Waldron at Pittsford – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 11, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Horace Greeley once told us (at least us men), “Go West, young Man!”. Of course your Bleacher Denizen ignores him and heads south, so tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s journey takes him to Pittsford where the Wildcats will host the Spartans from Waldron. Perhaps because your Bleacher Denizen is feeling a bit of guilt at defying Mr. Greeley, here is a western song from my You Tube Channel to give us at least a bit of western atmosphere!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPaiHsbOnA

It was a nice drive from Lansing to Pittsford today. (There has been more than one slippery ride to or from Pittsford, so this is a great start to the evening!)

Waldron has a 2-5 record coming into the game. Coach Jon Burk provided me with this information about his Spartan players.

Morgan Burke runs the point where she is a fine ball handler and an unusually good rebounder from the guard position. She is also a threat from the three point line. Emma Wines is a fine senior leader and perimeter defender who gives her team an accurate three point shot.

Jena Fellabaum brings a lot of energy to the Spartans. She is a strong defender and scorer in the post. Kailee Kurtz is a fine defender who can guard people in the post or on the perimeter. She brings a lot of energy to the Spartans and typically guards the opponent’s best offensive player.

Pittsford enters this game with a 6-2 record. Coach Aaron Davis told me this about his Wildcat players.

Ava Mallar is a potential all-state player. She is a tall point guard who is effective defending on the perimeter or near the basket. She is an assertive ball handler who runs the offense for the Wildcats. She is a fine passer who excels at slashing to the basket for layups. She can also shoot mid-range and three point jump shots.

Riley McCumber is a tall guard who is also a skilled ball handler who passes well and can hit the three point shot. Halle Clark is a tough post player who defends, rebounds and scores well near the basket. She plays near the top of the Wildcat press where her length and speed get her lots of steals and fast break baskets. Liz Gerig is a senior leader who makes few mistakes on offense or on defense. She is a good passer, ball handler and rebounder who runs all the plays really well.

It is now time to look through the events of this contest through the blurry lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to play basketball. He always was praised for making turnovers when he worked at a bakery. Alas, it was too late before he learned that basketball coaches don’t appreciate turnovers nearly as much as bakery owners do. The mind boggles.

Pittsford wins the opening tap. Jena Fellabaum gets a hand on the ball and Pittsford loses it out of bounds. Emma Wines passes to Morgan Burk, who launches and hits a three point shot to give her Spartans the first three points of the game. Pittsford misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Ava Mallar pulls down the long offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a driving layup.

Halle Clark steals the ball for the Wildcats. Morgan Burk blocks a Pittsford fast break layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Pittsford gets the ball back. Emma Wines blocks a Pittsford layup. Waldron misses a three point shot from the side. Pittsford misses a three point shot from the corner. Liz Gerig draws a charging foul to foil a Waldron fast break. Ava Mallar drives and hits a layup to trim the Spartan lead to 3-2.

Riley McCumber knocks the ball away from Waldron and Ava Mallar picks it up for Pittsford. Ava Mallar is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game. Halle Clark knocks the ball away from Waldron and Ava Mallar grabs it for Pittsford. Ava Mallar passes to Emilee Jagielski, who hits a layup to give Pittsford a 5-3 lead.

Ava Mallar knocks the ball away from a Spartan dribbler; the ball goes out of bounds and the Wildcats take possession. Pittsford throws a pass out of bounds. Waldron misfires on a triple try from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Waldron gets another possession. Shelby Bryner steals the Spartan inbound pass. Ava Mallar drives and dishes the ball to Halle Clark, who hits a layup for Pittsford. Brianna Lawson steals the ball for the Wildcats. Emilee Jagielski passes to Ava Mallar, who drains a threeball near the top of the key to give the Wildcats a 10-3 lead.

Shelby Bryner knocks the ball out of bounds; Waldron retains possession. Shelby Bryner gets her hand on a Spartan pass; this time Waldron loses the ball out of bounds. Jena Fellabaum gets her hand on the ball, but Pittsford is able to re over. Pittsford misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The rebound is tied up. After consulting its legal team, the Possession Arrow decrees that Waldron shall have the ball.

Emilee Jagielski knocks the ball away from the Spartans; Waldron recovers. Jena Fellabaum drives and dishes the ball to Kailee Kurtz, who is fouled as she shoots a layup. Kailee Kurtz hits one of her two free throws to trim the Wildcat lead to 10-4 with 56 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Pittsford misses a driving layup. Halle Clark is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for the Wildcats. Waldron misses a three point shot from the wing. Riley McCumber passes to Brianna Lawson, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Wildcat lead to 15-4.

