Laingsburg at Leslie – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 4, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

It’s Opening Day for the Girls Basketball season. However, unlike the November 15 Opening Day, no one is sitting in the forest or loading a rifle. The first girls’ basketball season brings me to Leslie High where the Blackhawks will host the Wolfpack from Laingsburg.

As we wait for the games to start, I hope you will enjoy this rendition of “Snoopy’s Christmas” from my You Tube Channel. (Your Bleacher Denizen makes an acting appearance as “Snoopy.” Even if Hollywood has not reached out to me regarding an Oscar, I enjoyed doing the video and hope you will enjoy watching!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1pZCnDBHL0

As this is the opening game of the season for both teams, I imagine that both teams are starting out with a 0-0 record.

Coach Doug Hurst from Laingsburg gave me this information about his players.

Ella Merrell is a three year varsity player who drives to the basket well and is also a threat from the outside. She brings an element of toughness to the Wolfpack. Callie Clark is a strong perimeter defender and outside shooter. Ashlee Hawes is a versatile player who is a wing, but can play any position if her team needs her to. She is a good outside shooter who is also a threat driving to the basket.

Bella Strieff is an inside player who rebounds and defends well in the post. Kyleigh Luna brings speed and ball handling to the Wolfpack; her speed also makes her a dangerous defender. Mallory Woodbury slashes well to the basket and is a strong midrange shooter as well. She is a really good rebounder who is exceptional at securing rebounds in a crowd. Lilli Morrill is strong, fast and athletic. Payge Woodworth is a fine ball handler who brings strong outside shooting to the Wolfpack. She also has a fine basketball IQ.

Harper Strouse is a hard worker who is not afraid of contact on defense. Justine Miller always works hard; her attitude and diligence in practice help lift the entire team!

Leslie Coach Justin Houghton gave me the following information about his Blackhawk players.

Ella Locke is coming back from a knee injury that sidelined her last year. She is a fine rebounder who can shoot with accuracy from the three point line. Reece DeRose runs the point for the Blackhawks. Her high basketball IQ is a huge asset in this role; she is also a fine perimeter defender. Rylie Burley is an excellent on-ball defender who slashes to the basket well.

Lily Smieska is slashes to the basket well as well as being a tough post defender and rebounder. Alayna Brown is an excellent post defender and rebounder who can also hit the three point shot. Elexcia Rice is a great defender who can cover anyone well either on the perimeter or in the post.

I was here in time to watch the JV game. The first half was competitive and pretty evenly matched as Laingsburg got to an 18-14 lead at the intermission. The Wolfpack outscored the Blackhawks 7-4 in the third quarter to move out to a 25-18 lead. Each team had five points in the fourth quarter. Laingsburg won the JV game 30-23.

Haizy Haindel led the Blackhawk JVs with 12 points. Anna Locke added 4 points. Gabriella Velazquez, Gracelynn Rivest and Leila Messner each tallied 2 points and Hailey Creisher scored 1 point.

Alayna Merrell led the Wolfpack JVs with 7 points. Bella Latuszek and Jameson Conklin each supported her with 6 points. Sydney Curtis added 5 points. Savvy Stirm and Paige Erickson each had 3 points.

It is now time to review the events of this contest through the occasionally observant (if bespectacled) eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to play basketball. Your Bleacher Denizen was starting to show promise as a dunker, but his basketball career was absolutely ruined when they raised the baskets from five feet to ten feet.

Leslie wins the opening tap. The Blackhawks misfire on a triple try from the wing. Ella Locke steals the ball for Leslie. The Blackhawks miss a turnaround layup shot. Laingsburg misfires on a threeball from the wing. Reece DeRose hits a fast break layup to give Leslie the first two points of the game.

Laingsburg misses a six foot shot from the side of the lane. Payge Woodworth gets her hand on the ball and Leslie loses the ball out of bounds. Laingsburg misses an eight foot runner from the side of the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Blackhawks take possession. Leslie misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Elexcia Rice knocks a Wolfpack out of bounds; Laingsburg retains possession.

Ella Locke steals the ball for Leslie. Payge Woodworth steals it back for Laingsburg. Payge Woodworth is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Wolfpack to trim the Blackhawk lead to 2-1 with 4:17 to play in the first quarter.

Leslie loses a pass out of bounds. Lily Smieska steals the ball for the Blackhawks. Harper Strouse knocks the ball away from Leslie and Kayleigh Luna picks it up for Laingsburg. Ella Locke steals the ball for Leslie. Rylie Burley scores a fast break layup for the Blackhawks. Ella Locks steals the ball and Reece DeRose scores a fast break layup for Leslie. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw. With 3:05 to play in the first quarter, Leslie has a 7-1 lead.

