Fulton vs. Ithaca – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 28, 2023 – – By Chuck Krafft
Tonight Fulton and Ithaca are playing four games. The Boys and the Girls will each be playing JV and Varsity matchups. These games have been scheduled to help raise funds for the B#4 Foundation which is working to prevent suicide by raising awareness of the problem as well as counseling and other things that can prevent these tragedies. This is a huge problem, so I hope those of you who are reading, but could not attend the games, will get some information from their website so you can send some money to help the foundation achieve its goals.
https://www.theb4foundation.org/
The Yellowjackets from Ithaca bring a 1-3 record into today’s game.
Fulton’s Pirates are off to a great 5-0 start this season. (I guess I should tip my cap and yell, “Ahoy There, Mateys!”) I covered the Pirates in an earlier game this season and Coach Brandon Trefil gave me the following information.
Jaci Canfield and Kaya Canfield are athletic, versatile defenders who play mostly on the perimeter, but can help inside as well. On offense, but are fine scorers who can either slash to the basket or snipe away from the free throw line. Dayten Lambert is another perimeter defender with excellent offensive guard skills including three point range. Olivia Leavitt and Sophia Akin are also able to shoot well from the three point line.
Kalyn Duflo is an excellent ballhandler and passer who can shoot well from midrangen of the three point line while providing stout perimeter defense. Addison Warnke and Lexi Sorah are tough defenders and rebounders in the post. Brooklyn Kanous is a tenacious perimeter defender who creates a lot of turnovers.
Ithaca Coach Khris Nevins was generous with his time and information about his Yellowjacket players.
Senior Karlee Whitmore is a team leader who is a strong post defender and scorer. She can also step out and hit the three point shot. She has a great basketball IQ! Ivy Davenport runs the point most of the time. She is a tenacious perimeter defender who can also defend the post when necessary. On offense, she is comfortable slashing to the basket, hitting the three point shot or scoring in the post.
Libby Maurer is another tough perimeter defender and versatile scorer who is an excellent ball handler and passer. She can score from the three point line or by slashing to the basket. Emma Polash is an aggressive defender and rebounder in the post. Emmalee Shankel is a “glue” player who sets screens, keeps the ball moving and defends the perimeter with great energy. She also has an excellent basketball IQ. Delaney Smith is a smart player who can defend either on the perimeter or in the post. She is also a threat from the three point line.
I got to the gym just before halftime of the JV game. At halftime, it was a four point game with Ithaca leading 13-9. Ithaca’s JVs shut out Fulton in the second half while scoring ten of their own points. The Yellowjacket JVs won by the final score of 23-9.
Katerina Brodska led the Fulton JVs with 3 points. Natalie Leavitt and Ava Duflo each added 2 points. Jillian Davis and Lillian Reynolds each added 1 point.
McKenzi McClain led the victorious Yellowjacket JVs with 9 points. Sophia Strand and Alyssa Polash each added 6 points and Taigan Buck tossed in 2 points.
It is now time to look at the results of this game through the hopefully observant eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the ancient times when he attempted to play basketball. Alas, he never learned that it was only good to score points in the correct basket.
After one game where he got hot from the three point line and wondered why only the opposing fans were cheering. His coach solved the mystery when he invited your Bleacher Denizen to sit near him on the bench and explained he had just scored numerous three point baskets for the wrong team. The coach never allowed me on the floor after that. (Sniff.)
Ithaca wins the opening tap. The Yellowjackets throw a pass out of bounds. Fulton misses a three point shot near the top of the key. Ithaca throws a pass too high and out of bounds. Fulton misses a six foot driving banked shot. Libby Maurer banks in an eight foot shot from the side to give the Yellowjackets a 2-0 lead.
Fulton misses a driving layup. Ithaca misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Ivy Davenport knocks the ball out of bounds; Ithaca takes possession. Libby Maurer drives and hits a layup for Ithaca. Jaci Canfield drives and dishes the ball to Kaya Canfield, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Fulton. The score is now Libby Maurer 4 Kaya Canfield 3.
