Portland St. Patrick vs. Fowler – – Girls District Basketball Final – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 6, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, the Bleacher Denizen is at Carson City-Crystal High School where the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick will compete with the Eagles from Fowler in an all CMAC Girls Basketball District Final. St. Patrick finished in fourth place in the CMAC with a 13-5 record and is 18-5 overall. Fowler finished tied for fifth place with an 8-10 league record and is 10-13 overall.

I’ve seen both these teams previously. Here is some information I have gotten from Fowler Coach Nate Goerge and St. Patrick Coach Michelle Smith.

Even though she is injured and can’t play tonight, I’d like to give a shoutout to Shamrock Senior Mattie Honsowitz, who has been a rotation player since her freshman year. She was an excellent scorer, defender and rebounder in the post and her fundamentals were exquisite!!

Grace Rockey is a complete all around player for the Shamrocks. She is tall and strong enough to defend and rebound in the post; she is also quick and agile enough to cover the perimeter. She is an excellent scorer who can slash to the basket, overpower opponents in the post or hit the three point shot and handles and passes the ball well.

Lily Sandborn is a senior who runs the point for the Shamrocks. She is a fine ball handler and passer who defends the perimeter well and can slash to the basket to score. Macie Smith is a versatile defender who is tall enough to play in the post and quick enough to play on the perimeter. She sees the floor well and has a nice three point shot.

Marian Davlin is a tough rebounder and defender who communicates well and can score either in the post or on midrange shots. Macie Leonard is a freshman who stepped into the starting lineup when Mattie Honsowitz was injured. She has good guard skills and a great basketball IQ. She is a good ball handler and passer who hit four three point shots in St. Patrick’s district semifinal.

Izzy Halfmann is a junior who started for Fowler’s great teams her freshman and sophomore year. She is a complete player who is tall and tough enough to defend the post while also being quick and agressive enough to be a problem for opponents on the perimeter. She is an excellent ball handler and passer who can slash to the basket to score and can shoot from the three point line.

Selena Stump is the only other veteran from last year’s state champions. She is a tough perimeter defender who can get hot, hot, hot from the three point line. Leah Thelen defends and rebounds well in the post. Sophia Thelen is a good perimeter defender who can slash to the basket and is a threat from the three point line.

Payton Rademacher brings strong perimeter defense and a good three point shot to the Eagles. In the district semifinal, she was also effective slashing to the basket where she drew quite a few fouls. Myah Rademacher is a good passer and ball handler. She is also an energetic perimeter defender.

Before the game, the hosts from Carson City-Crystal saluted Doug Moscow, a long time referee who officiated his first game in Carson City and came back to do his final game before he retires in Carson City. He has refereed many games I have blogged. He is always professional and has a great enthusiasm for what he does! I will miss seeing him at the games.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to hoop in the days of yore. He was a friendly player who was willing to share the ball with anyone. When he started passing to players wearing different uniforms than his, his coach brought up this concept of “turnovers” and found players who were less generous to play in the games.

Fowler wins the opening tap. Lily Sandborn knocks the ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles recover. Fowler misses a thread point shot from the side. Lily Sandborn is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give St. Patrick a 2-0 lead with 5:39 to play in the opening quarter.

Grace Rockey knocks the ball away from Fowler and Lily Sandborn picks it up for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a driving layup. Macie Leonard steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Marian Davlin grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup.

Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a six foot banked shot off the dribble from the side. Payton Rademacher hits a fast break layup for the Eagles to tie the game. Leah Thelen blocks a Shamrock layup. Grace Rockey grabs the loose ball and hits a layup to give her Shamrocks a 4-2 lead.

Macie Leonard blocks a Fowler three point shot from the top of the key. Macie Leonard fires and hits a threeball from the corner for the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick throws a lob pass out of bounds. Grace Rockey gets a hand on the ball and it gets loose. Players from both teams dive to tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow looks up from its chess game and decides to give the ball to St. Patrick.

The Shamrocks miss a three point shot from the wing. Lily Sandborn gets her hand on the ball and a Fowler dribbler loses it out of bounds. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds. Izzy Hoffman passes to Selena Stump, who throws in a threeball from the wing for Fowler to cut the Shamrock lead to 7-5.

Ayana Canfield blocks a Shamrock three point shot from the side. Fowler misses a fast break layup. St. Patrick misfires on a triple try from the corner. Lily Sandborn gets a hand on the ball, but Fowler recovers. Fowler throws a crosscourt pass out of bounds. Macie Leonard passes to Grace Rockey, who relays the ball to Lily Sandborn, who hits a layup for St. Patrick. Izzy Halfmann is fouled on a layup and hits one of two free throws to trim the Shamrock lead to 8-6 with 41.2 seconds to go in the opening quarter.

Marian Davlin passes to Lily Sandborn, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Macie Smith knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Grace Rockey knocks the ball out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back with three seconds to go. The Eagles miss a threeball from the corner as the first quarter buzzer seeks attention and blares loudly.

After one quarter, St. Patrick has an 11-6 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss an eight foot shot in the lane. Izzy Halfmann grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. St. Patrick drives the baseline and misses a layup. Macie Leonard pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick throws the ball out of bounds. (Actually this was a Shamrock player and not the saint, himself.)

Macie Smith steals an Eagle pass. Sophia Thelen knocks the ball out of bounds. St. Patrick retains possession. St. Patrick misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. Marian Davlin pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is fouled on the rebound, but misses two free throws. Grace Rockey hits a putback to give St. Patrick a 13-6 lead.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. A St. Patrick inbounder steps on the baseline and turns the ball over. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Payton Rademacher pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. She is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 13-7 with 5:39 left in the second quarter.

