christian misses a driving layup. Kylie Damesworth gets her hand on the ball, but the Wolfpack recovers. Paige Woodworth hits a three point shot from the wing for Laingsburg. Christian misses a layup. Lilli Morrill passes to Mallory Woodbury, who hits a six foot banked shot from the side to give the Wolfpack an 11-3 lead.

Brooklyn Holm gets her hand on the ball and forces a Christian traveling violation. Laingsburg is fouled on a driving layup,, but misses two free throws. Mallory Woodbury grabs the offensive rebound of the missed free throw. Lilli Morrill hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Payge Woodworth steals a tipped Christian pass. The Wolfpack misses a threeball from the side just as the first quarter buzzer blares to end the period.

After one quarter, Laingsburg has an 13-3 lead.

Christian has the ball to start out the second quarter. Brooklyn Holm blocks a Pilgrim driving layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Christian gets another opportunity. Christian drives the lane and dishes a pass out of bounds. Brooklyn Holm throws in a threeball from the wing for Laingsburg. Alyssa Shank drives and hits a layup for Christian. Laingsburg misses a layup. Harper Strouse is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to give Laingsburg an 18-5 lead with 6:28 remaining in the second quarter.

Mallory Woodbury gets her hand on a Pilgrim pass and knocks it out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Harper Strouse gets her hand on the ball, but Christian recovers. Lilly Morrill steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a fast break layup. Lilly Morrill is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to boost the Wolfpack to a 20-5 lead with 5:06 remaining in the period.

Christian misses a layup. Laingsburg misses a driving reverse layup. Harper Strouse pulls down the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Lilli Morrill knocks a Christian pass out of bounds. The Pilgrims get the ball back. Mallory Woodbury ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow takes a break from trying to find end pieces and awards the ball to Laingsburg.

Lael Ritter knocks the ball out of bounds; Laingsburg retains possession. The Wolfpack misses a layup. Harper Strouse grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Mallory Woodbury hits a three point shot from the wing for Laingsburg. Christian commits an over and back violation. Laingsburg misses a layup. Christian misses a layup. Kylie Damesworth gets the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims.

Brooklyn Holm steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a jump shot. Christian misses a threeball from the side. Esther Lee blocks a Wolfpack layup. Mallory Woodbury steals the ball for Laingsburg. Laingsburg misses a layup. Leah Mills is fouled on the rebound and hits one of her two free throws to giver the Wolfpack a 24-5 lead with 2:29 to play in the second quarter.

Mallory Woodbury steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Payge Woodworth passes to Mallory Woodbury, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Christian misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Laingsburg takes possession. Makenna Bush blocks a Laingsburg layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Wolfpack gets the ball back.

Juliette Tallon gets her hand on the ball, but Laingsburg recovers. Makenna Bush knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Juliette Tallon picks it up for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a three pointer from the wing. Natalie Adams steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Brooklyn Holm steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Natalie Adams blocks a Laingsburg layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Laingsburg gets another opportunity. The Wolfpack misses a threeball from the side just as the second quarter buzzer decides it is time for a break.

Laingsburg has a 26-5 halftime lead.

Juliette Tallon has 3 points to lead the Lansing Christian scoring.

Mallory Woodbury has 10 points for Laingsburg and Brooklyn Holm has 6.

As we cannot hear what is happening at the gym during halftime, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel!

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

Here is a cover of the Tennessee Ernie Ford 1950’s hit, “Sixteen Tons.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io-UGfn4M10

Christian inbounds the ball to start quarter number three. Natalie Adams banks in a six foot shot from the side for the Pilgrims. Lael Ritter blocks a Wolfpack layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Laingsburg gets another opportunity. Mallory Woodbury is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to push the Laingsburg lead to 27-7 with 6:30 remaining in quarter number three.

Harper Strouse grabs the offensive rebound from the missed free throw. Lilli Morrill hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Christian misfires on a threeball from the corner. Juliette Tallon steals the ball for Christian. Esther Lee passes to Alyssa Shank, who takes a hard dribble, releases and hits a threeball from the side for Christian. Laingsburg misses a three pointer from the side. Alyssa Shank hits a fast break layup for Christian. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to cut the Laingsburg lead to 29-12 with 4:53 to play in quarter number three.

