Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Jackson Lumen Christi – – MHSAA Division 3 Girls Basketball Final – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 21, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

This evening, your Bleacher Denizen is at the Breslin Center where the Titans from Jackson Lumen Christi will compete with the Pirates from Pewamo-Westphalia for the MHSAA Division 3 Girls Basketball Championship. Jackson Lumen Christi earned its place in this game with a semifinal win over Niles Brandywine. Pewamo-Westphalia won this game over Roscommon to earn its spot in the final. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/03/19/pewamo-westphalia-vs-roscommon-mhsaa-division-3-girls-basketball-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-19-2026-by-chuck-krafft/

As we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will this original tune, “A Man Like Me” from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

Lumen Christi comes into the finals with a 24-3 record. Their only losses have been two a couple big schools from Ohio and Division 1 Power, Rockford. The MHSAA Finals Preview provided these statistics about some of the top players. (These stats do not include Thursday’s semifinal game.)

Kenna Hunt is a sophomore who averages 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. She has hit 31 three point baskets so far this year. Sophomore Lucy Wrozek averages 12.6 points and has hit 38 three point shots. Senior Ruby Boyce averages 4.6 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Pewamo-Westphalia enters this game with a 26-2 record. They have a lot of impressive wins including two over Division 4 finalist Portland St. Patrick. Their only losses have been to Division 1 Saginaw Heritage and Division 2 Flint Powers Catholic. The Pirates also have some quality players. (Again these statistics do not include Thursday’s semifinal game.)

Elly Bengel is a returning all-State player who averages 12 points per game and has hit 40 three point shots. Alonna Thelen averages 10.2 points and has hit 36 three point shots. Sophomore Adrianna Eklund averages 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She has hit 33 three point baskets so far this year.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the hopefully alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get out of church league when he attempted to hoop in the days of yore. It seems that he was never able to master the concept that you should only score in one designated basket.

Your Bleacher Denizen felt shooting at only one basket stifled his creativity. He found it was much easier when opponents didn’t interfere when he shot at what his coach deemed to be the “wrong basket.” He also loved the rousing cheers from the opposing fans when he scored on this other basket. The coach kept complaining about this adding points to the other team’s score and there was an impasse. The coach one this one and the Bleacher Denizen’s playing time was given to those who approached scoring more traditionally.

Lumen Christi wins the opening tap. Kenna Hunt is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Lumen Christi the first points of the game. P-W misses a layup. Lumen Christi misses a three point shot from the wing. P-W misses a driving layup. Renell Eklund blocks a Titan layup. The Pirates miss a jump shot. Brenna Thelen hits a putback for P-W to tie the game at 2-2.

Lumen Christi misses a layup. Elly Bengel inbounds the all to Adrianna Eklund, who hits a layup for the Pirates. Erin O’Dowd hits a three point shot from the wing for Lumen Christi. P-W missers a layup. Elyse Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Elly Bengel is fouled on a shot and hits two free throws to give P-W a 6-5 lead with 4:55 remaining in the opening quarter.

Elly Bengel steals the ball for the Pirates. P-W misses a ten foot shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Lumen Christi misses a driving layup. P-W drives and dishes a pass out of bounds. Kenna Hunt passes to Ruby Boyce, who hits a layup for Lumen Christi. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Lucy Wrozek is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give her Titans an 8-6 lead with 3:15 to play in the opening period.

Elly Bengel drives and hits a layup for P-W to tie the game at 8-8. Tristin Johnson drives and hits an eight foot hook shot in the lane for Lumen Christi. P-W misses a driving layup. Lucy Wrozek drives and hits a layup to give Lumen Christi a four point lead. Renell Eklund passes to Adrianna Eklund, who hits a layup for P-W. Kenna Hunt hits a threeball off the dribble from the wing to give Lument Christi a 15-10 lead.

Renell Eklund passes to Adrianna Eklund, who hits a three point shot from the side for P-W. Lumen Christi misses a twelve foot shot from the side. P-W misses a driving layup. Lumen Christi drives and misses a ten foot shot in the lane. P-W misses a long heave as the first quarter buzzer blares to end the period.

After one quarter, Lumen Christi has a 15-13 lead.

The Pirates inbound the ball to open the second quarter. Kenna Hunt gets a hand on a P-W pass into the lane, but the Pirates recover. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Lumen Christi fouls on the rebound. P-W throws a pass out of bounds.

Elyse Thelen causes Lumen Christi to carry the ball and turn it over. P-W misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side. Lumen Christi misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Elly Bengel is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for the Pirates to tie the game at 15-15 with 6:08 remaining in the second quarter.

The Titans miss a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. Tristin Johnson knocks the ball away from P-W and Erin O’Dowd picks it up for Lumen Christi. The Titans miss a fast break layup. P-W misses a three point shot from the wing. Brenna Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity.

Erin O’Dowd knocks the ball out of bounds; P-W gets the ball back. Kenna Hunt gets her hand on a Pirate pass; P-W is able to recover. P-W misfires on a triple try from the corner. Kenna Hunt hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the wing to give the Titans a two point lead. P-W is called for traveling. Kenna Hunt drives from the side and hits a layup to boost the Lumen Christi lead to 19-15.

Ruby Boyce steals a Pirate pass. The Titans miss a three point shot from the side. Erin O’Dowd blocks a Pirate layup. Lumen Christi misfires on a triple try from the corner. Peyton Eklund passes to Elly Bengel, who hits a three point shot from the side to trim the Lumen Christi lead to one point. Kenna Hunt hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane to give Lumen Christi a 21-18 lead just before the halftime buzzer blares.