Halle Clark steals the ball for Pittsford, but her momentum makes her step on the sideline. Waldron misses a three point shot form the wing at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Pittsford has a 15-4 lead.

Pittsford has the ball to begin the second quarter. Ava Mallar passes to Liz Gerig, who hits a layup for the Wildcats. Riley McCumber steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Wildcats. Riley McCumber steals the ball again. Makenna Burk and Jena Fellabaum double team the Pittsford ball handler and force the Wildcats to call time out to avoid losing the ball.

Pittsford misses a layup. Liz Gerig gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Jena Fellabaum blocks a layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Pittsford gets another opportunity. Jena Fellabaum ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow and its staff are impressed by Ms. Fellabaum’s defense and award the ball to Waldron. Ava Mallar steals the ball for Pittsford, is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to push the Wildcats to a 21-4 lead with 6:33 remaining in the first half.

Riley McCumber steals the ball for Pittsford. Emma Wines blocks a Wildcat layup. Pittsford recovers the loose ball. The Wildcats miss a three point shot from the side. Kailee Kurtz passes the ball to Morgan Burk, who hits a three point shot for Waldron to trim the Pittsford lead to 21-7.

Pittsford misses a layup. Halle Clark gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a six foot shot in the lane. Riley McCumber gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Waldron takes the ball. Riley McCumber knocks the ball away from Waldron and Ava Mallar picks it up for Pittsford. Ava Mallar hits a fast break layup to stretch the Wildcat lead to 23-7.

Waldron is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Pittsford misses a three point shot from the wing. Shelby Bryner gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a layup. Halle Clark hits a putback for the Wildcats to give them a 25-7 lead.

Waldron misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Pittsford misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Waldron turns the ball over. Pittsford misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Waldron takes possession. Brianna Lawson knocks the ball away from Waldron and Shelby Bryner grabs it for Pittsford. The Wildcats miss a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Spartans take possession. Laura LeMar steals the ball for Pittsford. The Wildcats miss a driving layup. Riley McCumber steals the ball for Pittsford. Morgan Burk steals the ball for Waldron. Kailee Kurtz hits a fast break layup for the Spartans to trim the Wildcat lead to 25-9.

Pittsford misses a layup. Waldron misses a threeball from the wing. Pittsford misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Waldron misses a fast break layup. Waldron gets the offensive rebound, but Liz Gerig blocks a Spartan layup. Morgan Burk taps the ball away from Pittsford and Kailee Kurtz picks it up for Waldron. Waldron misses a jump shot as the second quarter buzzer announces its presence.

Pittsford has a 25-9 lead at halftime.

Morgan Burk has 6 points for Waldron.

Ava Mallar leads the Pittsford scoring with 10 points and Halle Clark has 6 points.

There is no halftime entertainment, but I thought we could listen to this cover of this Tijuana Brass cover of the Lonely Bull from my You Tube Channel. Kudos to John Rickert, the trumpet player who is the star of the video! He did a magnificent job!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmJmDiyf3ps

Pittsford inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Jena Fellabaum knocks a Wildcat pass out of bounds; Waldron takes possession. Brianna Lawson knocks a Spartan pass out of bounds. Waldron takes possession. Waldron misfires on a threeball from the corner. Pittsford misses a short hook shot in the lane. Halle Clark gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a layup. Halle Clark gets the offensive rebound and passes to Liz Gerig, who hits a layup to give Pittsford a 27-9 lead.

Waldron misfires on a threeball from the corner. Ava Mallar goes coast to coast and makes a layup for Pittsford. Waldron misses a threeball from the corner. Morgan Burk forces a Pittsford double dribble violation. Waldron misses a three point shot from the wing. Pittsford misses a short hook shot. Brianna Lawson steals a Spartan pass. Pittsford misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Morgan Burk passes to Emma Wines, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Waldron to shave the Pittsford lead to 29-12.

Pittsford misses a three point shot from the side. Halle Clark hits a putback for Pittsford, is fouled and makes her free throw. Waldron misses a jump shot. Shelby Bryner is fouled on a hook shot in the lane and hits one of her two free throws to give Pittsford a 33-12 lead with 5:58 to play in the third quarter.

