Portland St. Patrick at Fowler – – CMAC Girls Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 1, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft
Tonight is the night of the big rematch. The Shamrocks of St. Patrick are undefeated on the year and lead the Eagles of Fowler by one game in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference because they won an earlier battle this year. For those who have not seen it, here is the Bleacher Denizen play by play of that game.
St. Patrick is 9-0 in the CMAC and 13-0 overall. Fowler is 8-1 in the CMAC and 11-1 overall. St. Patrick is rated #1 in Division 4 and Fowler is rated #2. Fowler has an eight point win over #3 Plymouth Christian Academy and St. Patrick has blown out Adrian Lenawee Christian, which is a top ten school in Division 3. I’m just pointing it out to show you how successful these two teams are!!
Of course, while Fowler and St. Patrick have been piling up wins, your Bleacher Denizen has been piling up You Tube videos (although to be honest, I have not seen my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube channel in any top ten ratings the way these two teams have been recognized.) I guess now that I’ve posted this, here is the most recent video I have gotten up on my channel. Thanks to those who take a couple minutes to listen!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0IFWZLHHuc
OK. Enough attention-seeking behavior from the Bleacher Denizen!!
I was able to get to the JV game. At halftime, when I got there, the Eagles were up 22-8. They got out to a 32-12 after three quarters and finally won 45-12.
The St. Patrick JVs were led by Hannah Weller with 6 points. Megan Myers, Tori Sandborn and Sophia Schrauben each tallied 2 points.
Kelcie Pung led the victorious Eagle JVs with 11 points. Brooke Weber joined her teammate in double figures with 10 points. Grace O’Hare chipped in with 9 points. Katie Spicer scored 6 points and Elizabeth Hufnagel added 5 points. Anna Andros and Rebecca Smith each had 2 points.
Fowler is led by the Riley sisters. Both Senior Mia Riley and Junior Emma Riley were All-State players last year. They both have really versatile games on offense and on defense. Both of them are absolutely ferocious in their perimeter defense; they create many turnovers with their quickness, strength and intensity. They both handle the ball well and attack the basket fearlessly. Both are excellent passers and three point threats. Both will battle you on defense in the post if they have to and both, especially Mia are pretty good rebounders.
Grace Epkey is a really strong rebounder, defender and finisher in the post for Fowler. She also is capable of hitting three point shots if left open, but spends most of her time battling opponents down low. Avery Koenigsknecht and Carly Andros are fierce, competitive perimeter defenders who can also shoot well from the three point line. Madison Wirth, who with Mia Riley is the only senior playing on the team, provides leadership and tough defense as well. (Senior Emma Halfmann, who started on last year’s state championship team has an injury and is not playing this year.)
For St. Patrick, Senior Guard Lydia Meredith is a four year starter. She is the consummate defensive player; she is long and extremely quick in her perimeter defense; when she has to cover the post, her length, height and strength serve her really well. On offense, she is a fine ball handler and when she is determined to get to the basket, almost no one can stop her. She is also an excellent passer. She finishes well and contributes the occasional three point basket.
Katelyn Russell is another four year senior starter for the Shamrocks. She is long enough to help play defense in the post and quick enough to defend on the perimeter. She attacks the basket well and is a fine three point shooter. Mara Schrauben is a four year varsity senior who has started three years and played as much as the starters when she was a freshman. She is a tough presence in the post on offense and defense. She rebounds well and is really strong in the lane with excellent footwork that allows her to score when she gets the ball inside. She is also a threat from the three point line if she is left open.
Carly Scheurer is a determined perimeter defender who helps keep the ball moving when the Shamrocks are on offense. Ellayna Meredith is a ball of perpetual motion who is a solid ball handler and is really disruptive to opposing offenses on the defensive end. At times, she appears to have more energy than a toddler with an unlimited sugar supply.
Natalie Teachworth is an excellent scorer, defender and rebounder in the post. She is a great athlete who can outleap almost anyone. Addison Scheurer provides depth on the perimeter with solid ball handling and an excellent three point shooting. Rylee Scheurer is tall and quick; she defends really well on the perimeter and is tall enough to be a factor in the post as well.