A Wolfpack travel negates a layup. Brooklyn Holm knocks the ball away from Christian and Harper Strouse picks it up for Laingsburg. Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Lilli Morrill steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Alyssa Shank dives to tie the ball up for the Pilgrims. The Possession Arrow is happy that a corner of the puzzle is taking shape and awards the ball to Christian. Evah Foster hits a fast break layup for Christian. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to shave the Wolfpack lead to 29-15 with 3:48 to go in quarter number three.

Mallory Woodbury is fouled on a six foot shot from the baseline and hits two free throws for Laingsburg. Christian misses a driving six foot hook shot. Laingsburg misses a layup. Lilli Morrill draws an offensive foul from Christian. Laingsburg commits an offensive foul. Brooklyn Holm ties up a Christian layup as she blocks it. The Possession Arrow is really impressed and interrupts looking on the floor for a dropped puzzle piece to award the ball to Laingsburg.

Kylie Damesworth knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Faith Perrault picks it up for Christian. Christian misses a layup. Brooklyn Holm passes to Mallory Woodbury, who hits a layup for Laingsburg. Brooklyn Holm ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is upset by not finding the dropped puzzle piece. It misses the play and awards the ball to Christian. The Pilgrims throw a pass out of bounds.

Leal Ritter and Kylie Damesworth dive to the floor and steal the ball for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Mallory Woodbury is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws for Laingsburg. Christian misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side just before the buzzer blares to end quarter number three.

After three quarters, Laingsburg has a 34-15 lead.

Laingsburg inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Holm passes to Mallory Woodbury, who nails a three point shot from the corner for the Wolfpack. Evah Foster passes to Lael Ritter, who hits a twelve foot shot from the side for Christian. Natalie Adams drives and hits a six foot banked shot to cut the Wolfpack lead to 37-19.

Mallory Woodbury drives and hits a six foot banked shot for Laingsburg. Christian misses a reverse layup. Evah Foster ties up the rebound; the Possession Arrow has found its missing piece and is paying more attention to the game. The ball is awarded to Christian. Harper Strouse knocks the Christian inbound pass out of bounds; the Pilgrims retain possession. Christian misses a driving layup. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the side. Esther Lee drives, spins and hits a six foot shot in the lane to trim the Wolfpack lead to 39-21.

Natalie Adams steals a Wolfpack pass. Christian misses a three point shot from the corner. Payge Woodworth hits a fast break layup for Laingsburg. Payge Woodworth steals the ball for Laingsburg. Evah Foster steals the ball for Christian. Alyssa Shank hits a three point shot from the side for Christian. Laingsburg misses a layup. Juliette Tallon passes to Alyssa Shank, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key to cut the Wolfpack lead to 41-27.

Payge Woodworth passes to Brooklyn Holm, who takes a hard dribble and hits a three point shot from the wing for Laingsburg. Christian misses a layup. Mallory Woodbury drives from the side and banks in a ten foot shot for Laingsburg. Brooklyn Holm knocks a Christian pass out of bounds; the Pilgrims get the ball back. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Esther Lee is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws for Christian. With 2:07 remaining in the game, Laingsburg has a 46-28 lead.

Laingsburg commits an offensive foul. Mallory Woodbury steals the ball for Laingsburg. Natalie Adams steals the ball for Christian. Christian loses the ball out of bounds. Savvy Stirm drives and hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Payge Woodworth steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Laingsburg. Brooklyn Holm steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Christian is not able to shoot before the final buzzer ends the game.

Laingsburg wins this CMAC matchup by the final score of 50-28.

Alyssa Chank led the Lansing Christian scoring with 13 points. Natalie Adams scored 4 points. Juliette Tallon, Esther Lee and Evah Foster each added 3 points. Leal Ritter tallied 2 points.

Mallory Woodbury scored 23 points to lead Laingsburg. Brooklyn Holm supported her teammate with 9 points and Mollory Woodbury pitched in with 7 points. Lilli Morrill scored 6 points. Harper Strouse and Savvy Stirm each tossed in 2 points. Leah Mills had 1 point.