Williamston at Mason – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 19, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, to the Bleacher Denizen’s horror, he found out that a squad of Hornets would be visiting Mason to attack some Bulldogs. Your Bleacher Denizen’s heart bled for those poor puppies until he realized that this was actually going to be a boys’ basketball game between the visiting Hornets from Williamston and the host Bulldogs from Mason. I suppose that this means there will be some spirited competition without a need for an Epi-Pen!

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this vintage Blues tune, “Blues Stay Away from Me” from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtsKUnqw7g

Williamston enters this game with a 3-1 record in the CAAC-Red and is 6-8 overall. Mason is 4-0 in the CAAC-Red and 9-2 overall.

Williamston Coach Koji Vroom provided me with information about his Hornet players. I had a senior moment and misplaced the notes, but this is what I remember of what he told me. Ben Smith is one of the top scorers in the area. Per the Lansing State Journal, he averages 17.2 points per game. He can score either by slashing to the basket or shooting the three point shot. Per the State Journal, Ben Smith leads the Lansing Area with 31 made three pointers coming into tonight’s game. Zach Cribbs is a fine three point shooter; he averages 12.2 points per game.

Max McCune runs the point for the Hornets. He is a strong ball handler and passer who defends well on the perimeter and can hit the three point shot. He is one of the top assist men in the area and averages 3.1 assists per game. Hudson Hunt and Ben Barnstable score, defend and rebound well in the post.

Mason Coach Lee Chaney gave me this information about his Bulldog players. Cason Carswell is the football quarterback who led the Bulldogs to the State finals. He is also a talented basketball player who averages 19.4 points per game. He is a fine three point shooter (26 made three pointers this year coming into tonight’s game) who can also slash to the basket and is a strong dunker. On defense, he defends well on the perimeter and is tall enough to be a factor in the post as well. He is also a good enough passer to be listed as one of the Lansing Area’s assist leaders with 3.4 per game.

Luke Marlan is a complete point guard who does all the defensive and offensive work a good team needs from that position. He is an athletic and persistent perimeter defender. He can score on slashes or from the three point line as he is one of the area’s leading assist men with 5.5 per game. He also scores 12.8 points per game and has hit 16 three point shots so far this year. He is an excellent rebounder for a point guard with 6.2 rebounds per game.

Kaleb Parrish is a big man who scores, defends and rebounds well in the paint. He averages 14.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Tyler Baker is a fine defender on the perimeter or in the paint. He is great at cutting to the basket where Mason’s guards can pass him the ball so he can score layups. Levi Stambaugh is an excellent three point shooter who has hit 30 of them so far this year.

Mason’s pep band was entertaining before the game tonight and they were fantastic. They played a number of songs which included “Zoot Suit Riot”, “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Evil Ways”. They were very accurate with their music, played well together and helped get the crowd involved with the game! They also did a fine job with the National Anthem!

I was able to see the JV game which Williamston won 60-44. I had a senior moment where I lost my notes about the games’ scoring, but Mason JV Coach Jason Wing went above and beyond the call of duty to send me a copy of the scorebook!!!

Luke Goss had 14 points to lead the Mason JV scoring. Victor Uchendu contributed 9 points. Thomas Slezak scored 6 points. Zach Wells tossed in 4 points. Gage Oliver, Marley Dambro and Isaac Branton each had 3 points. Ole Loeckel tallied 2 points.

Tommy Pratt had 17 points to lead the Williamston JVs. Jameson Canti chipped in with 14 points and Jacob Martin joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. Miles Keener put in 7 points. Brett Palmer added 5 points. Jack Hart scored 4 points and Drew Kersten had 3 points.

It is now time to cover the events of this contest through the occasionally observant eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. Alas, it was too late before he learned that your coach only likes it when you shoot shots into the correct basket. There was one unfortunate road game where I got hot from three and loved all the cheers from the opposing fans when I got hot from the three point line. (And that’s when the coach explained in great deal that we should only shoot at our own basket. My playing time suffered after that.)

Williamston wins the opening tap. Levi Stambaugh steals the ball for the Bulldogs. Mason missess a driving eight foot shot from the baseline. Luke Marlan steals the ball for Mason. Luke Marlan passes to Levi Stambaugh, who hits a twelve footer off the dribble to give Mason the first two points of the game.

Tyler Baker blocks a Hornet reverse layup. Ben Smith knocks the ball away from Mason and Max McCune scores a fast break layup for Williamston to tie the game. Mason misfires on a triple try from the wing. Hudson Hunt passes to Ben Barnstable, who hits a layup to give the lead to Williamston. Kaleb Parrish passes to Cason Carswell, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give his Bulldogs a 5-4 lead.