Ithaca misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton takes possession. Fulton misfires on a triple try from the wing. Ithaca throws a fast break outlet pass too far and out of bounds. Emma Polash’s defense forces a Fulton traveling violation. Kaya Canfield gets her hand on an Ithaca pass; there is a scrum for the loose ball and it is tied up. The Possession Arrow contacts its Legal Team who decides to grant Fulton an easement and to give the Pirates the ball.
Ivy Davenport knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Ivy Davenport knocks the ball away from a Pirate dribbler to prevent a drive to the basket; Fulton gets the ball back. Ivy Davenport gets tired of having to do this over and over; she steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for the Pirates. (I love that last sentence! Who would appreciate a steal more than a Pirate!!) Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Libby Maurer passes to Ivy Davenport, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Ithaca a 5-3 lead with 4:19 to play in the first quarter.
Fulton misfires on a triple try from the wing. Kaya Canfield pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Dayten Lambert knocks a pass into the lane out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. Karlee Whitmore hits a layup to boost the Yellowjackets to a 7-3 lead.
Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton gets the ball back. In a deja vu moment, Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Dayten Lambert forces Ithaca to commit and offensive foul. Fulton misses a layup. Ithaca reciprocates and misses a layup. Libby Maurer steals the ball for Ithaca and hits a fast break layup to give the Yellowjackets a 9-3 lead.
Kalyn Duflo passes to Sophia Akin, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fulton. Ithaca misses a driving layup. Delaney Smith grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowhackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Brooklyn Kanous partially blocks a Yellowjacket layup. Ithaca fouls trying to retrieve the loose ball. Emmalee Shankel’s tough defense forces a Fulton traveling violation. Ivy Davenport drives and hits a layup to give Ithaca an 11-6 lead.
Brooklyn Kanous drives and dishes the ball to Olivia Leavitt, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fulton. Ithaca misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for the Pirates, but there is no time to shoot before the first quarter buzzer makes its presence known.
After one quarter, Ithaca holds an 11-9 lead.
Ithaca has the ball to open the second quarter. Ivy Davenport drives and hits a layup for the Yellowjackets. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the side. Libby Maurer grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton gets the ball. Emmalee Shankel gets her hand on the ball and a Fulton dribbler loses it out of bounds.
Ithaca misses a layup. Emma Polash gets her hand on the rebound and Fulton losers it out of bounds. Ithaca misses a layup. Emma Polash pulls down the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Jaci Canfield makes a fine hustle play for Fulton when she dives and keeps the rebound from going out of bounds. The ball is tied up. The Possession Arrow and its New Year Celebration Committee are impressed with Ms. Canfield’s hustle and award the ball to Fulton. Fulton is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 6:03 remaining in the second quarter, Ithaca has a 13-9 lead.
Olivia Leavitt blocks a Yellowjacket layup. Ithaca fouls trying to recover the loose ball. The Pirates miss a threeball from the wing. The Yellowjackets miss a driving layup. Emma Polash gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Libby Maurer hits a threeball from the top of the key for Ithaca. Olivia Leavitt hits a three point shot near the top of the key for Fulton. Libby Maurer is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to give Ithaca an 18-12 lead with 4:43 remaining in the quarter.
Sophia Akin drives and passes to Olivia Leavitt, who throws in a threeball from the side to slash the Yellowjacket lead to three points. Ithaca misses a driving layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow polls its Garden Club committee and decrees that Ithaca shall have the ball. Jaci Canfield passes to Olivia Leavitt, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Fulton to tie the game. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for Fulton and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits two free throws to give her Pirates a 20-18 lead with 3:23 to go in the first half.
Ithaca is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Ivy Davenport is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to cut the Fulton lead to one point. Fulton throws and outlet pass too high and out of bounds; Ithaca takes possession. Brooklyn Danous dives and knocks the ball away from Ithaca; Olivia Leavitt picks it up for Fulton. Fulton misses a layup. Ithaca misses a jump shot from the free throw line and Emmalee Shankel grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Emmalee Shankel is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 20-20 with 2:26 to go in the second quarter.
Fulton misfires on a triple try from the wing. Libby Maurer drives and hits a ten foot shot from the baseline to give Ithaca a two point lead. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. Karlee Whitmore hits a putback of the missed free throw to give Ithaca a 24-20 lead.
