Lansing Christian at Laingsburg – – CMAC Boys Basketball Co-Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 20, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today is a snowy day and your Bleacher Denizen is pointing the BleacherDenizenMobile toward Laingsburg where he will plow through the snow and watch the Laingsburg Wolfpack boys host the Pilgrims from Lansing Christian. I guess we have a Co-Game of the Week this week because I also covered Fowler and Pewamo-Westphalia on Wednesday night.
Someday, I will need to look up the official Internet Blog Writing Rules. I’m sure that there is some authority somewhere that can fill me in as to the official Blog Article Naming Protocols.
Lansing Christian and Laingsburg as both 2-3 in the CMAC. Lansing Christian is 3-3 overall and Laingsburg is 2-4.
Laingsburg Coach Tim Beebe provided me with this information about his Wolfpack players.
Mitchell George is an athletic post player who runs the floor really well. He is tall, strong and agile; it’s difficult to prevent him from getting layups in transition or when he gets the ball in the lane. He is also a top quality defender and rebounder in the post. Logan Holm is a tall, tough post defender and rebounder who can step out to hit shots from the three point line.
Dominic Garcia is an excellent leader and tough perimeter defender. Leandro Dolega-Caceres is an energetic dynamo in the Wolfpack defense. Jake Rivet is a fine ball handler and passer who is a threat from the three point line. Landon Freeman is a versatile sophomore offensive player who can either slash to the basket or hit shots from the three point line.
Lansing Christian Coach Grayson Fuller was also helpful with information about his Pilgrim players.
Ethan Damesworth is an excellent ball handler and three point shooter who runs the point for the Pilgrims much of the time. David Hall is an excellent mid-range shooter who rebounds well and provides strong post defense. Collin Leavitt is a fine perimeter defender who is a threat from the three point line. Caleb Franck gives the Pilgrims another quality three point sniper.
Noah Bruno is quick perimeter defender who runs the fat break will. He is also a solid three point shooter. Quinn Jamieson is a determined perimeter defender who can handle the ball well on offense. Trevor Orton is an energetic player who can defend the perimeter or the post.
I was able to see the second half of the JV game. Laingsburg’s JVs had a 23-12 lead at halftime. The rolled to a 20-2 third quarter advantage and controlled the game the rest of the way. Laingsburg won the JV game 55-22.
Christian’s Ben Rottman led all JV scorers with 12 points. Cole Sendow and Ben VanderGallen each tossed in 3 points. Nic Korrey and Bronson Tracy each tallied 2 points.
Cooper Morr had 11 points to lead the Laingsburg JVs. Collin Logghe and Landen Hart each contributed 9 points. Paxton Rodriquez chipped in with 7 points. Harrison Dorman scored 6 points and Kade McLean had 5 points. Grey Seguin added 4 points. Colton Heaton and Cash Heaton each put in 2 points.
It is now time to review the results of this game through the occasionally open eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the ancient days when he tried to hoop. It seems that his coach did not like his creative approach to “passing” where he would pass to anyone no matter which uniform they were wearing. The coach mumbled something about “turnovers” before he ended my playing time. Alas.
Laingsburg wins the opening tap. The Wolfpack misses a three point shot from the wing. Dominic Garcia knocks the ball out of bounds; Christian retains possession. The Pilgrims misfire on a three point shot from the corner. Mitchell George passes to Logan Holm, who throws in a three ball from the top of the key to give the Wolfpack a 3-0 lead.
Christian misses a layup. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the wing. Logan Holm hits a putback for Laingsburg. Ethan Damesworth drives and hits a layup to give Christian its first two points of the game. David Hall blocks a Wolfpack layup. Christian misses a layup. Dominic Garcia passes to Logan Holm, who hits a three point shot from the side to make the score Logan Holm 8 Lansing Christian 2.
Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Noah Bruno pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a layup. Noah Bruno hits a putback for Christian. Noah Bruno purloins the ball for the Pilgrims. David Hall passes to Caleb Franck, who hits a threeball from the side to cut the Wolfpack lead to one point. Laingsburg misses a layup. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Ethan Damesworth draws a charging foul from the Wolfpack. Ethan Damesworth drives and hits a layup to give Christian a 9-8 lead.
Leandro Dolega-Caceres drives and hits a layup to retake the lead for the Wolfpack. Christian is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. David Hall steals the ball and is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits one of his two free throws to tie the game at 10-10 with 3:14 remaining in the opening quarter.
Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. David Hall passes to Collin Leavitt, who hits a layup to give Christian a two point lead. Laingsburg turns the ball over. Leandro Dolega-Caceres harasses Christian into a traveling violation. Laingsburg misses a three pointer from the side. Mitchell George gets the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Dominic Garcia drives and dishes the ball to Landon Freeman, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Laingsburg a 13-12 lead.
