Potterville at Fowler – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 17, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight is a special night as Fowler High School will be playing its first games in its brand new gym, the Fowler Athletic Center!! Instead of heading to Waldron Junior High for basketball games, we will now watch them right at the high school.

The boys also played tonight! Here is a link to the play by play of that game!https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/02/18/potterville-at-fowler-boys-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-february-17-2023-by-chuck-krafft/

The Fowler Eagle Girls will be hosting the Vikings from Potterville. Fowler enters this game with a 9-3 record in the CMAC; the Eagles are 12-7 overall. Potterville is at 3-8 in the CMAC and 10-9 overall.

Emma Riley is a returning all-State guard for the Eagles. She is strong at everything you would want a guard to do well and can be really creative when the situation requires it. She is a fine defender with great instincts who is a menace to other guards in the Fowler press. On offense, she can shoot from the three point line, shoot from midrange and slash to the basket. Her creativity gives her seemingly endless possibilities for getting open to shoot and score. She is also an excellent ball handler and passer.

Grace Epkey is a tough defender who is tall and strong enough to defend in the post and quick enough to guard people on the perimeter. Her ability to switch and guard almost anyone is a huge asset to the Fowler defense. On offense, she is tough in the post and gets her share of layups and putbacks. She can shoot from the three point line as well if she is open from out there.

Taylor Weber and Avery Koenigsknecht are aggressive perimeter defenders who are also fine three point shooters. Grace O’Hare gives the Fowler guard corps another fine shooter and perimeter defender. Quinn Watts is really aggressive on the Fowler defense. Katie Spicer handles the ball well, can shoot the three and is really creative when she attacks the basket.

Kaylee Bush is a fine shooter who plays in the middle on defense where she is a good defender and strong rebounder. She can score on putbacks and has nice range on her three point shot as well. Emily Cates and Autumn Reynolds provide excellent perimeter defense as well.

Your Bleacher Denizen was able to get to Fowler surprisingly easily given that we had an awful freezing rain storm last night.

I was amazed when I saw the new gym. It’s beautiful! The gym is brightly lit, the floor is a beautiful light brown and everything looks new, modern and ready to work!!

The girls held their senior night ceremony. In a thoughtful gesture, they also gave a bouquet of flowers to Potterville seniors Kaylee Bush and Marissa Carne. There was a brief dedication speech and then Carly Andros, who was a starter for last year’s champions, but has missed this year with an injury, made a ceremonial layup for the gym’s official first basket. Quinn Watts, another Fowler senior, presented a beautiful tribute to Carly Andros; they saluted her for her leadership even this year under the trying circumstances of being injured.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the cloudy prism of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball back in the day. Unfortunately, he threw so many bricks at the basket that the varsity coach had to leave him off the team to keep dents out of the gym floor. (Obviously, your Bleacher Denizen will never be allowed to play in Fowler’s new gym!)

Fowler wins the opening tap. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Emma Riley, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the Eagles the first points of the game. Taylor Weber steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler throws a pass too high and out of bounds. Kyra Marciniak passes to Kaylee Bush, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Potterville to trim the Fowler lead to 3-2 with 6:54 to play in the first quarter.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Quinn Watts grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Emily Cates knocks the ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles are able to recover. Emma Riley passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who hits a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line for Fowler. Potterville loses the ball out of bounds. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler an 8-2 lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht steals a Viking pass. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Grace Epkey pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Emma Riley snares the offensive rebound for Fowler. Kaylee Bush blocks a Fowler layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Fowler gets it back. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Potterville gets the ball. The Vikings miss a three point shot near the top of the key.

Kyra Marciniak blocks a Fowler runner in the lane; the loose ball is tied up; the Possession Arrow’s legal staff brief the arrow and the ball is awarded to Potterville. The Vikings miss a driving five foot banked shot. Potterville is fouled on a putback, but misses two free throws. With 4:25 remaining in the opening quarter, Fowler’s lead remains at 8-2.

