Portland at St. Johns – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – November 26, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is off to his first basketball game of the 2024-25 season. While I hesitate to compare my first basketball game to the Phoenix rising from the ashes, I love basketball and am eager to get to my first game!!

The Portland Raiders will be visiting the St. Johns Redwings for the first game of the season for both teams! I guess your Bleacher Denizen is not the only person going through the first game jitters tonight!

It was a nice day for driving to St. Johns. I had some extra time, so I got to make my first trip ever to Andy T.’s farm market and picked up some bacon and an apple fritter. This is a cool store!! If you haven’t been there, you really need to visit some time.

I met St. Johns coach Nate Wade for the first time. He was generous with his time and information. He provided me with this information about his Redwing players.

Bryce Pratl is a returning all-conference player. He is a versatile scorer who can hit the three ball or drive to the basket. He is a fine all-around guard who handles the ball and defends well. Hunter Kinkema and Conner Kurncz are fine perimeter defenders and ball handlers who can shoot the three ball. Myles Jones is a strong perimeter defender and ball handler.

David Frisbee defends well in the post and is a strong rebounder. On offense, he sets screens and does a lot of “glue guy” work. Aidan Wirth is a fine rebounder and defender in the post. On offense, he is a threat to shoot the three ball.

Coach Luke Pohl provided me with the following information about his Raider players. Unfortunately, senior Dom Novara, who has started since his freshman year and is also the quarterback on a Raider team that had an excellent season has a high ankle sprain and will not play tonight or for another few weeks. Christopher Battley is another senior who has started since his freshman year. He is a tough defender, rebounder and scorer who makes life difficult for opponents near the basket. Evan Gross has also been on the varsity since his freshman year. He is a guard with a nice three point shot; he also handles the ball well and defends well on the perimeter.

Kayden Dickerson is a fine athlete who is hard to stop when he drives to the basket. He is a tough rebounder and interior defender as well. Keaton McGregor is a tough perimeter defender who is a threat from the three point line. Levi Nobis is an energetic pest on the perimeter. Carson Simon and Owen Moore give the Raiders a couple more threats from the three point line.

I got to the gym in time to watch the JV game. St. Johns controlled the first three quarters as they took a 15-8 first quarter lead and extended it to 20-12 at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, the Redwing lead was extended to 30-18.

Portland scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and closed the St. Johns lead to 30-23 with about four minutes left. The Redwings then hit a free throw which was their only point of the fourth quarter. Portland scored four points on layups by Owen Galey and Derek LeDu. Derek LeDu then stole the ball and passed to Deacon Townsend, who hit a three pointer from the wing to close the Redwing lead to 31-30.

St. Johns missed a three pointer from the side and got the offensive rebound, but Joe Nobis stole the ball for Portland, but the Raiders missed a layup. Derek LeDu picked up a loose ball for the Raiders and hit a layup that gave his team a 32-31 lead with 49.3 seconds left in the game.

The only scoring after that was two free throws by Joe Nobis. Portland won the JV game by the score of 34-31.

Tyler Priest led the St. Johns scoring with 11 points. Lucas McCastle supported him with 7 points. Ian Smith and Brody Pratl each tossed in 4 points. Alex Oberlin added 3 points and Brady Martinez tallied 2 points.

Deacon Townsend led the Raider JVs with 13 points. Derek LeDu contributed 8 points. Jerred Russman added 3 points. Owen Galey, Joe Nobis, Ethan Babcock and Sawyer Rockey each had 2 points. Liam Wolf and Kehyan Page each put in 1 point.

Let’s look at this game through the occasionally clear lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to hoop in the days of yore. Alas, it was too late before he figured out that his coach was not being complementary when he spoke of the Bleacher Denizen’s “matador defense”. (I’m probably showing my age with that one.) The coach seemed to be particularly irritated when I yelled, “Ole!” as my man dribbled past me. As you might imagine, my playing time dwindled just a bit.

Portland wins the opening tap; they miss a fast break layup. The rebound was tied up. The Possession Arrow consulted its Magic Eight Ball and decided to award the ball to St. Johns. Evan Gross hits the floor to steal the ball for the Raiders. Portland throws an inbound pass out of bounds and St. Johns takes the ball. Hunter Kinkema drives and hits a layup to give St. Johns the first two points of the game.

