Fowler at Pewamo-Westphalia – – CMAC Girls Basketball Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 17, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is heading to Pewamo-Westphalia, where the undefeated Pirates will take on the undefeated Eagles from Fowler! This should be an exciting game and it will probably have a big affect on the CMAC final standings in a couple months.

Today was a big day for errands with Christmas coming up next week. These errands were highlighted by an excellent haircut (at least in my opinion) from the Grand Barber Lounge in Portland as well as a trip to Ox Market in Westphalia. (If you like smoked chicken, you will love what they make and sell at Ox Market!!)

Coach Steve Eklund provided me with this information about his players when I covered their game at St. Patrick last week. Elly Bengel is a junior in her third year of starting on the varsity. She is a great three point shooter and handles the ball well enough to run the point for the Pirates. Logan Drake provides formidable defense and rebounding in the post. Alonna Thelen is a fine, versatile defensive player who can defend the post or the perimeter.

Adrianna Eklund is tall enough to defend and play in the post; she is also quick enough to defend the perimeter where her height gives her a huge defensive advantage. She has a solid three point shot. Peyton Eklund is another good three point shooter. Renell Eklund defends well in the post and is a good rebounder.

Fowler Coach Nathan Goerge was also generous with his team and information about the Eagle girls.

Katie Spicer is a returning all-state guard who will be attending college on a track scholarship. She is also one of the most creative offensive players I have ever seen. She has more fakes and moves to shoot the ball than any other player I cover. She has a nice three point shot and is extremely tough to stop when she shoots mid-range shots off the dribble. Her high level athletic ability helps to make her an extremely good defender, too.

Izzy Halfmann started last year as a freshman on Fowler’s team that made it to the state semifinal. She understands the game so well that it looks like she can predict the future. She is an excellent ball handler and passer as well as being an aggressive, top-notch defender all over the floor. She a threat to score on slashes to the basket.

Ella Hufnagel has some of the quickest hands and feet of any player I cover. She knows how to use them as she is a threat to steal the ball from ANY ball handler at any time. On offense, she is a solid three point shooter and can also score on slashes to the basket. Brooke Weber is an excellent post defender whose three point shot must be respected.

Paige Thelen and Neelah O’Rourke are tough post defenders and rebounders who are a threat to score in the paint. Selena Stump can get amazingly hot from the three point line and can also score on slashes to the basket. Saige Miller and Paisley Hansen are tough defenders who can provide minutes in the post or on the perimeter. In addition, is Fowler needs a big base hit or a long home run near the end of the game, they are in great shape with Saige Miller and Paisley Hansen on the roster. (Both of them are excellent softball players.)

In the JV game, Pewamo-Westphalia controlled things as they got out to a 31-10 lead at halftime and won by the final score of 58-26.

Karstyn Lackscheide led the Fowler JVs with 10 points. Noelle Krepps tossed in 7 points. Jaydn Feldpausch and Payton Rademacher each added 3 points. Sophia Feldpausch scored 2 points and Myah Rademacher tallied 1 point.

Elyse Thelen led the Pewamo-Westphalia JVs with 15 points. Sidney Thelen supported her with 12 points. Alivia Miller joined her teammates in double figures with 10 points. Whitney Platte put in 6 points. Adelyn Thelen added 5 points. Reylee Thelen chipped in with 4 points. Delaney Smith, Joslyn Smith and Julia Paxton each threw in 2 points.

It is now time to review the results of this game through the occasionally clear lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. He was always confused about whether to pass to other players who were screaming at him on the floor or to people in the crowd who were screaming. I guess a few too many passes ended up in the crowd. The Bleacher Denizen’s court time became less and less as the season went on.

Pewamo-Westphalia wins the opening tap. (Your Bleacher Denizen will type this as P-W most of the time to save wear and tear on his aging cuticles!) Alonna Thelen passes to Elly Bengel, who hits a three point shot from the side to give P-W the first three points of the game. Fowler loses the ball out of bounds. P-W misses a threeball from the side, but Logan Drake snares the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Brooke Weber blocks a P-W layup. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Alonna Thelen passes to Adrianna Eklund, who swishes a threeball near the top of the key to give P-W a 6-0 lead.

Katie Spicer passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the baseline for Fowler to give the Eagles their first two points. P-W misses a threeball from the side. Alonna Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates and passes to Elly Bengel, who hits a layup to give P-W an 8-2 lead.

Izzy Halfmann passes to Paige Thelen for a Fowler layup. P-W travels with the ball. (Sports cliches can be interesting. I’m not really sure that traveling without the ball would be particularly newsworthy.) Izzzy Halfmann drives and dishes the ball to Neelah O’Rourke, who hits a layup for Fowler. Neelah O’Rourke steals the ball for the Eagles. Ella Hufnagel hits a layup to for Fowler to tie the game at 8-8.