St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Selena Stump chases down the long offensive rebound for Fowler. The Eagles miss a three pointer from the side. St. Patrick misses a layup. Lily Sandborn knocks the ball off a Fowler dribbler. The ball goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks take possession. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Macie Smith is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Shamrocks to a 14-7 lead with 3:42 to play in the half.

Payton Rademacher is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann knocks a pass out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Macie Smith passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup for St. Patrick. A Fowler dribbler loses the ball and St. Patrick ties it up. The Possession Arrow looks up as it is doing its castle move in the chess game and awards the ball to St. Patrick. Macie Leonard passes to Grace Rockey, who is fouled on a six foot shot from the baseline. She hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 17-8 lead with 2:45 remaining in the half.

Izzy Halfmann passes to Myah Rademacher, who is fouled on an eight foot shot from the side and hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. Macie Leonard passes to Macie Smith, who throws in a threeball from the wing for the Shamrocks. Izzy Halfmann passes to Myah Rademacher, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Lily Sandborn passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup to give St. Patrick a 22-12 lead.

Izzy Halfmann is fouled and hits two free throws for Fowler. A Shamrock dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner just before the halftime buzzer blares.

St. Patrick has a 22-14 lead at halftime.

Myah Rademacher and Payton Rademacher each have 4 points to lead the Fowler scoring.

Grace Rockey has 9 points and Lily Sandborn has 6 points for St. Patrick.

St. Patrick has the ball to start quarter number three. The Shamrocks miss a driving layup. Grace Rockey hits a putback for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. The Shamrocks miss a driving layup and get the offensive rebound. St. Patrick misses a jump shot from the side. Macie Leonard gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Macie Leonard hits a three point shot from the corner fo give St. Patrick a 27-14 lead.

Grace Rockey ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is trying to decide whether to use its knight to attack the opponent’s queen and misses the play. The ball is awarded to the Eagles. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Payton Rademacher ties up the ball for the Eagles. The Possession Arrow’s king is in check and it is distracted; the ball is awarded to St. Patrick. Lily Sandborn passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup to give St. Patrick a 29-14 lead.

Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. The Eagles miss a threeball from the corner. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds. Izzy Halfmann passes to Selena Stump, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann knocks a Shamrock pass out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Grace Rockey passes to Jordan Lansdell, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give St. Patrick a 32-17 lead.

Izzy Halfmann hits a layup for Fowler. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Fowler misses a three points shot from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Payton Rademacher knocks the ball away from St. Patrick; the Shamrocks recover. Selena Stump steals a Shamrock pass. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the corner. Marian Davlin steals a Fowler pass. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds.

Selena Stump reacts quickly to prevent a bad Eagle pass from becoming a turnover. Fowler misses a driving layup. Macie Smith drives the baseline and is fouled on a layup. She hits two free throws to give the Shamrocks a 34-19 lead with 1:32 remaining in quarter number three.

Grace Rockey steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for St. Patrick. Marian Davlin gets a hand on a Fowler pass; Grace Rockey picks it up for the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks to give her team a 38-19 lead.

Macie Leonard steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Leah Thelen gets her hand on the ball and Payton Rademacher picks it up for Fowler. Selena Stump is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Fowler. Selena Stump steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a heave as the buzzer signals the end of quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 38-21 lead.

St. Patrick inbounds the ball to start the fourth quarter. Grace Rockey passes to Marian Davlin, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Macie Smith gets her hand on the ball and a Fowler dribbler loses it out of bounds. Lily Sandborn passes to Marian Davlin, who is cutting to the basket; Marian Davlin hits a layup to give the Shamrocks a 42-21 lead.

Izzy Halfmann passes to Payton Rademacher, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Marian Davlin passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a three point shot from the corner for St. Patrick. Izzy Halfmann is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Shamrock lead to 45-25 with 5:45 left on the clock.

Selena Stump steals the ball and hits a layup for the Eagles. Selena Stump knocks the ball away from St. Patrick; Izzy Halfmann grabs the ball and hits a layup for Fowler. Ayana Canfield gets her hand on the ball, but St. Patrick recovers. Izzy Halfmann gets a hand on the ball, but St. Patrick recovers. Payton Rademacher gets her hand on the ball, but St. Patrick recovers again.

Myah Rademacher joins the string of Eagles who get their hand on the ball; she prevents a Shamrock layup, but St. Patrick recovers the ball again. Finally, Izzy Halfmann breaks the string of near steals and purloins the ball for the Eagles. Grace Rockey knocks the ball away from an Eagle dribbler, but Fowler recovers. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Ayana Canfield pulls down a tough offensive rebound for the Eagles as she is fouled.

A Fowler dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Marian Davlin is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for the Shamrocks. Lily Sandborn steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Macie Smith is fouled and hits two free throws for St. Patrick to give the Shamrocks a 48-29 lead with 49.7 seconds remaining.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. St. Patrick runs out the clock.

St. Patrick wins the game 48-29 and will play Climax-Scotts in the regional semifinal at Fowler Monday night.

Payton Rademacher led the Fowler scoring with 9 points. Selena Stump and Izzy Halfmann each supported their teammate with 8 points. Myah Rademacher tossed in 4 points.

Grace Rockey scored 20 points to lead the victorious Shamrocks. Macie Smith pitched in with 8 points. Lily Sandborn and Macie Leonard each contributed 6 points. Marian Davlin scored 5 points. Jordan Lansdell added 3 points.