Now that we have met the players, it is time to go through the happenings of this game through the eagle eyes (well, maybe the blind bat eyes) of an aging Bleacher Denizen who never did escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. Once it became obvious that he would not be able to use a medieval catapult to launch his three point shots, his career was severely affected. Sometimes, people just can’t open their minds – – –
St. Patrick wins the opening tap. Lydia Meredith drives and hits a layup to give the Shamrocks the first two points of the game. Fowler is assessed with a traveling violation. St. Patrick misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Mara Schrauben knocks an Eagle pass out of bounds; Fowler gets the ball back. Mara Schrauben and Lydia Meredith team up to knock the ball away from Fowler; the Eagles are able to recover. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing.
The rebound goes out of bound and St. Patrick takes possession. Carly Andros draws a charging foul from the Shamrocks. Fowler misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the corner. Fowler missses a fifteen foot shot from the swing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. The Eagles miss a threeball from the wing. Katelyn Russell is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 3-0 lead with 5:58 to go in the first quarter.
Lydia Meredith steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Ellayna Meredith blocks an Eagle layup. Mia Riley grabs the loose ball and fires a pass to Emma Riley, who hits a three point shot from the wing for the Eagles to put them on the board. Mia Riley steals the ball and passes to Emma Riley, who hits a fast break layup and is fouled. She makes her free throw to give Fowler a 6-5 lead with 4:42 to go in the first quarter.
Emma Riley knocks a Shamrock pass out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Lydia Meredith passes to Addison Scheurer, who throws in a threeball from the wing to give St. Patrick the lead. Fowler misses a layup and Katelyn Russell blocks an Eagle putback. Mia Riley grabs the loose ball and takes a short drive for a layup that ties the game at 8-8.
Lydia Meredith drives and hits a six foot bank shot for St. Patrick to retake the lead. Emma Riley responds with a ten foot basket in the lane for Fowler to retie the game. St. Patrick (one of the players actually, not the saint, himself) misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. Mia Riley passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a three point lead. Katelyn Russell passes to Lydia Meredith, who is fouled on a six foot shot and hits two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 13-12 with 2:46 remaining in the quarter.
Fowler misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow consults with its specialized software and determines that the ball shall be awarded to Fowler. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Addison Scheurer hits a fast break layup to give her Shamrocks a 14-13 lead.
Lydia Meredith harasses a Fowler ball handler and ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow this time consults its ouija board and awards the ball to St. Patrick. St. Patrick misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Fowler is fouled on a fast break layup, but misses two free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. Lydia Meredith tips an Eagle pass out of bounds; Fowler gets the ball back.
The Riley Connection comes through for the Eagles as Mia Riley passes to Emma Riley, who takes a hard dribble and tosses in a fifteen foot shot from the wing to retake the lead for Fowler. Lydia Meredith passes to Rylee Scheurer, who hits a layup to retake the lead for St. Patrick. Mia Riley passes to Grace Epkey, who hits a layup to retake the lead for Fowler. St. Patrick misses a six foot shot in the lane at the buzzer.
After one quarter, Fowler holds a 17-16 lead.
Fowler has the ball to start out the second quarter. The Eagles are fouled on a six foot shot from the baseline. Fowler misses two free throws. St. Patrick misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. The rebound from the missed shot goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Fowler loses a pass out of bounds. MIa Riley knocks the ball away from St. Patrick; about half the players on the floor dive and tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow has a vision and is directed to give the ball to St. Patrick. Lydia Meredith passes to Katelyn Russell, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the Shamrocks a 19-17 lead.
Carly Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the side. Carly Scheurer pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Ellayna Meredith’s energetic defense causes Fowler to carry the ball and turn it over. St. Patrick misses a layup. Lydia Meredith hits a putback, is fouled and hits her free throw to push the Shamrock lead to 22-17 with 6:00 to play in the first half.
Fowler misses a driving scooped layup. Carly Andros steps into the ball handler’s path and causes a St. Patrick traveling violation. Mara Schrauben gets her hand on an Eagle pass; St. Patrick fouls chasing down the loose ball. Mia Riley is awarded a one and one opportunity and hits both free throws. Mia Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a fast break layup and misses two free throws. With 5:14 to play in the first half, St. Patrick holds a 22-19 lead.
