Laingsburg at Bath – – CMAC Boys’ Basketball Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 20, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is off to Bath, where the hometown Fighting Bees will host the Wolfpack from Laingsburg in our CMAC Game of the Week!! Bath enters this game with a 9-8 record in the CMAC; the Bees are 10-11 overall. Laingsburg is 11-6 in the league and 12-9 overall.

I have always admired the big Bath Bee in the display case outside the gym. It was carved from one piece of wood and is a really impressive piece of art. I have always wanted to get a picture of that bee into the article, but alas, your aging Bleacher Denizen has old person computer skills in some areas, specifically taking and posting pictures.

Bath Athletic Director Erik Harrelson arranged with local photographer John Johnson to take this picture. My computer consultant, Ron Kramer from Michigan Network Consultants assisted with getting this posted in the website software.

I did not have time to interview anyone, but here is the information included in the display case where the bee is exhibited.

“BATH FIGHTING BEE

Carved by Gary Conley

From a single oak tree brunk with chain saw and hand tools.

Donated to Bath Community Schools May 12, 1986!”

And here is our fabled Bee!!!

Courtesy of John Johnson

I’ve seen both teams play before this season, so I will relay what I have learned from Bath Coach Nicholas Duflo and Laingsburg Coach Tim Beebe.

For Bath, Jacob Kuhn is a big, dominant player in the post. He rebounds well, defends the post and is a fine scorer in the lane. He can also step out for the three point shot. Remington McCrimmon is a tough perimeter defender who can score on slashes to the basket or hit the three point shot.

Ethan Wicks is a solid ball handler and perimeter defender who runs the Bee offense from his point guard position. Aiden Wolf is a three point threat who is also brings a lot of energy and intensity to the Bath press. The Bees play with great energy at all times and use a lot of players.

Mitchell George is the big guy in the middle for Laingsburg. He is a tough rebounder and defender. It is very difficult to stop him from overpowering the opposition as her scores on putbacks and post moves. He also runs the floor well and gets his share of transition baskets.

Logan Holm is a tough interior defender who is a huge threat from the three point line. He can get hot and throw in a lot of threeballs in a hurry!! Dominic Garcia brings leadership, tough perimeter defense and an accurate three point shot to the Wolfpack. Leandro Dolega-Carceras is an energetic, aggressive perimeter defender who creates a lot of turnovers for Wolfpack opponents.

Jake Rivet is a strong ball handler and three point shooter who also is a good passer. Landon Freeman is comfortable shooting the three point shot or driving to the basket.

I got here in time to see almost all of the JV game. Bath took a 7-5 lead after one quarter. Laingsburg outscored Bath 11-3 in the second quarter to take a 16-10 halftime lead. The Wolfpack extended the lead to 40-29 after three quarters. Bath never closed to within ten points during the fourth quarter. Laingsburg won the JV game by the final score of 40-29.

Bath’s Camdyn Montano led all JV scorers with 10 points. Andrew Pruitt and Drew Prince each added 7 points. Mason Redman and Hunter Tolliver each scored 2 points and Hudson Holbrook tallied 1 point.

Colton Heaton led the Laingsburg JVs with 9 points. Caiden Nidefski supported his teammate with 7 points. Sa’Vonta Lyons and Cash Heaton each chipped in with 6 points. Grey Seguin and Landen Hart each tossed in 3 points. Paxton Rodriquez and Harrison Dorman each added 2 points. Kade McLean and Cooper Morr each had 1 point.

Tonight is Senior Night at the Fighting Bee gym. The Laingsburg seniors were all honored. Then Bath honored seniors Remington McCrimmon, Thomas Wang, Ethan Wicks, Jay Kreisler, Mitchell Hammond and Jacob Kuhn.

After the seniors were honored, the Bath Pep band entertained before the game. They did a nice job on a few songs including “Jenny” (867-5309) and “Fly Like an Eagle.” They then played the Bath Fight Song and the National Anthem; they did a fine job with both those songs as well.