P-W is whistled for another traveling violation. Katie Spicer hits a seventeen foot shot off the dribble from the wing to give Fowler a two point lead. P-W responds as Adrianna Eklund passes to Peyton Eklund, who throws in a threeball from the wing to give her Pirates an 11-10 lead.

Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the wing. Izzy Halfmann hits a putback to retake the lead for the Eagles. Renell Eklund passes to Adrianna Eklund, who hits a layup to retake the lead for P-W at 13-12.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Neelah O’Rourke gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Izzy Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the side. P-W is hit with a traveling violation. Elly Bengel steals a Fowler pass into the lane for the Pirates. (Somehow it seems that a good Pirate would respect this theft!)

Paige Thelen gets her hand on the ball to prevent a Pirate layup. P-W is able to recover. The Pirates miss a driving layup. Logan Drake blocks a Fowler fast break layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get another opportunity. Fowler is called for a three seconds (in the lane) violation. Izzy Halfmann ties up the ball in the lane. The Possession Arrow and its Winter Carnival Committee agree that her hustle was excellent and award the ball to Fowler.

Fowler misfires on a threeball from the wing. Izzy Halfmann grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Katie Spicer is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 13-13 with 10.9 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

P-W misses a long three point shot from the wing. Izzy Halfmann blocks Pirate putback as the first quarter buzzer sounds off.

After one quarter this game is in a 13-13 tie.

P-W inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Pirates commit a three second (in the lane) violation. Alonna Thelen steals the ball for P-W. Katie Spicer gets back on defense quickly and gets a hand on the ball to foil the Pirate fast break. The ball goes out of bounds and P-W retains possession. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Katie Spicer goes coast to coast and hits a layup that gives Fowler the lead. Elly Bengel is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to tie the game at 15-15 with 7:00 remaining in the first quarter.

Fowler misses a driving layup. P-W misfires on a triple try from the side. Elly Bengel pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a layup. Renell Eklund grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a layup. Alonna Thelen blocks a Fowler hook/layup. (It was impressive to block a hook shot without fouling!)

Izzy Halfmann knocks the ball away from P-W and Katie Spicer picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a layup. P-W misses a threeball from the side. Katie Spicer makes a long pass to Ella Hufnagel, who hits a layup to give Fowler a two point lead. Brenna Thelen passes to Adrianna Eklund, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the Pirates an 18-17 lead.

Alonna Thelen knocks the ball away from Fowler and Renell Eklund picks it up for P-W. P-W misses a three point shot from the wing. Brenna Thelen draws a charging foul from Fowler. (‘Twas a sad case of a Fowler fouler fouling, indeed!) Saige Miller knocks the Fowler inbound pass out of bounds; P-W gets the ball back. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Alonna Thelen passes to Brenna Thelen, who hits a ten foot jumper from the side to give P-W a 20-17 lead.

Fowler misses a layup. Saige Miller knocks the ball away from P-W and Katie Spicer grabs it for Fowler. Katie Spicer passes to Selena Stump, who throws in a threeball from the wing for Fowler to tie the game at 20-20.

Ella Hufnagel steals the ball for Fowler. Logan Drake steals the ball for P-W. Saige Miller ties the ball up. The Possession Arrow and the Winter Carnival Committee finish frosting Ice Queen cookies and award the ball to Fowler. The Eagles misfire on a threeball from the wing. Adrianna Eklund hits a fast break layup to give P-W a 22-20 lead.

Fowler loses the ball out of bounds. Paige Thelen pirates a Pirate pass. Adrianna Eklund blocks an Eagle threeball from the side. P-W misses a threeball from the wing. Logan Drake gets the offensive rebound, takes one dribble and hits a layup to give P-W a 24-20 lead.

Fowler misses a layup. P-W misses a driving layup. Katie Spicer throws in a threeball off the dribble from the wing to close the Pirate lead to one point. Izzy Halfmann blocks a P-W three point shot from the wing as the halftime buzzer lets us know of its presence.

Pewamo-Westphalia has a 24-23 halftime lead.

Katie Spicer has 8 points to lead the Fowler halftime scoring and Ella Hufnagel has 4 points.

Adrianna Eklund has 10 points for Pewamo-Westphalia and Elly Bengel has 7 points.

P-W inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Ella Hufnagel is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to put Fowler on top by one point. Paige Thelen stands tough in the lane and forces P-W to miss a layup. Katie Spicer hits a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow to give Fowler a 27-24 lead.