Kyra Marciniak ties up a Fowler pass. The Possession Arrow’s butler just spilled coffee and the chaos causes the Possession Arrow to miss the play and award the ball back to the Eagles. Fowler throws a foul pass and it goes out of bounds. Emma Riley and Katie Spicer apply a double team that forces a Viking traveling violation.

Fowler misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. Grace Epkey steals a Viking pass. Fowler misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw elbow. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Katie Spicer passes to Emma Riley, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Fowler lead to 11-2.

Faith Hicks passes to Kaylee Bush, who makes a short drive and hits a layup for Potterville. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Emma Riley pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Katie Spicer, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Avery Koenigsknecht knocks the ball away from Potterville and Emma Riley picks it up for Fowler. Katie Spicer throws in a threeball from the wing to boost the Fowler lead to 17-4.

Potterville misses a layup. Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Grace O’Hare pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. A Potterville layup rattles in and out of the basket. Fowler misses a six foot banked shot. Emma Riley snags the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Autumn Reynolds draws a charging foul from the Eagles. Kaylee Bush is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 17-5 with 21.6 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Eagles get the ball back with just .4 of a second to play in the quarter. Fowler hits a jumper from the free throw line, but it’s after the first quarter buzzer announces its presence.

After one quarter, Fowler holds a 17-5 lead.

Potterville has the ball to begin quarter number two. Kyra Marciniak passes to Kaylee Bush, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for the Vikings. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Potterville misses a scooping layup. Fowler misses a banked six foot fast break runner. Potterville commits an offensive foul. Emily Cates knocks the ball away from Fowler and draws a foul from the Eagles. Potterville commits an offensive foul.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Grace Epkey pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Kyra Marciniak passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup. Potterville misses two free throws. With 4:57 to play in the second quarter, the Eagles have a 17-7 lead.

Emma Riley passes to Grace O’Hare, who tosses in a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Potterville misses a three point shot from the wing. Kyra Marciniak steals an Eagle pass to break up a fast break. Potterville misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. The Eagles miss a threeball from the corner. Emma Riley gets the offensive rebound and scores a layup to give Fowler a 22-7 lead.

Potterville throws a pass out of bounds. Emma Riley passes to Katie Spicer, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Potterville misses a three point attempt from the wing. Emma Riley passes to Grace O’Hare, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Emma Riley steals a Potterville pass and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws to give her Eagles a 28-7 lead with 2:10 remaining in the half.

Grace O’Hare knocks the ball away from Potterville; Emily Cates races to the backcourt to grab the ball and prevent a Viking turnover. Potterville misses a threeball from the side. Faith Hicks grabs the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Potterville misses a layup. Fowler reciprocates and misses a layup. Grace Epkey walls up in the lane to prevent a Viking layup; Emma Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner and fouls Kaylee Bush on the rebound. Kaylee Bush hits both shots in a one and one free throw opportunity for the Vikings. With 55.8 seconds left on the first half clock, Fowler has a 28-9 lead.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Brooke Weber hits the floor to tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow’s legal team advises that Fowler should get the ball. Faith Hicks knocks the ball away from Fowler and Mallory Fee picks it up for Potterville. Potterville misses a jump shot. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. Kaylee Bush launches a half court shot at the buzzer that barely misses.

After one half, Fowler holds a 28-9 lead.

Kaylee Bush has scored all 9 first half points for Potterville; my guess would be that she is their leading scorer.

Emma Riley and Katie Spicer each have 9 points for Fowler. Grace O’Hare has 5 points.

The Fowler Pep Band is playing at halftime and does a wonderful job!! For those of you who cannot hear the pep band, here is a classic Western Piano instrumental from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyGsC_FuNo

The third quarter is getting ready to start. You Bleacher Denizen glances at the scoreboard and notes that Fowler’s lead is still at 28-9. How do the powers that be do that???? The mind boggles – – – –

Powerball inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Vikings miss an eight foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Emma Riley drives and hits a ten foot shot from the side of the lane for the Eagles. Taylor Weber knocks a Viking pass out of bounds; Potterville retains possession. Potterville misses a three point shot from the wing. Autumn Reynolds grabs the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Potterville turns the ball over. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Emma Riley, who hits a three pointer from the wing to boost the Fowler lead to 33-9.