Fulton misses a threeball from the top of the key; the rebound goes out of bounds and Ithaca takes possession. Kalyn Duflo knocks the Yellowjacket inbound pass out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. Ithaca misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get the ball. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing. Ithaca misses a layup. Karlee Whitmore gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Dayten Lambert is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Ithaca lead to 24-21 with 53.3 seconds to play in the half.
Libby Maurer is fouled and hits two free throws for Ithaca. Fulton misses a twelve footer from the side. Ivy Davenport is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Ithaca with 8.4 seconds to play in the half. Fulton misses a layup just before the second quarter buzzer blasts.
At halftime, Ithaca has a 27-21 lead.
Olivia Leavitt leads the Fulton scoring with 12 points, all on four three point shots.
Libby Maurer has 15 points and Ivy Davenport has 7 points for Ithaca.
At halftime, they promoted B#4 Foundation with a TShirt giveaway.
For those who could not be at the gym, here is an original tune from my You Tube Channel for your enjoyment!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc
I checked the scoreboard just to be sure and found that Ithaca will open the second half with the same 27-21 lead it had at halftime. (Your Bleacher Denizen made an error in his notes and had the score wrong until he went through the entire second quarter of notes to figure out what he did wrong. What you are reading in the article is accurate. I just thought it was funny; I frequently use variations of that joke. What a surprise that my halftime score in my notes WAS wrong LOL.)
Fulton has the ball to start out quarter number three. The Pirates ignore your Bleacher Denizen’s somewhat embarrassing halftime score error and run their play. They miss a threeball from the wing. Sophia Akin pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton commits a traveling violation. Jaci Canfield knocks the ball away from an Ithaca dribbler and out of bounds; the Yellowjackets get the ball back.
Ithaca misses a driving layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow polls its 2024 Christmas Party Committee and decides to give the ball to the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a driving layup. Ivy Davenport gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Emma Polash hits a putback to give Ithaca a 29-21 lead.
Fulton misses a driving layup. Ithaca loses a pass out of bounds. Sophia Akin drills a three point shot from the wing for the Pirates. Ithaca misses a driving ten foot shot from the baseline. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Sophia Akin grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Dayten Lambert is fouled driving for a layup and hits two free throws for Fulton to trim the Yellowjacket lead to 29-26 with 6:01 remaining in quarter number three.
Ivy Davenport drives to the basket and uses an up and under move to hit a layup for Ithaca. Fulton turns the ball over. Ithaca misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Fulton misfires on a threeball from the side. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for the Pirates and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws to shave the Ithaca lead to 31-27 with 5:04 remaining in the quarter.
Ithaca misses a three point attempt from the wing. Emmalee Shankel steals a Fulton pass into the lane. Ithaca misses a ten footer off the dribble in the lane. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Kaya Canfield hits a putback for Fulton; she is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 4:14 to play in the third quarter, the Ithaca lead is down to two points at 31-29.
Ithaca commits an offensive foul. Ivy Davenport nearly steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Fulton briefly recovers, but loses the ball out of bounds. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the wing. Karlee Whitmore gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Fulton fouls on the rebound. Sophia Akin knocks the ball away from Ithaca and causes a tie up. The Possession Arrow and its Afternoon Tea group like Ms. Akin’s hustle and award the ball to Fulton. Fulton misses a threeball from the side. Jaci Canfield is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to cut the Ithaca lead to 31-30 with 3:12 to play in the quarter.
Ithaca misses a layup. Delaney Smith pulls down the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for the Pirates. Fulton travels to ruin a too fast break. Olivia Leavitt partially blocks an Ithaca twelve footer from the baseline. Sophia Akin passes to Dayten Lambert, who throws in a threeball from the corner to give her Pirates a 33-31 lead.
Libby Maurer is fouled on a six foot shot in the lane and hits one of her two free throws to pull Ithaca to within one point. Fulton misses an eight foot shot off the dribble from the baseline and fouls on the rebound. Libby Maurer hits a fast break layup to give Ithaca a one point lead. Dayten Lambert hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the baseline to give Fulton a 35-34 lead.