It is now time to review the results of this game through the somewhat open eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the ancient times when he was considered to be “young.” He always struggled with the idea that it was only good to steal the ball from opponents. When his coach pointed out that he was disrupting his own team’s possessions, your Bleacher Denizen was not able to change his ways and lost his playing time. Life can be tough.

The opening tap is tipped directly out of bounds and has to be redone. Laingsburg wins the second opening tap. Mitchell George passes to Dominic Garcia, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack to give Laingsburg the first two points of the game. Leandro Dolega-Caceres steals the ball and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Bath misses an eight foot shot on the baseline. Mitchell George hits a fast break layup to give Laingsburg a 6-0 lead.

Bath misses a threeball from the wing. Jacob Kuhn partially blocks a Laingsburg shot. Bath misses a threeball from the wing. Remington McCrimmon hits a putback to give Bath its first two points. Laingsburg misses an eight footer from the baseline. Bath misses a layup. Mitchell Hammond pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. Leandro Dolega-Caceras leans and hits an eight foot banked shot from the baseline for Laingsburg to boost the Wolfpack to an 8-2 lead.

Bath is fouled on a threeball from the wing, but misses three free throws. Leandro Dolega-Caceres banks in a six foot shot for Laingsburg. Dominic Garcia knocks the ball away from Bath, but the Fighting Bees recover. The ball gets away from Bath and Logan Holm picks it up for Laingsburg. Mitchell George fakes a corner threeball and drives the baseline; he hits a layup that gives Laingsburg a 12-2 lead.

Jacob Kuhn is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Bath. Laingsburg misses a banked eight foot hook shot from the side of the lane. Aden Briggs passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for Bath. Mitchell George spins and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Logan Holm steals the ball for Laingsburg. Aiden Wolf steals a Laingsburg pass into the lane. Aden Briggs drills a jump shot off the dribble for Bath to trim the Laingsburg lead to 14-8.

Laingsburg misfires on a triple try from the wing. Bath misses a driving layup. Laingsburg misses a six foot shot from the side of the lane. Bath misses a fifteen footer from the side. Aiden Wolf knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Aden Briggs picks it up for Bath. Aiden Briggs hits a threeball from the side for Bath to cut the Laingsburg lead to 14-11.

Aden Briggs blocks a Laingsburg jumper from the free throw line. Kollin Bentley-Barr steals the ball and throws in a three point shot from the midcourt line as time expires in the opening quarter.

After one quarter, Laingsburg leads 17-11.

Bath has the ball to begin the second quarter. The Bees miss a driving layup. Brady Smith hits a putback for the Bees. He is fouled on the play and sinks his free throw to cut the Laingsburg lead to 17-14 nine seconds into the second quarter.

Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Brady Smith drives coast to coast to hit a layup for Bath to chop the Wolfpack lead down to one point. Laingsburg misses a fourteen footer off the dribble from the side. The rebound hits the basket support and Bath takes possession. Mitchell George knocks the ball away from Bath and Leandro Dolega-Carceras picks it up for Laingsburg. The Wolfpack misses a fast break layup.

Logan Holm steals a Bath pass into the lane. Mitchell George passes to Logan Holm, who makes a slick post move and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Bath misses a three pointer from the wing. Max Deleon steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a layup. Brady Smith is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to cut the Laingsburg lead to 19-17 with 5:17 to go in the first half.

Mitchell George is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Laingsburg. Everett Rodriquez draws a charging foul from Bath. The Wolfpack misses a threeball from the side. Jay Kreisler passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for Bath to trim the Wolfpack lead to 21-19.

Jacob Kuhn and Connor VanEpps team up for Bath to force a tie up. The Possession Arrow mulls the situation over and decrees that the ball belongs to Laingsburg. Connor VanEss steals the ball for the Bees. Jay Kreisler drives and dishes the ball to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for Bath to tie the game and is fouled. He misses his free throw. With 2:23 left in the first half, the game is tied at 21-21.