A Pilgrim travel negates a layup. (One would think that Pilgrims should be all about traveling, but it is probably best to avoid traveling during basketball games.) Leandro Dolega-Carceres reacts quickly to prevent a Wolfpack pass from sailing out of bounds. Laingsburg misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line.
Dominic Garcia knocks the ball away from the Pilgrims and there is a tie-up. The Possession Arrow checks with its Christmas Program committee. They ignore Mr. Garcia’s fine hustle and award the ball to Christian. Collin Leavitt inbounds the ball to Ethan Damesworth, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Pilgrims. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 46.4 seconds to play in the first quarter, Christian has a 15-13 lead.
Christian fouls on the rebound. Quinn Jamieson gets a hand on a Wolfpack pass into the lane and Ethan Damesworth grabs the loose ball for the Pilgrims. Leandro Dolega-Caceres revs up his defensive engine and forces another Pilgrim turnover. Jake Rivet is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to cut the Pilgrim lead to one point. Christian misses a heave at the buzzer.
(Basketball cliches can be interesting. This is how most real sportswriters and announcers would call the play. However, your Bleacher Denizen, in the interest of accuracy that only he cares about wants to point out that the ball was actually heaved at the basket and not at the buzzer.)
After one quarter, Lansing Christian holds a 15-14 lead.
The Wolfpack inbounds the ball to begin the second quarter. Dominic Garcia passes to Logan Holm, who drills a threeball from the corner to put the Wolfpack back on top. Christian misfires on a triple try from the corner. Caleb Franck grabs the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a driving layup.
Laingburg misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound hits the wire holding the basket up and is ruled out of bounds. Christian gets the ball. Christian misses a driving layup. Mitchell George makes a great post move and drives to the basket for a Wolfpack layup. He is fouled on the play and sinks his free throw to give Laingsburg a 20-15 lead with 6:33 remaining in the first half.
Dominic Garcia and Leandro Dolega-Caceres clamp a double team on a Pilgrim ball handler and force a traveling violation. Noah Bruno plays tough defense and forces Laingsburg into a violation because its ball handler was closely guarded for five seconds. Noah Bruno passes to Collin Leavitt, who throws in a threeball from the side to trim the Wolfpack lead to 20-18.
Leandro Dolega-Caceres passes to Mitchell George, who spins and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Ethan Damesworth drives and hits an eight foot shot in the lane for Lansing Christian! Laingsburg misses a jump shot. Christian misses a three point shot from ther wing. Laingsburg is whistled for an over and back violation on a fast break. (A pass hit someone who was running down for a fast break in the back; it bounced back over the mid-court line.) Collin Leavitt gets into the lane and hits a turnaround ten foot shot for Christian to tie the game at 22-22.
Logan Holm hits a three point shot from the side to retake the lead for Laingsburg. Leandro Dolega-Caceres (who else?) plays energetic defense and forces Christian to call time out to prevent a turnover. Ethan Damesworth passes to Collin Leavitt, who hits a jumper off the dribble from the free throw elbow to shave the Laingsburg lead to 25-24.
Laingsburg misses a threeball from the side. Christian reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Dominic Garcia passes to Mitchell George, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Noah Bruno is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for the Pilgrims. With 2:33 to play in the first half, Laingsburg has a 27-25 lead.
Leandro Dolega-Caceres psses to Logan Holm, who hits a three point shot from the wing for the Wolfpack. Jake Rivet steals the ball for Laingsburg. The Wolfpack misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Mitchell George hits a putback for Laingsburg. Noah Bruno drives and hits a layup to trim the Wolfpack lead to 34-27.
David Hall steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a layup. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the side. Christian misses a threeball from the corner. Landon Freeman drives and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Landon Freeman steals the ball for Laingsburg. Quinn Jamieson steals the ball for Christian. Christian turns the ball over. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the side. As the rebound is in the air, the halftime buzzer reminds us all of its presence.
At halftime, Laingsburg has a 36-27 lead.
Ethan Damesworth leads the Lansing Christian scoring with 9 points and Collin Leavitt has 7 points.
Logan Holm has 14 points for Laingsburg and Mitchell George has 11.
Christian inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Pilgrims are assessed with a traveling violation. David Hall steals the ball for the Pilgrims. David Hall drives the baseline and hits a layup for the Pilgrims. David Hall blocks a Wolfpack layup. Noah Bruno is fouled on a driving layup and splits his pair of free throws to trim the Wolfpack lead to 36-30 with 7:12 to play in the third period.
Laingsburg misfires on a triple try from the wing. David Hall passes to Quinn Jamieson, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Pilgrims. Jake Rivet passes to Dominic Garcia, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key for the Wolfpack. Christian misfires on a threeball from the side. Laingsburg misfires on a threeball from the corner. Christian is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 5:39 remaining in the third quarter, Laingsburg has a 39-33 lead.