Ithaca misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Ithaca throws a pass out of bounds. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner; Kalyn Duflo snags the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Kalyn Duflo is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give Fulton a 36-34 lead with 42.0 seconds left in the third quarter.
Libby Maurer passes to Karlee Whitmore, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to pull Ithaca to within one point. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another possession. Sophia Strand gets her hand on a Pirate pass, but Fulton is able to recover. Jaci Canfield is fouled and hits two free throws for Fulton with 3.4 seconds left on the third quarter clock. Ithaca is not able to shoot before the buzzer sounds.
After three quarters, Fulton has a 38-35 lead.
Ithaca inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. Ivy Davenport is fouled on a twelve footer off the dribble from the side and hits two free throws for Ithaca. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Ithaca commits a traveling violation on a fast break. Ivy Davenport steals the ball and passes to Libby Maurer, who hits a layup to give the Yellowjackets a 39-38 lead.
Libby Maurer steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Yellowjackets. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Ithaca takes possession. Ithaca misses a driving layup. Fulton misses a fast break layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow looks up from its Fortnight game, decides it would be great to reward some Pirates and gives the ball to Fulton. Fulton misses a layup.
Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for the Pirates. Karlee Whitmore blocks a Fulton layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Ithaca takes possession. Olivia Leavitt knocks the ball away from Ithaca and Brooklyn Kanous dives to secure the ball for her Pirates. Fulton calls timeout to avoid turning the ball over. The Pirates miss a three pointer from the side. Ithaca misses a layup. Fulton is assessed with a traveling violation.
Ithaca misses a ten foot shot from the wide. Karlee Whitmore gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a layup. Fulton misses a fast break layup and fouls on the rebound. Ithaca is fouled on a driving ten footer from the baseline, but misses two free throws. With 5:06 left in the contest, the Ithaca lead remains at 41-38.
Olivia Leavitt drives and hits an eight foot banked shot from the side for Fulton to bring the Pirates within one point. Ithaca misses a three pointer from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Fulton misses a driving layup. Olivia Leavitt knocks a pass out of bounds to foil an Ithaca layup; the Yellowjackets retain possession. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Fulton misses a driving eight footer from the baseline. Ivy Davenport drives and dishes the ball to Emma Polash, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Ithaca a 42-40 lead with 3:10 left in the game.
Ivy Davenport’s aggressive defense forces a Fulton traveling violation. Ithaca misses a driving ten footer from the side of the lane. Fulton drives the baseline, but misses a layup. Ithaca misses a driving layup. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity. Fulton misses a three pointer from the corner. Libby Maurer is fouled on a fast break layup and makes two free throws to boost her Yellowjackets to a 44-40 lead with 1:56 left on the clock.
Ivy Davenport knocks Fulton’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. Fulton misses a layup. Ithaca runs some time off the clock. Olivia Leavitt gets her hand on a Yellowjacket pass and knocks the ball out of bounds. Fulton takes possession. Fulton misses a three pointer from the wing. Ivy Davenport is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give Ithaca a 45-40 lead with 19.6 seconds to go.
Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Jaci Canfield gets the offensive rebound and is fouled on a layup; she hits one of her two free throws for Fulton. Ivy Davenport is fouled with 6.3 seconds to play and hits one of her two free throws. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing at the final buzzer.
Ithaca wins this back and forth game by a 46-41 score.
Olivia Leavitt led the Fulton scoring with 14 points. Dayten Lambert scored 8 points. Sophia Akin threw in 6 points. Kaya Canfield added 5 points. Jaci Canfield and Kalyn Duflo each scored 4 points.
Libby Maurer had 24 points for Ithaca to lead all scorers. Ivy Davenport joined her teammate in double figures with 13 points. Karlee Whitmore added 5 points. Emma Polash put in 3 points and Emmalee Shankel tallied 1 point.
There were also boys’ JV and varsity games played later that day. Here is a link to the play by play of the boys’ varsity game with a brief cap of the JV game enclosed.
THANK YOU Denzie ! Proud to be a Pirate Grandma !!