Jacob Kuhn knocks the ball out of bounds to prevent a Laingsburg layup. The Wolfpack gets the ball back. Laingsburg misses on a triple try from the side. Bath is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Connor VanEss gets his hand on the ball, but the Wolfpack is able to recover. Jacob Kuhn blocks a Laingsburg layup. Kollin Bentley-Barr steals Bath’s outlet pass. Leandro Dolega-Caceres drives and dishes the ball to Logan Holm, who hits a layup, is fouled and misses his free throw. With 1:40 left in the opening half, Laingsburg has a 23-21 lead.

Dominic Garcia knocks the ball out of bounds; the Bees retain possession. Bath misses a layup. Aiden Wolf steals the ball and hits a layup for Bath to tie the game. Aden Briggs steals the ball for the Bees. Bath misses a fast break layup. Aden Briggs hits a putback to give Bath a two point lead. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the wing. Logan Holm steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Jake Rivet passes the ball to Leandro Dolega-Caceres, who hits banks in a three point shot from the wing for Laingsburg just before the halftime buzzer blares to give Laingsburg the lead.

Laingsburg holds a 26-25 lead at halftime.

Jacob Kuhn leads the Bath scoring at halftime with 8 points. Aden Briggs has 7 points and Brady Smith has 6 points.

Leandro Dolega-Caceres leads Laingsburg with 9 points at halftime and Mitchell George has 8 points.

The Senior Cheerleaders are honored at halftime. The Pep Band finished up the rest of the time with some more fine music.

Bath inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Bees miss a three pointer from the wing. Leandro Dolega-Caceres passes to Mitchell George, who spins and banks in a layup for the Wolfpack. Bath misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Leandro Dolega-Caceres is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give Laingsburg a 30-25 lead with 7:14 left in quarter number three.

Bath misses a driving layup. Jacob Kuhn taps a ball out of bounds; Laingsburg retains possession. The Wolfpack misfires on a triple try from the corner. Bath misses a layup. Jacob Kuhn pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Aden Briggs grabs the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a threeball from the side. Mitchell George drives and is fouled on an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. He hits one of his two free throws to give Laingsburg a 31-25 lead with 5:50 to play in the quarter.

Bath misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Aiden Wolf grabs the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath commits a traveling violation. Jay Kreisler, who is one of the shortest players on the court, emphatically blocks a Laingsburg shot. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Laingsburg gets another opportunity. Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Jake Rivet leaps and knocks a Bath pass out of bounds to foil a fast break. Bath retains possession.

The Bees misfire on a triple try from the top of the key. Laingsburg fouls on the rebound. Aiden Wolf hits a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw elbow for Bath. Laingsburg misses a layup. Mitchell George pulls down the offensive rebound for the Wolfpack. Jake Rivet inbounds the ball to Mitchell George, who hits a layup to give Laingsburg a 33-27 lead.

Remington McCrimmon hits a jump shot from the free throw elbow for Bath. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the side. Bath reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Aden Briggs steals the ball for Bath. Logan Holm draws a charging foul from the Bees. Aiden Wolf knocks the ball away from Laingsburg, but the Wolfpack recovers.

Laingsburg misses a driving reverse layup. Bath misses a three pointer from the side. Laingsburg commits a double dribble violation. Brady Smith passes to Ethan Wicks, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to chop the Laingsburg lead to 33-31 with 2:35 to play in quarter number three.

Laingsburg misses a layup; the rebound is knocked out of bounds and the Wolfpack retains possession. Mitchell George catches the inbound pass and hits a layup for Laingsburg. Bath misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Laingsburg takes possession. Laingsburg is fouled, but misses two free throws. With 1:48 to play in quarter number three, Laingsburg holds a 35-31 lead.

