Pewamo-Westphalia at Fowler – – CMAC Boys Basketball Co-Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 18, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, two of the top boys basketball teams in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference will be on the Fowler floor to play a game that will probably be an important factor in the conference final standings! The Pirates from Pewamo-Westphalia will take on Fowler! Both teams are undefeated coming into this game; Fowler is at 5-0 and P-W is at 4-0.

Your Bleacher Denizen got through a day of entertaining seniors with a Christmas show, picking up brand new glasses (YAY) and an assortment of other errands before he pointed the BleacherDenizenMobile north and headed to Fowler.

Coach Dominic Schneider provided me with this information about his Pirate players.

Grady Eklund is a junior who has already exceeded 1000 career points just four games into his junior season. He is an amazing ball handler for someone of his height. (I’m not sure, but I will guess he is at least 6′ 3″.) He has the quickness to take the ball to the basket and is also an excellent shooter off the dribble from midrange and out to the three point line. He uses his height and quickness to defend the perimeter and the post pretty well.

Trent Piggott is the man in the middle for the Pirates. He is bigger and stronger than most of the people he will face in the post. He is a good finisher near the basket and is also a threat from the three point line. Reece Thelen is a tough perimeter defender who is an accurate shooter from the three point line. Trevor Smith is an excellent defensive player who generally covers the opponent’s best offensive player.

Brady Heckman is a hard-nosed player who finishes well at the hoop and can hit the threeball. Dominic Weber is a fine three point shooter. Lane Trierweiler is a team captain and solid defender who brings leadership to the Pirates.

Fowler Coach Kam Riley was also really helpful with this information about his Eagle players.

Jacob Halfmann is an excellent senior athlete who has been starting since his freshman year. He really does not have any true weaknesses on the basketball floor. He is tall and strong enough to defend in the post; he also is quick and agile enough to defend the perimeter. Even though he is an excellent athlete, his best trait might me the extreme poise he shows in all situations. (He was also Fowler’s quarterback on their Regional Champion Football team.) He is great driving to the basket and either scoring or passing to a teammate. He also is a strong three point shooter.

Alex Halfmann is another senior who has been in the Eagle starting lineup for four years. He is the Eagle man in the middle where he is a formidable defender and rebounder. He also scores well in the post and has shooting range out to the three point line. Asher Koenigsknecht puts the “D” in perimeter defense with his quickness and determination. He is a good three point shooter who slashes to the basket well. Aaron Simon is an excellent three point shooter who can also slash to the basket to score.

Joe Epkey plays in the post where he defends and rebounds well. Dylan Pline is a fine ball handler who slashes to the basket well. Isaac Thelen is a sophomore on the Eagle varsity. (This is quite an accomplishment; Fowler has a lot of players back from last year.) He is a versatile defender who can cover all positions and is also a rugged rebounder. Jonah Thelen is a versatile offensive player who can score either on slashes to the basket or from the three point line. Augustine Spitzley is a tall, very fast player who defends any place on the floor well.

I was not here for tonight’s freshman game, but I learned that Pewamo-Westphalia won that one.

I did see the JV game. The teams played fairly evenly in the first quarter; P-W led 12-10 entering the second quarter. P-W outscored the Fowler JVs in the second quarter 16-12 and led 28-22 at halftime. In the third quarter, P-W dominated as they outscored Fowler 19-8 and were up 47-30 going into the final period. Each team scored twelve points in the fourth quarter. Pewamo-Westphalia won the JV game by the final score of 59-42.

Anthony Epkey led the Fowler JVs with 18 points. Hudson Fedewa knocked down 8 points. Drew Weber and Carson Hyland each scored 6 points. Carter Thelen and Garrett Klein each tallied 2 points.

Logan Farmer led the Pewamo-Westphalia JVs with 17 points. Luke Martin joined his teammate in double figures with 11 points. Damon Huhn tossed in 9 points. Sam Thelen contributed 7 points. Kaine Simon added 6 points. Jackson Schmitz, Reed Trierweiler, Nick Waltersdorf and Tyler Barker each put in 2 points. Luke Nurenberg had 1 point.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the hopefully open eyes of a Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in ancient times. His coach eventually cut him from the team because the bricks he threw consistently were really hard on the peach baskets we shot at back in the day.

The Fowler Pep Band played the National Anthem and did a fine job!! P-W wins the opening tap. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball for the Eagles. He passes to Joe Epkey, who is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler the first point of the game. Aaron Simon knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; P-W retains possession. The Pirates lose a pass out of bounds.