Leslie’s press forces a Wolfpack traveling violation. Leslie misses a three point shot from the corner. Elexcia Rice grabs the offensive rebound for the Blackhawks. Leslie is whistled for traveling. Alayna Brown knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Rylie Burley picks it up for Leslie. Lily Smieska drives and hits a layup for Leslie. Alayna Brown steals the ball for Leslie. Reece DeRose hits a fast break layup to give her Blackhawks an 11-1 lead.

Reece DeRose knocks the ball away from the Wolfpack and it is tied up. The Possession Arrow polls its executive committee and decides to reward Ms. DeRose for her fine, aggressive play; Leslie is awarded the ball. Reece DeRose passes to Ella Locke, who takes a dribble and hits a three point shot from the top of the key to boost the Blackhawks to a 14-1 lead.

Ella Locke steals the ball for Leslie. Ella Merrell draws a charging foul from the Blackhawks. Laingsburg misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. Callie Clark is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to trim the Leslie lead to 14-3 with 43.6 seconds left in the quarter.

Ella Merrell steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Reece DeRose blocks a Laingsburg fast break layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Wolfpack gets another opportunity. Laingsburg misfires on a triple try from the corner. Ella Merrell grabs the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Rylie Burley steals the ball for the Blackhawks. Lesliey misses a three point shot from the top of the key as the first quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After one quarter, Leslie has a 14-3 lead.

Laingsburg inbounds the ball to get the second quarter underway. Lily Smieska gets a hand on the ball and Laingsburg loses it out of bounds. Leslie misses a driving reverse layup. Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Bella Strieff knocks the ball away from Leslie and Harper Strouse picks it up for Laingsburg. Laingsburg misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Harper Strouse gets the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack.

Reece DeRose ties up the ball for the Blackhawks. The Possession Arrow is impressed by her hustle and awards the ball to Leslie. Lily Smieska passes to Elexcia Rice, who hits a layup to give Leslie a 16-3 lead.

Laingsburg misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Leslie misses a layup. Alayna Brown blocks a Laingsburg fast break layup. Leslie misses a three point shot from the wing. Laingsburg reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the wing. Leslie loses the ball out of bounds. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Blackhawks take possession. Rylie Burley passes to Reece DeRose, who hits a three point shot from the side to boost the Blackhawks to a 19-3 lead.

Laingsburg misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Bella Strieff gets the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Leslie misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Elexcia Rice gets the offensive rebound for the Blackhawks. Leslie misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Laingsburg gets the ball. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Leslie gets the ball.

Bella Strieff steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Lily Smieska blocks a Laingsburg fast break layup; the ball goes out of bounds and the Wolfpack gets another possession. Bella Strieff passes to Payge Woodworth, who throws in a threeball from the top of the key for Laingsburg. Ashlee Hawes knocks the ball away from Leslie; Payge Woodworth picks up the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Wolfpack to trim the Blackhawk lead to 19-8.

Gabriella Velaquez is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Leslie a 21-6 lead with 3.0 seconds remaining in the half.

Laingsburg misses a rushed heave at the buzzer.

Leslie has a 21-8 lead at halftime. If normal basketball traditions are upheld, they will also have a 21-8 lead when the third quarter commences.

Payge Woodworth has 6 points to lead the Laingsburg scoring at halftime. Reece DeRose has 10 points to lead the Leslie scoring.

As there is no halftime entertainment, let me submit a couple recent songs from my You Tube Channel.

Those of you who like hard rock might enjoy this original rocker featuring Lansing Guitarist Extraordinaire, Frog!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_qnhfMT2k

This is a beautiful Canadian Ballad from the 1860s for those of you who prefer things a bit more sedate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUhc4KROlnw

Laingsburg inbounds the ball to open quarter number three. Ashlee Hawks passes to Bella Strieff, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Alayna Brown passes to Lily Smieska, who hits a layup for Leslie. Leslie ties the ball up and the Possession Arrow checks the satellite data before awarded the ball to the Blackhawks. Leslie misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Ashlee Hawes fights hard for the offensive rebound and causes Leslie to lose the ball out of bounds. Bella Strieff drives and hits a layup to cut the Leslie lead to 23-12.

Alayna Brown passes to Ella Locke, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Leslie. Ashlee Hawes responds by hitting a six footer off the dribble from the side of the lane for Laingsburg; Leslie’s lead is now at 25-14.

Leslie misses a layup. Rylie Burley snares the offensive rebound for the Blackhawks. Leslie misses a layup. Lily Smieska gets back quickly on defense and kicks the ball to stop the Laingsburg fast break; the Wolfpack gets the ball out of bounds. Lilli Morrill goes around a pick from Bella Strieff to hit a six foot banked shot to shave the Blackhawk lead to 25-16.