Brianna Lawson knocks the ball out of bounds, but Waldron retains possession. Morgan Burk passes to Emma Wines, who hits a twelve foot shot from the side for the Spartans. Pittsford misfires on a threeball from the wing. Waldron misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Emma Wins stands tall in the lane and forces the Wildcats to travel as they try to shoot. Shelby Bryner knocks the ball out of bounds, but Waldron retains possession. Kailee Kurtz drives and dishes the ball to Jena Fellabaum, who hits a layup to cut the Pittsford lead to 33-16.

Shelby Bryner passes to Brianna Lawson, who hits a two point jump shot from the wing for Pittsford. Waldron misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Waldron retains possession. Waldron misses a three point shot from the wing. Pittsford fouls on the rebound. Waldron misses a layup. Haylee Shamplo hits the floor to tie up the ball for the Spartans. The Possession Arrow and its staff are impressed by her hustle and award the ball to Waldron.

Shelby Bryner steals the ball for Pittsford. Ava Mallar passes the ball to a Pittsford teammate, who is fouled on a layup and misses her two free throw. Makenna Burk passes to a Waldron teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 1:24 to play in the third quarter, Pittsford holds a 35-16 lead.

A Pittsford traveling violation negates a layup. Haylee Shamplo hits a twelve foot shot from the wing for Waldron. Pittsford missises a three point shot from the wing. Riley McCumber steals the ball for the Wildcats. Riley McCumber passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses both her free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining in the quarter. Waldron misses a three point shot from the side at the buzzer.

With three quarters in the books, Pittsford has a 35-18 lead.

Pittsford inbounds the ball to begin the fourth quarter. The Wildcats miss a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Jena Fellabaum hits an eight foot shot off the dribble from the side for the Spartans. Kailee Kurtz steals the ball for Waldron. Waldron misses a fast break layup. Jena Fellabaum hits a putback for Waldron to trim the Pittsford lead to 35-22.

Pittsford misses a three point shot from the wing. Mackenzie Leininger ties up the ball for Waldron. The Possession Arrow, its staff and its entourage all agree that Ms. Leininger’s hustle was exemplary and award the ball to Waldron. Waldron misses a three point shot from the side. Pittsford misses a layup; Halle Clark pulls down the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a threeball from the side and Waldron fouls on the rebound. Riley McCumber passes to Ava Mallar, who throws in a threeball from the corner to boost Pittsford to a 38-22 lead.

Waldron misses an eight foot banked shot from the side. Pittsford misses a driving layup. Kailee Kurtz hits a fast break layup for Waldron. Ava Mallar is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to extend the Pittsford lead to 40-24 with 4:59 left on the clock.

Ava Mallar knocks the ball away from Waldron, but Kailee Kurtz dives to save the Spartan possession. Emilee Jagielski steals a Spartan pass in the lane. Emilee Jagielski passes to Halle Clark for a Pittsford layup. Emma Wines throws in a threeball from the wing for Waldron to cut the Pittsford lead to 42-27.

Pittsford misses a jump shot. Waldron turns the ball over. Halle Clark drives and hits a layup for Pittsford. Waldron misses a layup. Ava Mallar drives and hits a layup for Pittsford. Waldron misses a ten foot driving shot in the lane. Pittsford misses three pointer from the wing.

Waldron is assessed with a traveling violation. Pittsford reciprocates and is assessed with a traveling violation. Waldron misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Pittsford gets the ball. Pittsford misses a threeball from the corner. Emma Wines passes to Morgan Burk, who hits a layup to trim the Pittsford lead to 46-29.

Riley McCumber passes to Shelby Bryner, who spins and hits a layup for Pittsford. Waldron misses a driving layup. Pittsford misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Waldron gets the ball. Waldron misses a three point shot from the wing at the buzzer.

Pittsford wins this game by the score of 48-29.

Morgan Burk and Emma Wines shared the scoring honors for Waldron with 8 points each. Jane Fellabaum scored 6 points and Kailee Kurtz added 5 points. Haylee Shamplo tallied 2 points.

Ava Mallar led the victorious Wildcats with 19 points. Halle Clark joined her teammate in double figures with 13 points. Brianna Lawson tossed in 5 points. Liz Gerig added 4 points. Shelby Bryner added 3 points. Emilee Jagielski and Riley McCumber each had 2 points.