Fowler misses a driving layup. Joe Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht drives and dishes to a teammate who is fouled on the play, but misses both his free throws. With 6:42 to play in the opening quarter, the Fowler lead remains at 1-0.

P-W misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler retains possession. Aaron Simon drives and hits a hook/layup for Fowler. P-W misses a three pointer from the side. Grady Eklund grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misfires on a triple try from the wing. Jacob Halfmann goes coast to coast and hits a layup to give Fowler a 5-0 lead.

P-W misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get the ball. Grady Eklund makes a clever dribble drive to the basket and hits a layup to score the first two Pirate points. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 3:28 to play in the first quarter, Fowler has a 5-2 lead.

Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Aaron Simon harasses a Pirate ball handler and P-W loses the ball out of bounds. Tyler Spitzley knocks the ball away from Fowler and Grady Eklund picks it up for P-W. P-W misses a fast break layup. Grady Eklund hits a putback to make the score Fowler 7 Grady Eklund 4.

Fowler misses a six foot hook shot from the baseline. Isaac Thelen knocks a P-W pass out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. P-W misses a threeball from the wing. Trevor Smith hits a putback for the Pirates. Reece Thelen steals the ball for P-W. A Fowler player makes a brilliant open field tackle of Mr. Thelen, but the refs remind everyone that we are playing basketball and calls a foul. Reece Thelen hits one of his two free throws to tie the game at 7-7 with 28.2 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Jacob Halfmann passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the corner just as time is expiring.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 10-7 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow is watching a how-to video trying to fix its Christmas tree lights. It looks up for a second to decree that Pewamo-Westphalia shall have the ball!

Augustine Spitzley knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; P-W retains possession. P-W misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Trent Piggott grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a layup. Alex Halfmann spins, dribbles and hits a layup to boost the Eagle lead to 12-7.

Grady Eklund drives and his a layup for P-W. Fowler misses a layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow has stars in its eyes after getting a shock from the Christmas lights it is fixing. It briefly awards the ball to Fowler and goes back to feeling shocked. Fowler misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Reece Thelen is fouled on a driving layup and splits his pair of free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 12-10 with 5:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Reece Thelen dives and ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is putting ointment on its electrical burn, but quickly takes the time to award the ball to P-W. Grady Eklund passes to Tyler Spitzley, who banks in a threeball from the top of the key to give P-W a 13-12 lead. (I’m sure I heard him yell “BANK” before he released the shot.)

Fowler missees a three point shot from the wing. Augustus Spitzley hits a putback to give the lead back to Fowler. P-W misses a layup. The Eagles misfire on a threeball from the side. P-W misses a driving layup. Tyler Spitzley stands tough in the lane and takes a charging foul from an Eagle driving to the basket. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Jonah Thelen gets the offensive rebound and passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner to boost the Eagle lead to 17-13.

Jonah Thelen gets his hand on a Pirate pass and P-W loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Alex Halfmann blocks a P-W layup; the ball goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another possession. Trent Piggott hits a layup for P-W. Aaron Simon hits a three pointer from the side to extend the Fowler lead to 20-15.

Grady Eklund passes to Trent Piggott, who hits a layup for P-W. Grady Eklund nearly steals the ball for the Pirates, but the Eagles are able to recover. Dominic Weber harasses Fowler into losing the ball out of bounds. Grady Eklund drives and hits a layup for P-W. Fowler misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow. Reece Thelen passes to Grady Eklund, who hits a layup to give P-W a 21-20 lead.

Fowler misses a three pointer from the side as the halftime buzzer informs everyone of its presence.

At halftime, Pewamo-Westphalia has a 21-20 lead.

Jacob Halfmann has 7 points at halftime to lead the Fowler scoring and Aaron Simon has 5 points.

Grady Eklund has 10 points for Pewamo-Westphalia and Trent Piggott has 4 points.

Fowler’s Pep Band entertains at halftime and does an excellent job!!

Fowler inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. Grady Eklund drives and hits a layup for P-W. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Reece Thelen passes to Grady Eklund, who hits a fast break layup for P-W. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 6:10 to go in the third quarter, P-W has a 25-20 lead.

Trent Piggott grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a triple try from the corner. Jacob Halfmann takes the ball coast to coast for an Eagle layup. P-W misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Trent Piggott hits a putback for the Pirates. Jacob Halfmann drives the baseline and hits a layup for Fowler. Asher Koenigsknecht knocks the ball away from P-W and Jacob Halfmann picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a layup. Jacob Halfmann hits a putback to chop the Pirate lead to 27-26.