Taylor Weber knocks the ball away from St. Patrick and Mia Riley picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Mia Riley knocks the ball away from the Shamrocks and Grace Epkey grabs it for the Eagles. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. St. Patrick turns the ball over. Addison Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Lydia Meredith is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Shamrock lead to 23-19 with 4:07 to go in the half.
Fowler misses a reverse layup. Natalee Teachworth passes to Lydia Meredith, who hits a three point shot from the corner for St. Patrick. Mia Riley passes to Madison Wirth, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. Emma Riley steals a Shamrock pass. Lydia Meredith blocks an Eagle layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another chance. Ellayna Meredith knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler gets the ball back again. Fowler misses a jumper from the free throw line. St. Patrick misses a layup. Madison Wirth hits a fast break layup to trim the Shamrock lead to 26-22.
Katelyn Russell drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. St. Patrick misses a layup. Lydia Meredith is fouled on the rebound and hits one of two free throws in a one and one opportunity for the Shamrocks. Mia Riley hits a layup for Fowler. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 1:18 left on the first half clock, St. Patrick’s lead is at 29-24.
Grace Epkey knocks the ball away from St. Patrick and Mia Riley picks it up for Fowler. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Mia Riley pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup; the rebound is tied up and after gazing at the stars, the Possession Arrow awards the ball to the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Emma Riley steals the ball for Fowler and is fouled. She hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. Lydia Meredith drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick at the buzzer.
At halftime, St. Patrick has a 31-25 lead.
Emma Riley leads the Fowler scoring at halftime with 11 points and Mia Riley has 6 points.
For St. Patrick, Lydia Meredith has 18 points. Katelyn Russell has 6 points and Addison Scheurer has 5 points.
St. Patrick has the ball to start the third quarter. Emma Riley draws a charging foul from St. Patrick and sends one of the Shamrock starters to the bench with four fouls. Carly Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is fouled on a fast break layup and misses two free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession.
Fowler misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the wing. Carly Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds. Katelyn Russell knocks the ball away from the Eagles. Lydia Meredith picks it up for the Shamrocks and hits a fast break layup to give St. Patrick a 33-25 lead.
Fowler loses the ball out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Lydia Meredith pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Emma Riley tips a Shamrock pass out of bounds. St. Patrick gets the ball back; the Shamrocks misfire on a threeball from the side. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. Lydia Meredith passes to Natalee Teachworth, who hits a layup to boost the St. Patrick lead to 35-25.
Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets the ball. Mia Riley knocks the ball away from the Shamrocks, but Lydia Meredith recovers it for St. Patrick. St. Patrick is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 3:28 to play in the third quarter, the Shamrock lead remains at 35-25.
Avery Koenigsknecht recovers a loose ball to save an Eagle possession. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. The game is stopped to wipe up either sweat or condensation from the floor. (This has happened a few times tonight.) St. Patrick misses a driving layup. Lydia Meredith is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 36-27 lead with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Lydia Meredith steals an Eagle pass. St. Patrick loses a pass out of bounds. MIa Riley drives and is fouled on a layup; she hits one of her two free throws for Fowler. St. Patrick misses a driving layup. Natalee Teachworth ties up the rebound. After reviewing some tea leaves, the Possession Arrow decides the ball should belong to Fowler. Katelyn Russell blocks a Fowler layup. After the Eagles recover the ball, Ellayna Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Mia Riley goes coast to coast to hit a layup that trims the Shamrock lead to 36-30.
St. Patrick drives and dishes the ball, but Emma Riley knocks the pass out of bounds; the Shamrocks retain possession. Fowler’s vigorous defense prevents St. Patrick from inbounding the ball in the required five seconds and the Shamrocks turn it over. Emma Riley hits an eighteen foot shot off the dribble from the top of the key for Fowler (for two points.) St. Patrick misses a layup. Lydia Meredith gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. The buzzer sounds as Fowler gathers in the rebound.
After three quarters, St. Patrick has a 36-32 lead.
