Portland St. Patrick vs. Fulton – – MHSAA Girls Basketball District Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 4, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the BleacherDenizenMobile is pointed at Carson-City Crystal High School where the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick will compete with the Pirates from Fulton in the Girls Basketball Regional Semifinal. Fulton finished third in the MSAC West and has a 10-13 overall record. St. Patrick finished fourth in the CMAC and brings a 17-5 overall record into this game.

As we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this novelty cover video of “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron” which was a hit for the Royal Guardsmen in 1966!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHucLvxuQx8

I have seen Fulton earlier this year and received the following information from Coach Brandon Trefil.

Dayten Lambert is a team leader who is a four-year varsity starter. She is a versatile scorer who can slash to the basket or hit shots from the three point line. She is also a versatile defender who can defend on the perimeter or in the paint. Kalyn Duflo is a tough competitive player who defends the perimeter aggressively. On offense, she runs the point where she is a dependable ball handler and passer. She has a good three point shot.

Brooklyn Kanous puts the “E” in Energy and the “D” in defense as she uses her quickness and intensity to generate a lot of turnovers from Pirate opponents. No opposing dribbler is safe when Brooklyn Kanous is defending! She is also a great rebounder. Lynnae Podolak is a fine ball handler and good passer. She defends the perimeter well and can score on slashes to the basket. Camryn Cunningham is able to defend the paint or the perimeter. She gets points on putbacks and slashes to the basket.

Kerrigan Ryan is a tough perimeter defender who can slash to the basket. Whitney Reniewicz is a good rebounder and defends the post well. She is also a threat from the three point line. Norah Hnetynka defends the perimeter well and can hit the three point shot. Lillian Reynolds, Jillian Davis, Addison Smolinski and Sage Anderson provide depth, rebounding and defense in the post. Tessa Duflo and Ava Duflo are good perimeter defenders.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the hopefully observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he tried to hoop in the ancient times when at least some folks considered him to be “young.”

He was showing some promise as a fast break scorer when the basketball powers that be insisted that he no longer wear a jet pack to help him beat opponents down the court. As the defenders were able to get back to stop the Bleacher Denizen, his scoring fell way off (and so did his playing time.)

Fulton wins the opening tap. Lily Sandborn gets a hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds. Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner and fouls on the rebound. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the top of the key. Marian Davlin pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Macie Leonard drives the baseline and is fouled on a six foot shot. She hits both free throws to give the Shamrocks a 2-0 lead with 7:23 left in the quarter.

Dayten Lambert passes to Brooklyn Kanous, who banks in an eight foot shot from the lane for the Pirates to tie the game. Macie Leonard throws in a threeball from the side for St. Patrick to make the score Macie Leonard 5 Brooklyn Kanous 2.

Grace Rockey steals a Pirate pass. St. Patrick misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. The rebound is tied up and the Possession Arrow decides that St. Patrick shall have the ball. The Shamrocks miss a threeball from the wing. Macie Leonard pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Grace Rockey grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is whistled for a traveling violation. (This was actually a Shamrock player and not the Saint, himself.)

Lily Sandborn steals a Pirate pass. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Marian Davlin pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misfires on a triple try from the corner. Grace Rockey grabs the offensive rebound for St. Patrick. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the wing. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner.

St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. The Bleacher Denizen misses the ball going into the basket. Macie Leonard gets her hand on a Pirate pass and it goes out of bounds. Fulton retains possession. Fulton is called for a three seconds (in the lane) violation. Whitney Reniewicz blocks a Shamrock fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Kalyn Duflo throws in a three pointer from the wing for Fulton and the game is tied. Marian Davlin passes to Grace Rockey, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 6-5 lead with 3:36 to play in the opening quarter.

Macie Leonard steals a Pirate pass. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Marian Davlin hits a putback for the Shamrocks. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Lily Sandborn is fouled on a driving six foot shot from the baseline and hits two free throws to give St. Patrick a 10-5 lead with 2:03 remaining in the quarter.

Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Grace Rockey steals a Pirate pass. St. Patrick is called for traveling. Fulton misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Lily Sandborn passes to Marian Davlin, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the baseline to give St. Patrick a 12-5 lead.

Fulton misses a fifteen foot shot from the wing just before the first quarter buzzer seeks attention and announces that the period is over.

After one quarter, St. Patrick has a 12-5 lead.

Fulton inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Macie Smith knocks the ball way from Fulton and Lily Sandborn picks it up for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a layup. Macie Smith gets the offensive rebound for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a layup. Grace Rockey hits a putback to give St. Patrick a 14-5 lead.

Lily Sandborn gets her hand on the ball and Fulton loses it out of bounds. Lily Sandborn passes to Macie Leonard, who hits a three point shot from the side for St. Patrick. Jordan Lansdell taps the ball away from Fulton and Lily Sandborn picks it up for St. Patrick. Dayten Lambert draws a charging foul from the Shamrocks. Macie Leonard steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give her Shamrocks a 19-5 lead.

Camryn Cunningham passes to Kalyn Duflo, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Pirates. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Brooklyn Kanous fights hard for the rebound and forces St. Patrick to lose it out of bounds.

Kalyn Duflo passes to Dayten Lambert, who hits a layup for Fulton. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for the Pirates. Kalyn Duflo hits a threeball from the corner for Fulton to slash the Shamrock lead to 19-13.