Lumen Christi has a 21-18 lead at halftime.

Elly Bengel has 9 points at halftime to lead the Pewamo-Westphalia scoring.

Kenna Hunt has 11 points for Lumen Christi.

As our readers cannot hear what is happening at halftime, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel.

Here is a fun novelty cover video of “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHucLvxuQx8

“House of the Rising Sun” was a big hit for the Animals in 1964! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm7njm5177I

Lumen Christi inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Titans miss a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and P-W takes possession. Elly Bengel passes to Alonna Thelen, who hits a layup for P-W. Alonna Thelen gets her hand on the ball, but the Titans recover. Paige Lefere drives and hits a layup for Lumen Christi. Elly Bengel passes to Brenna Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the side for P-W to tie the game at 23-23.

Lumen Christi misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Ruby Boyce hits hits a putback to give the lead back to Lumen Christi. Elly Bengel passes to Adrianna Eklund, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Titan lead to 25-24 with 5:05 remaining in quarter number three.

The rebound from the missed free throw goes out of bounds and P-W gets another possession. Adrianna Eklund whips a cross court pass to Elly Bengel, who hits a three point shot from the side to give P-W a 27-25 lead.

Kenna Hunt passes to Lucy Wrozek, who hits a threeball from the corner for Lumen Christi to retake the lead. Erin O’Dowd steals the ball for the Titans and passes to Lucy Wrozek, who hits a layup for Lumen Christi. P-W misses a three pointer from the corner. Adrianna Eklund hits a putback for P-W and is fouled. She makes her free throw and the game is tied at 30-30 with 3:39 remaining in quarter number three.

Lumen Christi misses a driving layup. P-W misses a jump shot. Lumen Christi misses a ten foot shot form the side of the lane; Lumen Christi gets the offensive rebound. Kenna Hunt hits a layup for Lumen Christi to retake the lead. Brenna Thelen passes to Elyse Thelen, who is cutting to the basket. Elyse Thelen makes a layup to tie the game at 32-32.

Lumen Christi misses a jump shot. P-W is fouled on the rebound, but misses two free throws. Lumen Christi misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Elyse Thelen drives and hits a layup to give {-W the lead. Lucy Wrozek drives and hits a layup for Lumen Christi to tie the game. P-W misses a six foot shot from the side as the buzzer decides it is time to end quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, the game is tied at 34-34.

Lumen Christi inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Kenna Hunt hits a threeball off the dribble from the top of the key to give the lead to the Titans. P-W misses a threeball from the corner. Lucy Wrozek is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give the Titans a 38-34 lead with 7:04 remaining in the game.

P-W misses a driving layup. Kenna Hunt passes to Ruby Royce, who hits a layup for the Titans. P-W misses a driving layup. Alonna Thelen is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to trim the Titan lead to 40-36 with 6:02 left on the clock.

Kenna Hunt drives and hits a layup for Lumen Christi. P-W misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Kenna Hunt inbounds the ball to Lily Ganton, who hits a layup for Lumen Christi. P-W misses a three pointer from the wing. Peyton Eklund dives and knocks the ball away from the Titans; Elyse Thelen picks it up for the Pirates.

P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Elyse Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Lily Ganton steals a P-W pass. Renell Eklund gets her hand on a Titan pass, but Lumen Christi recovers. Lucy Wrozek is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Lumen Christi. P-W is assessed with a double dribble violation. Kenna Hunt is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give Lumen Christ a 46-36 lead with 3:09 remaining in the game.

Erin O’Dowd steals the ball for Lumen Christi. Peyton Eklund gets her hand on the ball, but the Titan dribbler recovers. Lumen Christi fumbles a pass out of bounds. Erin O’Dowd knocks the ball away from P-W and Kenna Hunt picks it up for the Titans. Peyton Eklund knocks the ball away from Lumen Christi and Adrianna Eklund picks it up for P-W.

The Pirates miss a three point shot from the wing. Lumen Christi fouls on the rebound. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Lucy Wrozek is fouled and hits two free thrtows for Lumen Christi. P-W throws a pass out of bounds. Paige LeFere is fouled and hits two free throws to give Lumen Christi a 50-36 lead with 48.2 seconds left on the clock.

PW misses a three point shot from the side. Kenna Hunt is fouled and hits two free throws for Lumen Christi with 11.6 seconds remaining. P-W does not shoot before time expires.

Lumen Christi wins this game and the Division 3 Championship by the final score of 52-36.

Elly Bengel led the Pewamo-Westphalia scoring with 12 points. Brenna Thelen, Adrianna Eklund, Peyton Eklund and Alonna Thelen each added 5 points. Elyse Thelen scored 4 points.

Kenna Hunt led the Jackson Lumen Christi scoring with 21 points. Lucy Wrozek joined her teammate in double figures with 14 points. Ruby Boyce supported her teammates with 6 points. Paige Lefere chipped in with 4 points. Erin O’Dowd added 3 points. Lily Ganton and Tristin Johnson each tallied 2 points.

For those of you who are interested, I also covered two other state final games.

Fellow CMAC member Portland St. Patrick played Ishpeming in the Division 4 semifinal. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/03/21/portland-st-patrick-vs-ishpeming-mhsaa-division-4-girls-basketball-final-the-bleacher-denizen-march-21-2026-by-chuck-krafft/

Goodrich competed with Tecumseh in Division 2. I will post that game when I finish typing it.