Fowler vs. Lansing Christian – – Boys Basketball – – Division 4 District Final – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 10, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Eagles from Fowler will compete with the Pilgrims from Lansing Christian to see who will win the District Title. Lansing Christian enters the game with a 14-9 record and Fowler is at 13-9.

As we wait for the game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this acoustic style recording of a classic Christian hymn! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJt6E-siOg

Lansing Christian is led by a number of seniors this year. Elijah Ellis is an aggressive perimeter who slashes to the basket well and is a good passer. Benjamin Sambaer is a quick player who defends the perimeter well. On offense, he handles the ball well and frequently as is is a fine passer and ball handler. He is a threat to hit three point shots off the dribble or off the catch as well. Timothy Sullivan is a tough player who rebounds well and does not shy away from contact. He is hard to guard when he slashes to the basket and can hit the open three point shot as well.

Samuel Israel is a tough, physical player who rebounds well and plays tough, rugged defense in the post. On offense, he uses his toughness to get putbacks and is able to bull through traffic to score in the lane as well. Judah Schafer is a tough perimeter defender who can drive to the basket. He can also be a threat from the three point line. Unfortunately, Baylor Brogan, who added great interior defense to the Pilgrims and is another senior has injured his ACL and is out for the season.

David Hall is a fine rebounder and defender in the post who is also a good jump shooter with range out to the three point line. Ethan Damesworth is an excellent three point shooter.

Jacob Halfmann is a tall athletic, sophomore point guard in his second year of starting for the Fowler Eagles. He has a calm, confident presence and handles the ball well. He passes accurately and runs the offensive for the Eagles. He is quick enough to defend on the perimeter and tall enough to help in the post defensively when needed. He can score on slashes to the basket, putbacks or three point jumpers.

Alex Halfmann is a sophomore post player who is also in his second year of starting for the Eagles. He is a tough rebounder and defender in the post. He has some nice post moves to score in the lane and he also gets a lot of putbacks. Zach Halfmann is an athletic defender who can defend in the post or on the perimeter. He gets his share of putbacks and has a fine three point shot.

Aaron Simon is an excellent three point shooter who can slash into the lane to score on layups and short jump shots as well. Nolan Stump is a very competitive perimeter defender who is tough enough to score in the post. He also has a fine jump shot with three point range.

Asher Koenigsknecht, a sophomore who may have been Fowler’s fiercest perimeter defender is unfortunately out for the season with a broken ankle. Brady Feldpausch, who was recently called up from the JV team hit three big triples against St. Patrick in the District semifinal and gives Fowler some more firepower from the three point line.

Cameron Damesworth, a senior on the Lansing Christian team, is a talented singer. He sang the national anthem before the game and did a fantastic job! His pitch was right on through the whole song and I love that he stayed in the traditional style as he performed the anthem. Great Show, Cameron!!!

It is now time to look at the results of this game 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. It took just too long for the Bleacher Denizen to realize that the coach preferred it if he only passed to people with the same uniform color as his own. Life can be SO complicated!!

Christian wins the opening tap. Elijah Ellis passes to Benjamin Sambaer, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key to give Christian the first three points of the game. Nolan Stump passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key for Fowler to tie the game at 3-3.

Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler is whistled for a traveling violation. Christian misses a five foot shot from the baseline. The rebound goes out of bounds and Christian gets another opportunity. David Hall hits a layup to give the Pilgrims a 5-3 lead.

Fowler misses a three point attempt from the corner. Aaron Simon gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a six foot hook shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and Christian takes possession. Christian misses a threeball from the wing. Fowler is assessed with a traveling violation while getting ready to shoot a shot. Benjamin Sambaer drives and hits a layup for Lansing Christian to give the Pilgrims a 7-3 lead.

Alex Halfmann drives the lane and hits a layup for Fowler. Christian misses a driving layup. Benjamin Sambaer steals the ball for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a layup. Elijah Ellis draws a charging foul from the Eagles. Christian is whistled for a traveling violation. Elijah Ellis blocks an Eagle corner three pointer. Christian secures the loose ball, but is called for traveling. Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Tim Sullivan drives from the side and hits a layup to give Christian a 9-5 lead.

Samuel Israel steals the ball for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a layup. Benjamin Sambaer gets the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a layup. Fowler is called for traveling. Christian throws a touchdown pass (hoping for an easy shot) too far and out of bounds. Fowler commits an offensive foul. Samuel Israel drives and dishes the ball to Judah Schafer, who hits a layup to give Christian an 11-5 lead.

Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Brady Feldpausch gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler drives the baseline, but misses a layup as the first quarter buzzer announces its presence.

After one quarter, Christian has an 11-5 lead.

Christian has the ball to open quarter number two. Elijah Ellis passes to Benjamin Sambaer, who hits a layup for Christian to give the Pilgrims an eight point lead. Zach Halfmann passes to Brady Feldpausch, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Christian misses a layup; Judah Schafer hits a putback to give the Pilgrims a 15-8 lead.