Dominic Garcia steals the ball for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg misses a layup. Calvin Smith passes to Remington McCrimmon, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Bath. Logan Holm passes to Kollin Bentley-Barr, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the Wolfpack a 38-33 lead.

Logan Holm knocks the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. The Smith connection comes through as Calvin passes to his twin, Brady, who hits a layup for the Bees. Brady Smith blocks a Laingsburg layup. Remington McCrimmon hits a fast break layup for Bath just before the buzzer announces the end to quarter number three. Laingsburg has no time to shoot before the period ends.

After three quarters, Laingsburg has a 38-37 lead.

Laingsburg inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. Jacob Kuhn gets his hand on the ball, but the Wolfpack recovers. Brady Smith knocks a pass out of bounds; Laingsburg retains possession. Brady Smith blocks a Laingsburg layup. Aiden Wolf is fouled on a threeball from the side and hits two of his three free throws to boost his Fighting Bees to a 39-38 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Laingsburg misses a three point shot from the wing. Ethan Wicks bursts into the lane and hits a six foot fast break shot for Bath. Laingsburg misses a driving layup. Aiden Wolf passes to Brady Smith, who is fouled on a six foot shot from the baseline. Brady Smith hits one of his two free throws to give Bath a 42-38 lead with 5:34 left on the clock.

Laingsburg drives from the side and misses a layup. Bath loses a pass into the lane out of bounds. Laingsburg misfires on a triple try from the side. Leandro Dolega-Caceres gets his hand on the rebound; it goes out of bounds and Laingsburg retains possession. Dominic Garcia inbounds the ball to Logan Holm, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Bath lead to 42-39 with 4:35 left in the game.

Brady Smith passes to Remington McCrimmon, who hits a layup for the Bees. Laingsburg loses a pass into the lane out of bounds. Leandro Dolega-Caceres steals the ball for Laingsburg. Aden Briggs steals the ball for Bath. Aiden Wolf hits a fast break layup for Bath to give his Bees a 46-39 lead.

Logan Holm connects on a threeball from the corner for Laingsburg. Bath misses a driving layup. Brady Smith pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Dominic Garcia passes the ball to Mitchell George, who hits a layup to slice the Bath lead to 46-44.

Jay Kreisler passes to Jacob Huhn, who takes two dribbles near the baseline and hits a layup to give Bath some breathing room. Aiden Wolf knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Remington McCrimmon picks it up for Bath. Dominic Garcia steals the ball for Laingsburg. Aiden Wolf knocks the ball away from Laingsburg and Jay Kreisler picks it up for Bath. Bath misses a fast break layup. Laingsburg misses a threeball from the top of the key. Leandro Dolega-Caceres is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Laingsburg lead to 48-45 with 1:06 to go.

Remington McCrimmon passes to Brady Smith, who hits a layup for the Wolfpack. Leandro Dolega-Caceres responds by hitting a short jump shot for Laingsburg. He is fouled and hits his free throw. With 43.2 seconds to play, the Bath lead is down to 50-48.

Ethan Wicks passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for Bath. Laingsburg misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Aiden Wolf is fouled and hits two free throws to give Bath a 54-48 lead with 6.8 seconds to play.

Dominic Garcia drives and dishes the ball to Leandro Dolega-Caceres, who hits a layup for Laingsburg with just .2 of a second to go. After a timeout, Bath inbounds the ball; the final buzzer sounds as soon as the ball is touched.

Bath wins this exciting game by the final score of 54-50.

Leandro Dolega-Caceras and Mitchell George each had 17 points to lead the Laingsburg scoring. Logan Holm contributed 8 points. Kollin Bentley-Barr had 6 points and Dominic Garcia scored 2 points.

Bath placed four guys in double figures. Brady Smith led the Bath scoring with 11 points. Remington McCrimmon, Aiden Wolf and Jacob Kuhn each added 10 points. Aden Briggs chipped in with 9 points and Ethan Wicks put in 4 points.