Lilli Morrill knocks a Blackhawk pass out of bounds; Leslie retains possession. Lilli Morrill’s tough defense leads to a Blackhawk traveling violation. Elexcia Rice and Reece DeRose press and force a Laingsburg violation for taking more than ten seconds to cross the midcourt line. Payge Woodworth knocks the ball away from Leslie and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow and its steering committee were watching my videos on You Tube and missed the play; the ball is awarded back to Leslie. Ella Locke passes to Lily Smieska, who hits a layup to give Leslie a 27-16 lead.

The Blackhawk press causes a Wolfpack turnover. Ella Merrell steals the ball for Laingsburg and hits a fast break layup. Leslie misses a six foot banked shot. Lily Smieska gets the offensive rebound for Leslie. Payge Woodworth gets her hand on a Leslie pass; Reece DeRose alertly grabs the loose ball to prevent a Blackhawk turnover. Leslie misses a three point shot from the side.

Laingsburg misses an eight foot hook shot from the baseline. Leslie is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Rylie Burley gets the offensive rebound and is fouled while handling the ball. Rylie Burley hits two free throws to boost the Blackhawk lead to 29-18 with 1:18 to play in the quarter.

Alayna Brown knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Lily Smieska ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is playing video games and ignores Ms. Smieska’s great effort; the ball is awarded to Laingsburg. Rylie Burley knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Alayna Brown picks it up for Leslie. Ella Merrell steals the ball and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws to whittle the Leslie lead down to 29-19 with 40.4 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Leslie misses a jumper from the free throw line and fouls on the rebound. Laingsburg misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Bella Strieff steals the ball an is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws with just 2.8 seconds remaining in the quarter. Leslie is not able to shoot before the third quarter buzzer sounds.

After three quarters, Leslie has a 29-20 lead.

Leslie has the ball to begin the final quarter. Lily Smieska passes to Ella Locke, who hits a three point shot from the side for Leslie. Kyleigh Luna hits a seventeen foot two point shot (foot was possibly on the three point line) from the wing for Laingsburg. Leslie misses a driving layup. Alayna Brown pulls down the offensive rebound for the Blackhawks. Kayleigh Luna steals the ball for Laingsburg. The Wolfpack misses a fast break layup. Ella Locke is fouled on a three pointer and hits two of her three free throws to boost the Leslie lead to 34-22 with 6:49 left on the clock.

Ella Locke ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow consults its Finance Committee, which awards the ball to Laingsburg. Ella Merrell passes to Kayleigh Luna who is behind the three point line this time and drills a threeball from the wing to cut the Leslie lead to 34-25.

Ella Merrell steals the ball for Laingsburg. Ella Locke blocks a Wolfpack triple try from the wing. Reece DeRose alertly recovers the ball to prevent a Blackhawk turnover. Rylie Burley passes to Ella Locke, who hits a layup to give Leslie a 36-25 lead.

Laingsburg misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Leslie misses a three pointer from the side. Lily Smieska hits a putback and is fouled; she misses her free throw. With 4:29 remaining in the contest, Leslie has a 38-25 lead.

Reece DeRose steals a Wolfpack bounce pass. Mallory Woodbury knocks a Blackhawk pass into the lane out of bounds to prevent a layup attempt. The Blackhawks retain possession. Reece DeRose inbounds the ball to Lily Smieska, who hits a layup for Leslie. Laingsburg misses a ten foot shot from the side. The rebound is tied up; the Possession Arrow consults its management committee an gives the ball to Leslie. Ashlee Hawks steals the ball and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws to trim the Leslie lead to 40-26 with 2:31 to play.

Bella Strieff and Hayleigh Luna double team Leslie and tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow’s management committee decides to award the ball to Laingsburg to reward their intense defense. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Mallory Woodbury steals the ball and passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup try, but misses her free throws. With 1:49 to go, Leslie’s lead remains at 40-26.

Kayleigh Luna ties up the ball, but the Possession Arrow decides to award the ball to Leslie. Reece DeRose passes the ball to Haizy Haindel, who hits a layup and is fouled; she misses her free throw. Ella Locke pulls down the offensive rebound for the Blackhawks. Mallory Woodbury deflects a Blackhawk pass and causes a tieup. This time, the Possession Arrow was actually watching the game and gives the ball to Laingsburg.

Anna Locke knocks a Wolfpack pass out of bounds; Laingsburg retains possession. The Wolfpack misses a three point shot from the side. Mallory Woodbury steals the ball for Laingsburg. As time expires, Laingsburg misses a layup.

Leslie wins its season opener by the final score of 42-26.

Payge Woodworth led the Laingsburg scoring with 6 points. Kyleigh Luna and Bella Strieff each added 5 points. Ella Merrell and Ashlee Hawes each contributed 3 points. Lilli Morrill had 2 points.

Ella Locke led the victorious Blackhawks with 12 points. Reece DeRose and Lily Smieska each joined their teammate in double figures with 10 points. Rylie Burley scored 4 points. Elexcia Rice, Haizy Haindel and Gabriella Velasquez each tallied 2 points.