Adrianna Eklund drives and scoops in a layup for Fowler. Elly Bengel pirates the ball for the Pirates. Adrianna Eklund hits a three ball from the wing to give P-W a two point lead. Fowler misses an eight foot hook shot from the side. Elly Bengel is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give P-W a 30-27 lead with 5:40 remaining in the quarter.

Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Izzy Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for Fowler. Fowler misses a twelve foot shot from the wing. Alonna Thelen passes to Logan Drake, who hits a layup to boost the P-W lead to 32-27.

Fowler misses a jump shot. Izzy Halfmann hits a putback for the Eagles to stop an eight point Pirate scoring run. Ella Hufnagel hits the floor to steal the ball for Fowler. She gets the ball to Izzy Halfmann, who hits a fast break layup to cut the P-W lead to one point. Alonna Thelen fakes a three point shot, then drives and hits a layup for P-W. Katie Spicer drives and scoops in a layup for Fowler. She is fouled on the play, but hits her free throw. With 3:30 to go in quarter number three, the game is tied at 34-34.

Selena Stump steals the ball for the Eagles. Adrianna Eklund knocks the ball away from Fowler and Renell Eklund picks it up for P-W. The Pirates miss a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a seventeen foot shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Katie Spicer and Saige Miller team up to force the ball to be tied up. The Possession Arrow and the Winter Carnival Committee look up from their banquet seating charts. They like the aggressive defense by the Fowler players and award the ball to Fowler.

Renell Eklund blocks a Fowler layup. The Eagles recover the ball, but miss another layup. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Fowler misses a drving layup. P-W misses a three point shot from the side. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. The Bleacher Denizen misses seeing the ball go into the basket.

Katie Spicer dives and forces a tieup. The Possession Arrow is addressing its fund raising committee and misses the play. It ignores Ms. Spicer’s excellent hustle and awards the ball to P-W. The Pirates miss a layup. Ella Hufnagel drives and hits a layup to give Fowler a two point lead. P-W misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a driving layup. P-W misses a threeball from the side just before the buzzer proclaims that the quarter is over.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 36-34 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Eagles miss a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Adrianna Eklund drives and hits a layup to tie the game for the Pirates. Alonna Thelen steals the ball and passes to a Pirate teammate who is fouled on a layup. P-W misses both free throws. With 6:45 left in the game, the score is tied at 36-36.

The rebound goes out of bounds and P-W gets another opportunity. Elly Bengel inbounds the ball to Adrianna Eklund, who dirves and hits a layup to give P-W a two point lead. Katie Spicer is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Pirate lead to 38-37 with 6:31 to play.

Paige Thelen steals the ball for the Eagles. Alonna Thelen blocks a ten foot Eagle shot from the side. Fowler recovers, but loses the ball out of bounds. Alonna Thelen drives and dishes the ball to Elly Bengel, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give P-W a four point lead. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Paige Thelen gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. The Eagles are fouled on a layup, but miss two free throws. With 5:14 left in the game, Pewamo-Westphalia has a 41-37 lead.

P-W misses a layup. Selena Stump passes to Ella Hufnagel, who hits a three point shot from the side to pull Fowler to within one point. While your Bleacher Denizen’s nose is in his notes, P-W commits a turnover. Your momentarily unobservant Bleacher Denizen does not know how or why. Fowler misses a driving layup. P-W misses a driving reverse layup. Ella Hufnagel is fouled on a driving ten foot runner and hits two free throws to boost Fowler to a 42-41 lead with 2:18 left on the clock.

P-W misses a driving layup. Adrianna Eklund chases down the long offensive rebound for the Pirates. Elly Bengel drives and hits a layup to put P-W back on top by one point. Izzy Halfmann is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 43-43 with 1:37 to go.

P-W misses a driving layup. Brenna Thelen hits a putback to give the Pirates the lead. Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Katie Spicer steals the ball for the Eagles. Adrianna Eklund steals the ball for the Pirates. Elly Bengel is fouled and hits one of her two free throws to give P-W a 46-43 lead with 22.4 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. P-W dribbles out the clock and wins this battle of the CMAC Girls Basketball Titans by the score of 46-43.

Katie Spicer led the Fowler scoring with 14 points. Ella Hufnagel joined her teammate in double figures with 13 points. Izzy Halfmann contributed 7 points. Selena Stump put in 3 points. Paige Thelen, Neelah O’Rourke and Brooke Weber each scored 2 points.

Freshman Adrianna Eklund scored 19 points to lead Pewamo-Westphalia. Elly Bengel supported her teammate with 14 points. Brenna Thelen and Logan Drake each added 4 points. Peyton Eklund scored 3 points and Alonna Thelen had 2 points (to go along with a lot of great defensive play and a number of fine passes.)