Portland misses a twelve footer in the lane. St. Johns misfires on a triple try from the corner. Evan Gross hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane for Portland to tie the game. St. Johns throws a pass out of bounds. Portland misses a threeball from the wing. St. Johns misses a threeball from the corner. Bryce Pratl knocks the ball away from Portland and Myles Jones picks it up for St. Johns. The Redwings miss a layup and foul on the rebound. Tej Virk passes to Owen Moore, who throws in a threeball from the side to give his Raiders a 5-2 lead.

Tej Virk steals the ball and passes to Owen Moore, who hits a layup for Portland. Christopher Battley knocks the ball away from St. Johns, but the Redwings recover. Bryce Pratl hits a three pointer from the corner to trim the Raider lead to 7-5.

Portland misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Kayden Dickerson showed fantastic hustle, but was not able to keep the rebound in bounds and St. Johns took possession. Christopher Battley nearly steals the ball for the Raiders, but the Redwings recover. Owen Moore blocks a Redwing shot in the lane. Portland misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow and fouls on the rebound. St. Johns misses a layup. Levi Nobis passes to Owen Moore, who sinks a three pointer from the wing to boost the Portland lead to 10-5.

St. Johns misses a driving layup. Evan Gross passes to Ethan Cassel, who hits a layup for Portland. Bryce Pratl is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Raider lead to 12-6 with 16.4 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Portland misses a three point attempt from the wing. Ethan Cassel gets the offensive rebound for Portland, but the buzzer goes off before the Raiders have a chance to shoot.

After one quarter, Portland holds a 12-6 lead.

Portland inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Evan Gross tosses in a fifteen foot shot from the side for the Raiders. David Frisbee passes to Myles Johns, who hits a layup for the Redwings. Portland misses a three pointer from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Johns gets the ball. Evan Gross steals the ball for the Raiders. Bryce Pratl gets his hand on the ball; it goes out of bounds and the Redwings take the ball. St. Johns misses a three pointer from the side. Conner Kurncz gets the offensive rebound and passes to Hunter Kinkema, who hits a three pointer from the corner to chop the Raider lead to 14-11.

Portland misses a six foot shot from the baseline. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Evan Gross passes to Owen Moore, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Portland. St. Johns misfires on a triple try from the corner. Portland reciprocates and misfires on a triple try from the corner. Owen Moore gets his hand on the ball and St. Johns loses it out of bounds. Evan Gross drills a trey from the corner to boost the Portland lead to 20-11.

Evan Gross knocks a St. Johns pass out of bounds; the Raiders retain possession. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the side. Aidan Wirth gets the offensive rebound for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a ten footer from the baseline. Portland misses a threeball from the wing. Ethan Cassel gets the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Christopher Battley hits a layup to give Portland a 22-11 lead.

Levi Nobis draws a charging foul from St. Johns. A Raider travel negates a layup. Titus Konieczny hits a six foot fast break banked shot from the side. Portland misses a six foot shot from the baseline and fouls on the rebound. Conner Kurncz is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Raider lead to 22-14 with 1:01 left in the first half.

Portland misses a three pointer from the wing. Ethan Cassel grabs the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a three point attempt from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds, but the Raiders retain possession. Evan Gross inbounds the ball to Christopher Battley, who hits a layup to push the Portland lead to 24-14.

Levi Nobis draws a charging foul from the Redwings. Evan Gross goes coast to coast and hits a layup for Portland as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

Portland has a 26-14 halftime lead. If usual basketball procedures are adhered to, I predict that Portland will also be ahead 26-14 when the third quarter opens.

Hunter Kinkema leads the St. Johns scoring with 5 points at halftime and Bryce Pratl has 4 points.

Owen Moore leads the Portland scoring with 11 points and Evan Gross has 9 points.

Your Bleacher Denizen nearly pulls his shoulder out of joint as he pats himself on the back when the third quarter opens and Portland is indeed still leading by the 26-14 halftime score. Fortunately, he stopped patting himself when he realized he was endangering his ability to take play by play notes for the second half.

St. Johns inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Redwings miss a layup. Hunter Kinkema grabs the offensive rebound, hits a putback and is fouled. He sinks his free throw to trim the Raider lead to 26-17 with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Evan Gross hits a fifteen foot shot off the dribble from the side for Portland. St. Johns misses a layup, but Portland travels with the rebound. Hunter Kinkema is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for St. Johns. Portland misses a driving layup. Conner Kurncz drives and hits a layup to trim the Raider lead to 28-20.