Williamston misses a threeball from the side. Mason throws its outlet pass too high and out of bounds. Williamston takes possession. Levi Stambaugh blocks a Willimaston layup. Ben Smith steals the ball for the Hornets. Ben Barnstable hits a layup for Williamston to retake the lead. Mason misses a layup. Williamston misses a driving layup. Cason Carswell throws in a threeball from the corner to give Mason an 8-6 lead.

Williamston misses a three pointer from the wing. Ben Smith knocks Mason’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Bulldogs retain possession. Tyler Baker catches an inbound pass from Luke Marlan and hits a layup for Mason. Williamston misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Ben Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Zach Cribbs passes to Ben Smith, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Mason lead to 10-9.

Zach Kulesza blocks a Mason layup. Williamston misses a three point shot from the corner. Luke Marlan hits a three point shot from the wing for Mason. Ben Smith passes to Hudson Hunt for a Hornet layup. Cason Carswell passes to Kaleb Parrish, who hits a layup to give the Bulldogs a 15-11 lead.

Williamston misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Mason misses a fast break layup. Hudson Hunt hits a fast break layup for Williamston. Mason misses a threeball from the wing as the first quarter buzzer blasts forth.

After one quarter, Mason holds a 15-13 lead.

Mason inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Zach Kulesza steals the ball for the Hornets. Max McCune passes to Hudson Hunt, who spins in the lane and hits a layup for Williamston to tie the game. Mason is whistled for a three seconds (in the lane) violation. Williamston misses a three point shot from the wing. Zach Kulesza gets the offensive rebound and passes to Zach Cribbs, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the Hornets an 18-15 lead.

Zach Kulesza knocks the ball off a Bulldog player and it goes out of bounds; the Hornets get the ball. Williamston misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Luke Marlan passes to Kaleb Parrish, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Williamston lead to 18-16 with 5:50 remaining in the first half.

Williamston misses a driving layup. Mason reciprocates and misses a driving layup. Kaleb Parrish pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bulldogs. Ben Smith blocks a Bulldog layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Mason gets another opportunity. Luke Marlan spots Cason Carswell cutting to the basket and passes to him for a Mason layup that ties the game. Hudson Hunt passes to Ben Smith, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Williamston a 21-18 lead.

Mason misses a three point shot from the top of the key and fouls on the rebound. Zach Cribbs passes to Max McCune, who hits a threee point shot from the top of the key for Williamston. Mason misses a threeball from the side. Ben Smith hits a fast break layup and Williamston has a 26-18 lead.

Mason misses a layup. Williamston fouls on the rebound. Luke Marlan inbounds the ball to Levi Stambaugh, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Mason. Williamston turns the ball over. Luke Marlan passes to Levi Stambaugh, who throws in a three pointer from the wing to cut the Hornet lead to 26-24.

Williamston misses a driving layup. Mason misses a threeball from the wing. Williamston reciprocates and misses a threeball from the wing. Ben Barnstable gets the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Williamston misfires on a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Ben Smith knocks the ball away from the Bulldogs, but Mason is able to recover. Tyler Baker passes to Ryan Greathouse, who sinks a three point shot from the wing to give Mason a 27-26 lead.

Williamston misses a three point shot from the side. Cason Carswell jumps out of one of his shoes and has to put it back on. (I guess even star athletes have human moments sometimes!) Ryan Greathouse passes to Luke Marlan, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to give Mason a 28-26 lead with 45.3 seconds to play in the half.

Williamston misses a driving layup. Mason misses a layup. Willliamston misses a full court heave as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

Mason has a 28-26 lead at halftime. There is an excellent chance that the Bulldogs will also have this lead at the start of the third quarter.

Ben Smith has 8 points to lead the Williamston scoring at halftime. Hudson Hunt has 6 points and Max McCune has 5 points.

Levi Stambaugh and Cason Carswell each have 8 points to lead Mason’s scoring.

Today, Mason had its Winterfest celebration. B.J. Miller, the king, and Molly Murgittroyd, the queen were named at halftime.

The band then entertained for the rest of the intermission and did an excellent job.

For those of you were not here to see the entertainment, here are a couple original tunes from my You Tube Channel which I hope you will enjoy.

“Won’t Be Alone Too Long” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_qnhfMT2k

“A Man Like Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

Williamston inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway as I glance at the scoreboard and see that Mason’s lead is still at 28-26! The mind boggles!!!!

Kaleb Parrish ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s wide-eyed awe and steals the ball for Mason. Cason Carswell passes to Tyler Baker, who hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Ben Smith grets into the lane and hits a six foot jumper for the Hornets. Luke Marlan passes to Kaleb Parrish, who hits a layup to give Mason a 32-28 lead.

Williamston misses a three point shot from the wing. Mason misses a driving layup. Williamston misses a threeball from the wing. Mason misses a three point shot from the side. Cason Carswell pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bulldogs.