Emily Cates passes to Kyra Marciniak, who hits a layup for the Vikings. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Emma Riley knocks the ball away from Potterville and Avery Koenigsknecht picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Potterville misses a driving six foot shot in the lane. Kyra Marciniak hits a putback to trim the Fowler lead to 33-13.

Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key. Potterville misses a fast break layup. Kaylee Bush is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws for Potterville. Emma Riley passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give Fowler a 35-14 lead with 4:07 to go in the quarter.

Emma Riley steals a long Potterville outlet pass. Avery Koenigsknecht hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Brianne Halfmann blocks a Potterville layup. Kaylee Bush picks up a loose ball and is fouled on a layup. She hits two free throws for Potterville. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Emma Riley, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Potterville misses a threeball from the corner. Kyra Marciniak hits a putback for Potterville. At this point, the Fowler lead is at 39-18.

Emily Cates knocks the ball away from Fowler and Kyra Marciniak grabs it for Potterville. The Vikings misfire on a threeball from the wing. Fowler misses a driving ten footer in the lane; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Potterville drives the baseline, but misses a layup. Avery Koenigsknecht whips a long pass to Grace O’Hare, who banks in an eight footer to give the Eagles a 41-18 lead.

Potterville mislaunches a three pointer from the wing. Avery Koenigsknecht hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Potterville misses a layup. Kyra Marciniak pulls down the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Potterville misses a layup. Faith Hicks hits a putback for the Vikings. Fowler misses a thirty foot shot past the top of the key as the third quarter comes to a close.

After three quarters, Fowler’s lead is at 43-20.

Potterville inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter started. Emma Riley knocks the ball out of bounds; Potterville gets the ball back. The Vikings miss a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a driving layup. Avery Koenigsknecht gets the offensive rebound for the eagles. Kyra Marciniak steals the ball for Potterville. The Vikings miss a layup. Fowler is assessed with a violation for carrying the ball. Potterville misfires on a three pointer from the corner. Grace O’Hare passes to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 46-20 lead.

Emma Riley draws an offensive foul from the Vikings. Emma Riley goes coast to coast to hit a layup for the Eagles. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw. Potterville misses a driving layup. Grace O’Hare tosses the ball to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 52-20 lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht steals a pass to prevent a Viking layup. Fowler misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Vikings take possession. Potterville misses a three pointer from the wing. Emma Riley passes to Grace Epkey, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Kaylee Bush drives and hits a layup for Potterville. Fowler’s lead is at 54-22.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Quinn Watts knocks the ball away from Potterville and Grace Epkey picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Quinn Watts ties up the rebound; the Possession Arrow decides to give the ball to Fowler. Heidi LaFrance blocks a Fowler layup and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow loves her defense and awards the ball to Potterville. Grace Epkey steals a Viking pass and hits a fast break layup to boost Fowler to a 56-22 lead.

Potterville passes the ball out of bounds. Fowler missises a three point shot from the side. Brianna Halfmann hits a putback for the eagles. Potterville loses a pass out of bounds. Ella Hufnagel passes to Kelcie Pung, who hits a three point shot to give the Eagles a 61-22 lead.

Potterville misses threeball from the corner. Fowler misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Rebecca Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Potterville misses a three point shot. Heidi LaFrance gets the offensive rebound for Potterville. Potterville misses a three point shot. Fowler runs out the clock.

Fowler wins by the final score of 61-22.

Kaylee Bush led the Potterville scoring with 14 points. Kyra Marciniak scored 6 points and Faith Hicks tallied 2 points.

Emma Riley lead the Fowler scoring with 19 points. Taylor Weber and Katie Spicer each made three triple shots and scored 9 points. Avery Koenigsknecht chipped in with 8 points. Grace O’Hare added 7 points. Grace Epkey tossed in 4 points. Kelcie Pung scored 3 points. Brianne Halfmann had 2 points.