Ethan Damesworth gets his hand on a Wolfpack pass and Laingsburg loses the ball. Logan Holm blocks a Christian shot; the Pilgrims recover the ball. Ethan Damesworth drives and hits a layup for Christian. Dominic Garcia hits a layup for the Wolfpack. David Hall drives and hits a layup for Christian. Laingsburg misses a layup. Mitchell George gets the offensive rebound. Laingsburg misses a layup. Mitchell George is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to boost the Wolfpack lead to 42-37 with 4:40 to play in quarter number three.
Christian misses a layup. Laingsburg loses a pass out of bounds. Leandro Dolega-Caceres (again) taps the ball away from Christian and Logan Holm grabs the ball for Laingsburg. Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Waylon Rowley gets the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the wing. Leandro Dolega-Caceres (again) steals the ball and draws the fourth foul from one of Christian’s starters.
Noah Bruno knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Collin Leavitt picks it up for Christian. Christian misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Laingsburg takes possession. The Wolfpack misses a three point attempt from the side. Waylon Rowley gets the offensive rebound for Laingsburg.
Laingsburg misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Christian takes possession. Christian misses a threeball from the top of the key. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the wing. Ethan Damesworth drives and hits a layup to cut the Wolfpack lead to 42-39.
Laingsburg misses a layup. Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. Ethan Damesworth steals Laingsburg’s outlet pass. Christian misses a fast break layup. Ethan Damesworth hits a putback to cut the Wolfpack lead to one point. Ethan Damesworth dives and steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Christian is fouled on an eight foot shot in the lane as the buzzer sounds; the Pilgrims miss both free throws.
After three quarters, Laingsburg has a one point lead at 42-41.
Laingsburg inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Mitchell George drives and uses his strength to hit a six foot shot from the baseline for the Wolfpack. Collin Leavitt spins in the lane and hits a six foot shot in the lane for Christian. Laingsburg misses a layup. Mitchell George hits a putback, is fouled and hits his free throw to boost Laingsburg to a 47-43 lead with 7:19 left in the game.
Quinn Jamieson hits a six foot shot from the baseline for Christian. Dominic Garcia passes the ball to Mitchell George, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for the Wolfpack. Collin Leavitt hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side to chop the Wolfpack lead back to one point. Laingsburg is assessed with a traveling violation.
Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Collin Leavitt hits a putback to give Christian a one point lead. Laingsburg misses a layup. Ethan Damesworth hits a layup for Christian and is fouled. He misses his free throw. Quinn Jamieson gets the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Pilgrims get the ball back. Christian misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Logan Holm passes to Mitchell George, who hits a layup and is fouled. He sinks his free throw to tie the game at 51-51 with 4:47 left on the clock.
Christian misses an eighteen foot shot from the side. Collin Leavitt draws an offensive foul from the Wolfpack. Christian misses a three pointer from the side. Leandro Dolega-Caceres takes just a little time off from his suffocating defense and hits a fast break layup to give Laingsburg a 53-51 lead.
Dominic Garcia steals the ball for Laingsburg. Laingsburg misses a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Christian misses a fifteen footer from the side. Noah Bruno grabs the offensive rebound and passes to Collin Leavitt, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Christian a 54-53 lead.
Mitchell George hits a layup to retake the lead for the Wolfpack. Christian misses a threeball from the wing. Caleb Franck’s tough defense forces Laingsburg to call timeout to prevent a turnover. Logan Holm passes to Mitchell George, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Dominic Garcia is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give Laingsburg a 58-54 lead with 1:03 to play.
Jake Rivet draws a charging foul and one of Lansing Christian’s starters fouls out. Jake Rivet is fouled and hits two free throws with 28.9 seconds left to push the Wolfpack lead to 60-54.
Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. Mitchell George is fouled and hits two free throws for Laingsburg with 16.5 seconds to go. Ethan Damesworth gets into the lane and hits an eight foot shot for Laingsburg. Dominic Garcia is fouled and hits one of hits two free throws to give Laingsburg a 63-56 lead with just 3.8 seconds left.
Christian misses a forty footer at the buzzer.
Laingsburg wins this game 63-56 to even its league record at 3-3 as Lansing Christian drops to 2-4.
Ethan Damesworth led Lansing Christian’s scoring with 19 points. Collin Leavitt joined his teammate in double figures with 13 points. Quinn Jamieson chipped in with 7 points. Caleb Franck and Noah Bruno each scored 6 points. David Hall added 5 points.
Laingsburg’s Mitchell George had a monster game with 27 points to lead all scorers. Logan Holm supported him with 14 points. Dominic Garcia and Leandro Dolega-Caceres played tough perimeter defense and generated a lot of offensive chaos to go along with the 7 points that each of them scored. Landon Freeman put in 5 points and Jake Rivet had 3 points.