Ben Smith steals a Mason pass into the lane. Williamston misfires on a threeball from the corner. Mason misses a fast break six foot jumper. Cason Carswell hits a putback for Mason. Williamston misses a three pointer from the side. Ben Barnstable gets the offensive rebound for the for the Hornets. Willimaston misses a layup. Mason misses a driving layup; Tyler Baker hits a putback to give Mason a 36-28 lead.

Max McCune passes to Zach Cribbs, who hits a three point shot from the corner for the Hornets. Tyler Baker passes to Kaleb Parrish, who hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Hudson Hunt hits a three point shot from the top of the key for Williamston. Luke Maron hits a fourteen foot shot off the dribble in the lane for Mason. Williamston misses a driving layup. Mason is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 2:12 remaining in quarter number three, Mason has a 40-34 lead.

Williamston misses a three pointer from the wing. Ben Barnstable draws a charging foul from Mason. Ben Smith passes to Ben Barnstable, who hits a layup for Williamston. Kaleb Parrish passes to Tyler Baker for a Mason layup. Williamston missses a three ball near the top of the key. Mason misses a threeball from the wing. Williamston misses a layup. Hudson Hunt hits a putback to trim the Mason lead to 42-38.

Max McCune knocks Mason’s inbound pass out of bounds; the Bulldogs retain possession. Luke Marlan is fouled on a reverse layup and hits two free throws for Mason with just twenty seconds left in the quarter. Hudson Hunt passes to Zach Cribbs, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Williamston. Mason misses a long heave at the buzzer. (As I read this, I wonder if I point out that the ball was aimed at the basket and not at the buzzer.)
With three quarters in the books, Mason has a 44-41 lead.

Mason inbounds the ball to commence the final quarter. Cason Carswell drives and hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Levi Stambaugh knocks the ball away from Williamston, but the Hornets are able to recover. Collin Winters steals the ball for Mason. The Bulldogs miss a layup, but Kaleb Parrish pulls down the offensive rebound for Mason. Hudson Hunt steals the ball for Williamston. Max McCune drives and hits a layup to cut the Mason lead to 46-43.

Max McCune steals the ball for the Hornets. Williamston misses a three pointer from the side and fouls on the rebound. Cason Carswell passes to Luke Marlan, who hits a layup for Mason. Max McCune passes to Zach Kulesza, who hits a tough layup against intense defense for the Hornets. Luke Marlan passes to Levi Stambaugh, who hits a three point shot from the wing to push the Mason lead to 51-45.

Williamston misses a ten foot shot from the side. Levi Stambaugh hits a ten foot turnaround jump shot in the lane for Mason. Williamston misse a three point shot from the corner. Luke Marlan drives and scoops in a layup to give Mason a 55-45 lead.

Levi Stambaugh knocks the ball out of bounds; Williamston retains possession. Kaleb Parrish gets his hand on the ball and causes a Williamston traveling violation. Max McCune knocks the Bulldog inbound pass out of bounds; Mason retains possession. Tyler Baker alertly keeps the ball from going out of bounds. Kaleb Parrish drives and hits a layup for Mason. Ben Smith is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Williamston to shave the Mason lead to 57-47 with 2:35 left on the clock.

Cason Carswell passes to Levi Stambaugh, who hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Ben Barnstable hits a layup for the Hornets. Ben Smith blocks a Mason driving layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Mason gets another opportunity. Tyler Baker inbounds the ball to Levi Stambaugh, who hits a driving layup to give his Bulldogs a 61-49 lead.

Williamston misses a three point shot from the wing. Hudson Hunt grabs the offensive rebound for the Hornets. Williamston misses a three point shot from the wing. The Hornets commit their second, third and fourth fouls of the quarter so they can start forcing Mason to shoot free throws. Cason Carswell is fouled and foils that strategy by hitting two free throws to boost the Bulldogs to a 63-49 lead with 1:06 remaining in the game.

Max McCune passes to Ben Smith, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Williamston. Kaleb parrish is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Mason. Williamston misfires on a threeball from the wing. Cason Carswell hits a fast breaak layup to give Mason a 66-52 lead.

Williamston misses a three point shot from the corner. Mason fouls on the rebound. Zach Cribbs drives and hits a layup for Williamston. Mason runs out the clock.

Mason wins this CAAC-Red conference matchup by the score of 66-54.

Ben Smith had 15 points to lead the Williamston scoring. Zach Cribbs and Hudson Hunt each contributed 11 points. Ben Barnstable tossed in 8 points. Max McCune scored 7 points and Zach Kulesza tallied 2 points.

Levi Stambaugh had 17 points for Mason to lead all scorers. Cason Carswell supported him with 16 points. Luke Marlan scored 12 points and Kaleb Parrish had 10 points as four Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring. Tyler Baker put in 8 points and Ryan Greathouse added 3 points.