Jacob Halfmann passes to Alex Halfmann, who spins and hits a layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler. Tim Sullivan steals the ball for Christian. Christian misses a driving layup. Jacob Halfmann alertly makes a great save to prevent an errant Fowler pass from becoming an over and back turnover. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Alex Halfmann knocks the ball away from the Pilgrims and Brady Feldpausch picks it up for Fowler. Zach Halfmann passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give cut the Christian lead to 15-13.

Christian misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pilgrims get another opportunity, but Fowler prevents them from inbounding the ball in the required five seconds, so Christian turns the ball over. Benjamin Sambaer steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Alex Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles; he makes a post move and hits a layup. He is fouled on the play and makes his free throw to give Fowler a 16-15 lead with 2:50 to play in the first half.

Christian misses a reverse layup. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Christian misses a ten foot shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Elijah Ellis draws a charging foul from the Eagles. Christian misses an eight foot driving shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Christian misses a ten footer in the lane. Tim Sullivan grabs the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims and is fouled. He hits both free throws in a one and one opportunity to give Christian a 17-16 lead with 7.1 seconds remaining in the seconded quarter.

Jacob Halfmann catches the inbound pass and drives coast to coast to hit a layup for Fowler to give the Eagles a one point advantage entering halftime.

At halftime, Fowler has an 18-17 lead.

Benjamin Sambaer has 7 points to lead Christian’s scoring at halftime.

Jacob Halfmann has 5 points to lead the Eagles.

As there is no halftime entertainment, maybe we can enjoy this jazzy version of a standard Christian song as we wait for the second half to begin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0IFWZLHHuc

Fowler inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for the Eagles. Christian misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a fourteen foot shot from the side of the lane. Benjamin Sambaer drives and hits a six foot banked hook shot for Christian. Fowler misses a layup. Alex Halfmann is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 21-19 lead with 5:04 to play in quarter number three.

Christian misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Tim Sullivan is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws for Christian. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Alex Halfmann knocks the ball out of bounds, but Christian retains possession. Judah Schafer drives and hits a layup to give the Pilgrims a one point lead. Alex Halfmann passes to Zach Halfmann, who hits a threeball from the wing to give Fowler a 24-22 lead.

Christian misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Elijah Ellis drives and hits a layup for the Pilgrims. Alex Halfmann drives and hits a layup to give Fowler a 26-24 lead.

Christian misses a driving ten foot shot in the lane. Fowler is whistled for a double dribble violation. Christian misses a layup. Tim Sullivan draws a charging foul from the Eagles. A Christian player shuffles his feet and is called for a traveling violation. David Hall blocks a Fowler shot; Alex Halfmann recovers the ball and hits a layup for Fowler at the buzzer.

With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 28-24 lead.

Christian has the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Pilgrims travel on a drive to the basket. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a six foot shot in the lane. Christian misses a driving layup. Brady Feldpausch throws in a threeball from the corner to give the Eagles a 31-24 lead.

Judah Schafer passes to Benjamin Sambaer, who hits a three point shot from the side for Christian. Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Judah Schafer passes to Ethan Damesworth, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Christian. Fowler misses a layup. Benjamin Sambaer hits a driving layup to give Christian a one point lead. Fowler misses a driving layup. Tim Sullivan is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Christian a 34-31 lead with 3:43 left on the clock.

Alex Halfmann spins and hits a six foot banked shot for Fowler. Benjamin Sambaer responds by hitting an up and under layup for Christian. Ethan Damesworth blocks a Fowler threeball from the wing. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Timothy Sullivan and Benjamin Sambaer get back really quickly on defense and Fowler misses a fast break layup. Fowler commits its fifth foul of the half with 1:23 left and Christian holding a 36-33 lead.

Tim Sullivan breaks away from the pack and Ethan Damesworth throws him a touchdown pass that he converts into a Christian layup that gives the Pilgrims a 38-33 lead.

Jacob Halfmann passes to Brady Feldpausch, who hits a critical three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Fowler commits its sixth foul of the half with 1:03 left on the clock. After this, if Fowler fouls Christian, the Pilgrims will have to shoot free throws. Christian is fouled and misses a free throw. With 46.3 seconds left on the clock, the Christian lead is at 38-36.

Alex Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler to tie the game. Christian is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity with 17.1 seconds remaining. David Hall pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Tim Sullivan drives and hits a layup with two seconds remaining to give Christian a 40-38 lead.

Some people in the crowd assume that the game is over and start to celebrate, but the referees indicate the Fowler called time out with 2.0 seconds remaining. Fowler is given the time out and has two seconds to tie the game. Christian calls time out when play is ready to resume. Judah Schafer steals a Fowler pass and holds on to the ball until the final buzzer sounds.

Christian wins this game by a 40-38 score and will play Monday in the regional at Fowler.

Alex Halfmann led the Fowler scoring with 16 points. Brady Feldpausch hit three three pointers to score 9 points. Jacob Halfmann scored 7 points. Zach Halfmann and Aaron Simon each had 3 points.

Benjamin Sambaer had 16 points to lead the victorious Pilgrims. Timothy Sullivan supported his teammate with 9 points and Judah Schafer chipped in with 8 points. Ethan Damesworth scored 3 points. Elijah Ellis and David Hall each added 2 points.