St. Patrick inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. The Shamrocks miss a three point shot from the top of the key. Fowler misses a driving banked hook shot. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Fowler misses a driving layup. St. Patrick reciprocates and misses a driving layup. Lydia Meredith gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is fouled on a layup and misses two free throws. With 6:11 remaining in the game, St. Ptrick’s lead remains at 36-32.
Fowler misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Grace Epkey hits a putback to trim the St. Patrick lead to two points. Emma Riley knocks the ball out of bounds; the Shamrocks retain possession. Grace Epkey blocks a St. Patrick layup. Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Carly Andros snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Mara Schrauben steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Lydia Meredith passes to Rylee Scheurer, who leans and hits a layup to boost St. Patrick to a 38-34 lead.
Mia Riley passes to Grace Epkey, who hits a jump shot from the free throw line for Fowler. Lydia Meredith is fouled handling the ball and makes both free throws in a one and one opportunity to give St. Patrick a 40-36 lead with 4:27 left on the clock.
Grace Epkey drives and hits a layup for Fowler to trim the Shamrock lead to two points. St. Patrick misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Natalee Teachworth blocks an Eagle layup. Mia Riley steals the ball and drives in for an Eagle layup that ties the game at 40-40.
St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Fowler loses a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a layup. Lydia Meredith nearly steals the ball from Fowler; she knocks it out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Mia Riley bounces a pass to Grace Epkey, who hits a layup to give the Eagles a 42-40 lead.
Lydia Meredith drives and hits a six foot banked shot to tie the game. Fowler calls time out with 16.3 seconds to go. Fowler misses a layup. The Eagles are fouled on a putback and miss two free throws with just 5.6 seconds to play. St. Patrick gets the rebound, but can not shoot before the buzzer sounds.
At the end of regulation play, the game is tied at 42-42 and we will have OVERTIME in the Eagle gym! This has been an amazing and exciting game so far!!
St. Patrick wins the overtime opening tap. Lydia Meredith drives and is fouled on a six foot shot from the baseline. She hits two free throws to give the Shamrocks the lead. Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw line. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Ellayna Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Carly Andros steals the ball for Fowler. Mia Riley passes the ball to Grace Epkey, who hits a layup for Fowler to tie the game at 44-44.
St. Patrick misses a driving layup. Lydia Meredith hits a putback to give the lead back to St. Patrick. Fowler misses a layup. Mia Riley snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Lydia Meredith goes coast to coast to hit a layup for the Shamrocks. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to give St. Patrick a 49-44 lead with 1:47 left in overtime.
Fowler misses a driving layup. Lydia Meredith is fouled an makes two free throws for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Ellayna Meredith is fouled and makes two free throws for St. Patrick to give the Shamrocks a 53-44 lead with 1:17 remaining.
Emma Riley is fouled and makes two free throws for Fowler. Lydia Meredith is fouled and makes two free throws for St. Patrick. Fowler misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Carly Scheurer is fouled and makes one of her two free throws. With 45.1 seconds left in the contest, St. Patrick has a 56-46 lead.
Fowler misses a threeball from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. Lydia Meredith is fouled and hits two more free throws for St. Patrick. Emma Riley passes to Madison Wirth, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fowler. St. Patrick is fouled, but misses two free throws. With 21 seconds to go, St. Patrick has a 58-49 lead.
Carly Andros drives and hits a layup for Fowler with just a few seconds left. St. Patrick dribbles out the clock.
St. Patrick wins the game 58-51 in overtime and takes a huge step towards winning the Central Michigan Athletic Conference Girls Basketball Championship.
Emma Riley led the Fowler scoring with 15 points. Grace Epkey contributed 12 points and Mia Riley chipped in with 11 points. Maridson Wirth scored 6 points, Avery Koenigsknecht had 5 points and Carly Andros tossed in 2 points.
Lydia Meredith was masterful the whole game and led St. Patrick with 38 points. Katelyn Russell scored 6 points. Addison Scheurer added 5 points. Rylee Scheurer scored 4 points. Ellayna Meredith and Natalee Teachworth each contributed 2 points. Carly Scheurer tallied 1 point.