St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the side. Lily Sandborn ties up the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. The Possession Arrow is so impressed with Ms. Sandborn’s hustle that it looks up from its soap opera and awards the ball to the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn passes to Macie Leonard, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give St. Patrick a 22-13 lead.

Lily Sandborn ties up the ball for the Shamrocks. The Possession Arrow is distracted because it is trying to find the remote and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Fulton. The Pirates throw a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick reciprocates and throws a pass out of bounds. Macie Smith and Marian Davlin play tough defense in the lane and Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Kayln Duflo blocks a Shamrock fifteen foot jumper as the second quarter buzzer announces the end of the half.

At halftime, St. Patrick has a 22-13 lead.

Macie Leonard has 13 points for St. Patrick at halftime.

Kalyn Duflo has 9 points for Fulton.

As there is no halftime entertainment this evening, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel as we wait for the second half to begin!

“She’s About a Mover” was a fun, novelty hit for the Sir Douglas Quintet in 1965. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HfCVev8rE4

“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is a fast paced tune from around 1918. I hope you will enjoy a bit of snarky comedy I was able to insert!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w

St. Patrick inbounds the ball to start out quarter number three. Macie Smith hits a six foot shot from the baseline for the Shamrocks. Fulton misses a driving layup. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Macie Smith pulls down the offensive rebound and passes to Lily Sandborn, who throws in a threeball from the side to give St. Patrick a 27-13 lead.

The Shamrock press forces a Pirate traveling violation. St. Patrick commits a traveling violation. Brooklyn Kanous drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Whitney Reniewicz blocks a Shamrock layup. Macie Leonard knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton lobs a pass through the lane and out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a layup. Macie Smith steals a Fulton pass. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the wing.

Macie Smith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Camryn Cunningham ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is relieved that it found the remote and is in a great mood. The ball is awarded to the Pirates. Jordan Lansdell knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton gets the ball back. Kalyn Duflo passes to Dayten Lambert, who drives and hits a six foot shot from the side to trim the Shamrock lead to 27-17.

Whitney Reniewicz blocks a Shamrock six foot shot in the lane. Fulton misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. St. Patrick travels with the rebound. Fulton throws its inbound pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Macie Leonard pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn drives and dishes the ball to Macie Leonard, who hits at threeball from the side to give St. Patrick a 30-17 lead.

Fulton misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get the ball. St. Patrick commits an offensive foul. Fulton misses a driving layup. St. Patrick misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline and fouls on the rebound. Jordan Lansdell forces a tieup for St. Patrick. The Possession Arrow looks up from the chips it is snacking on to award the ball to the Shamrocks. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds. Fulton misfires on a threeball from the wing. St. Patrick misses a heave at the basket.

After three quarters, St. Patrick holds a 30-17 lead.

Fulton has the ball to open the fourth quarter. Whitney Reniewicz hits a layup for the Pirates. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. Grace Rockey steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn gets her hand on the ball for St. Patrick and forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow’s show just ended; it alertly awards the ball to St. Patrick.

The Shamrocks miss a reverse layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets another opportunity. St. Patrick drives from the side and misses a layup. Macie Smith hits a putback for the Shamrocks. Dayten Lambert responds with a three point shot from the side to trim the St. Patrick lead to 34-22.

St. Patrick misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Macie Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Grace Rockey spins and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to give her Shamrocks a 35-22 lead with 4:59 left on the clock.

Macie Leonard ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is engrossed in the news sportscast and misses the play; the ball is awarded to Fulton. Fulton bounces a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a layup. Macie Smith steals a Pirate pass. Brooklyn Kanous gets her hand on the ball and a Shamrock dribbler loses it out of bounds. Grace Rockey knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Grace Rockey blocks a Pirate layup. Dayten Lambert recovers the ball and is fouled on a layup. Dayten Lambert hits two free throws to shave the Shamrock lead to 35-24 with 2:29 remaining in the game.

Tessa Duflo forces a Shamrock dribbler into an over and back violation. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Marian Davlin is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for St. Patrick. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets the ball. Grace Rockey is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for St. Patrick. With 1:14 left in the game, the St. Patrick lead is at 37-24.

Macie Leonard knocks the ball away from Fulton and Lily Sandborn picks it up for St. Patrick. Marian Davlin is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for the Shamrocks. Fulton misses a three pointer near the top of the key. Camryn Cunningham grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a six foot shot. Camryn Cunningham ties up the rebound, but the Possession Arrow awards the ball to the Shamrocks. St. Patrick dribbles out the clock.

St. Patrick wins this game 38-24 and will play the winner of the Fowler/Lansing Christian game in Friday’s final.

Kalyn Duflo and Dayten Lambert each had 9 points to lead the Fulton scoring. Brooklyn Kanous scored 4 points and Whitney Reniewicz tallied 2 points.

Macie Leonard exploded for 16 points to lead the St. Patrick scoring. Grace Rockey supported her with 7 points. Marian Davlin pitched in with 6 points. Lily Sandborn scored 5 points. Macie Smith added 4 points.

I also covered the second district semifinal of the evening. Fowler and Lansing Christian played in the game. When I finish typing, I will put the link to that game here. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/03/05/fowler-vs-lansing-christian-mhsaa-girls-basketball-district-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-4-2026-by-chuck-krafft/