Portland misses a three point shot from the side. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the wing. Myles Jones grabs the offensive rebound for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Portland misses a jump shot from the free throw line. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Portland reciprocates and misses a driving layup; the Raiders up the ante by fouling on the rebound. Tej Virk gets his hand on the ball and causes a Redwing traveling violation. Portland turns the ball over. Conner Kurncz passes to Hunter Kinkema, who hits a three point shot from the side to cut the Raider lead to 28-23.

Portland misses a driving layup. Christopher Battley steals the ball for the Raiders. Conner Kurncz steals the ball back for the Redwings. Bryce Pratl is fouled and hits two free throws to whittle the Raider lead down to 28-25 with 3:34 left in quarter number three.

Owen Moore passes to Kayden Dickerson, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for the Raiders. Owen Moore steals a Redwing pass. Portland misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Raiders retain possession. Portland misses a three pointer from the side. Christopher Battley pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders.

Portland misses an eight foot banked shot from the side. Christopher Battley steals a Redwing pass. Conner Kurncz plays tough defense guarding the inbound pass and forces a Raider turnover. Myles Johns passes to David Frisbee, who hits a reverse layup to trim the Raider lead to 30-27.

St. Johns loses the ball. Titus Konieczny (St. Johns) and Owen Moore (Portland) dive for the loose ball and tie it up. The Possession Arrow looks up from its Mah Jongg game and decrees that Portland shall have the ball. Kayden Dickerson grabs and inbound pass and scores a layup for Portland. Myles Johns is fouled and hits two free throws with just six seconds to play in the quarter to cut the Portland lead to 32-29.

Portland misses a driving layup at the buzzer.

After three quarters, the Raiders have a 32-29 lead.

St. Johns inbounds the ball to open the final quarter. The Redwings miss a three pointer from the side. Conner Kurncz gets the offensive rebound, but misses his putback. He stays with the play and hits a putback to pull the Redwings to within one point at 32-31.

Portland misses a jump shot. Tej Virk gets his hand on the ball and deflects it to a Raider teammate. Portland loses the ball out of bounds. St. Johns misses a three point shot from the wing. Portland misses a four foot shot from the baseline; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Raiders get another opportunity. Kayden Dickerson hits a layup to push Portland to a 34-31 lead.

St. Johns misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Conner Kurncz hits a putback to pull the Redwings to back to within one point at 34-33.

Evan Gross hits a twelve foot shot in the lane for Portland. Evan Gross steals the ball for the Raiders. Portland misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Christopher Battley gets his hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds to foil a St. Johns fast break. The Redwings retain possession. Myles Jones passes to Aidan Wirth, who hits a layup to bring St. Johns back to within one point at 36-35.

Evan Gross drives and hits a layup for Portland. St. Johns misses a driving layup. Bryce Pratl defends fiercely and causes Portland to miss a driving layup. St. Johns misfires on a triple try from the corner. Kayden Dickerson hits a putback to give his Raiders a 40-35 lead.

St. Johns misses a three point shot from the side. Evan Gross drives the lane and hits a layup for Portland. St. Johns misses a ten footer from the side of the lane. Brandon Schomisch gets the offensive rebound for the Redwings. St. Johns misses a layup. Tej Virk passes to Kayden Dickerson, who hits a layup for the Raiders to boost their lead to 44-35.

St. Johns misses a three point shot from the wing. Kayden Dickerson throws a long touchdown pass to Evan Gross, who hits a layup for the Raiders. Hunter Kinkema hits a three point shot from the side for St. Johns. There are just a few seconds left and Portland dribbles out the clock.

Portland wins the season opener for both teams 46-38.

Hunter Kinkema led the St. Johns scoring with 15 points. Conner Kurncz contributed 7 points. Bryce Pratl added 6 points. Myles Jones tossed in 4 points. Titus Konieczny, David Frisbee and Aidan Wirth each tallied 2 points.

Evan Gross led the Portland scoring with 19 points. Owen Moore and Kayden Dickerson joined their teammate in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. Christopher Battley scored 4 points and Ethan Cassel had 2 points.