Trent Piggott hits a layup for P-W. Fowler commits a double dribble violation. Asher Koenigsknecht blocks a P-W shot in the lane. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Jacob Halfmann grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Alex Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. P-W reciprocates and misses a threeball from the wing.

Fowler misses a three point attempt from the corner. P-W misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Dominic Weber gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a layup. The tough Pewamo-Westphalia defense forces Fowler to call timeout to prevent a turnover for failing to inbound the ball within five seconds. After inbounding, Fowler loses control of the ball and Trevor Smith dives to steal the ball for P-W. Prent Piggott passes to Dominic Weber, who hits a three point shot from the lead to push the P-W lead to 32-26.

Fowler misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and P-W takes possession. Alex Halfmann gets his hand on the ball and P-W loses it out of bounds. Fowler misses a driving reverse layup. Grady Eklund is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to give P-W a 34-26 lead with 1:10 remaining in quarter number three.

Fowler misses an eighteen foot shot from the side. P-W misses a driving layup. Fowler reciprocates and misses a driving layup. P-W misses a three point shot and no one can rebound the ball before the third quarter buzzer intrudes and stops things.

After three quarters, Pewamo-Westphalia holds a 34-26 lead.

P-W inbounds the ball to begin the fourth quarter. Alex Halfmann knocks the ball out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. Reece Thelen passes to a teammate who is fouled, but misses both his free throws. P-W fouls on the rebound. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Brady Heckman throws an accurate pass to Reece Thelen, who is cutting through the lane and hits a layup to give P-W a 36-28 lead.

Asher Koenigsknecht hits a ten foot shot in the lane for Fowler. Brady Heckman passes to Reece Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the corner for P-W. Fowler misses a driving ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Aaron Simon gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving layup. P-W misfires on a threeball from the side. Grady Eklund hits a putback for P-W; he is fouled on the play and hits his free throw. With 5:51 remaining in the contest, the P-W lead is at 42-30.

Alex Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Alex Halfmann blocks a Pirate shot in the lane. Alex Halfmann passes to Isaac Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Alex Halfman blocks a Pirate layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and P-W gets another possession. Tyler Spitzley passes to Grady Eklund, who spins and hits a layup to give P-W a 44-35 lead.

Fowler misses a driving layup. P-W reciprocates and misses a driving layup. Fowler misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side. Jacob Halfmann steals a Pirate pass and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. P-W misses a layup. Trent Piggott grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. P-W misses a layup. Fowler misses a fifteen footer from the baseline. P-W misses a threeball from the top of the key. Fowler misses a shot off the dribble in the lane. Grady Eklund passes to Trent Piggott, who hits a layup to boost the P-W lead to 46-37.

Alex Halfmann hits a layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving layup. Aaron Simon knocks the ball away from P-W and Asher Koenigsknecht grabs it for Fowler. Isaac Thelen passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who throws in a threeball from the side to chop the P-W lead down to 46-42.

Grady Eklund passes to Trent Piggott, who hits a layup to give the Pirates a six point cushion. Fowler misses a jump shot. Isaac Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses another layup. Alex Halfmann hits a putback for Fowler. Trevor Smith passes to Trent Piggott, who is fouled on a layup. He hits one of his two free throws. With 30.6 seconds left on the clock, P-W holds a 49-44 lead.

Trent Piggott blocks an Eagle layup and the ball goes out of bounds. Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the corner to cut the Pirate lead to 49-47.

Grady Eklund is fouled and hits two free throws with 15.8 seconds left to give his Pirates a four point lead. Dylan Pline passes to Alex Halfmann, who hits a layup to cut the Pirate lead back to two points. P-W inbounds the ball and the buzzer ends the game shortly after.

Pewamo-Westphalia wins this exciting battle for CMAC supremacy by the score of 51-49.

Jacob Halfmann led the Fowler scoring with 15 points. Alex Halfmann supported his teammate with 12 points. Asher Koenigsknecht and Aaron Simon each scored 8 points. Isaac Thelen added 3 points. Augustine Spitzley added 2 points and Joe Epkey scored 1 point.

Grady Eklund led Pewamo-Westphalia’s scoring 23 points. Trent Piggott joined his teammate in double figures with 13 points. Reece Thelen added 7 points. Dominic Weber and Tyler Spitzley each tossed in 3 points. Trevor Smith tallied 2 points.