Fowler at Fulton – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 1, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, it’s opening day of basketball season. As your Bleacher Denizen is too sedentary and cold-averse to hunt, I guess this is my official opening day!!

Your Bleacher Denizen is rising like a Phoenix from the ashes to see a couple teams with a lot of basketball history over the last fifteen years or so (since I have been writing this blog.) Fulton has won four regional titles in this time, been in the final four three times and made the final game once. Fowler has won two regional titles and made it all the way to the championship final last year.

Here is a link to Fowler’s championship game appearance from last year.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/03/15/fowler-vs-wyoming-tri-unity-christian-division-4-boys-basketball-state-final-the-bleacher-denizen-march-15-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

For the sake of equal time, here is a link to Fulton’s semifinal game appearance from 2011. (I can’t find the final game in the old blog. This game was really exciting and features a great comeback.) Current Coach Tyler Walden, the son of 2011 Coach Todd Walden was a huge factor in this game as a player.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2013/11/from-bleachers-by-chuck-krafft-detroit.html

Your Bleacher Denizen used to run into so much complicated weather when he tried to make trips to Fulton in the days of yore that he actually started referring to the “Fulton Weather Curse.” Even though a former Fowler Coach who was also a science teacher said that this curse was a figment of my imagination, I lived it and thought it was real. Mercifully, this week’s horrible weather came two weeks ago and there was time to clean the roads before I made my season opening drive.

At the end of the game, I realized I may have written too soon as the roads were slippery most of the way back to Lansing, although I was able to go within 10 miles of the speed limit the whole way!!

I was excited to see that Dakota Malek, a 2025 Fulton graduate made the trip from college to announce the game. Dakota is a spirited announcer who adds a lot to the game with his enthusiasm. It was great to hear his dulcet tones leading us through the game!

I was able to talk with both coaches before the game to learn about this years’ Eagle and Pirate teams.

Fowler Coach Kam Riley provided me with this information about his Eagle players. Joe Epkey is the only returning starter from last year’s powerful team that made it all the way to the final game in the state tournament. He is a tough rebounded and defender in the post. On offense, he has a number of strong post moves and is good at passing out of the post when he is double-teamed. Jonah Thelen and Isaac Thelen are forwards who can defend anywhere on the floor. Both of them are also capable of scoring from the perimeter or on drives to the basket.

Dylan Pline runs the point for the Eagles. He is a tough perimeter defender who handles the ball well and can slash to the basket. Aidan Riley is a fine defender either on the perimeter or in the lane. He slashes to the basket well. Garrett Klein is a strong perimeter defender who brings a solid three point shot to the Eagles. Anthony Epkey is a fine defender and rebounded in the post. Drew Weber is a tough perimeter defender. Hudson Fedewa is a tall player who can defend, score and rebound in the lane.

Fulton Coach Tyler Walden shared this information about his Pirate players. Parker Billings is a tough defender and rebounder in the post. He scores well near the basket and may be the Pirates’ best passer. Bryson Sattler is a tough perimeter defender who always plays hard and is tough to stop when he drives to the basket. Connor Cunningham brings a lot of determination and hustle to the Pirate perimeter defense.

Carter Brown rebounds well from his forward position and is a threat to slash to the basket. Cameron Diana is persistent and quick perimeter defender. Levi Palacios is a solid perimeter defender who is a threat from the three point line. Zach Litwiller, who starred for last year’s Junior Varsity team and was an excellent quarterback for Fulton’s football varsity this year is injured and unable to play tonight.

I got to the gym in time to see the JV game. Fowler scored that last seventeen points of the first quarter to take a 23-6 lead. The Eagles dominated the rest of the way and won the game 76-12.

Blake Overholt led the Fulton JVs with 5 points. Kellan McEwan scored 3 points. Lucas Podolak and Eli Whitford each added 2 points.

Everyone on the Fowler JV roster scored. Beckett Hansen led the Fowler JVs with 13 points. Eli Thelen supported his teammate with 12 points. Jack O’Hare, Bryce Witgen and Thomas Spitzley each joined their teammates in double figures with 10 points. Easton Myers put in 5 points. Dalton Thelen, Cam Rhynard and Ben Thelen each tossed in 4 points. Jesse Andros and Warrick Pohl each tallied 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game thought the 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 at least some people considered him to be “young.” Alas, it took him too long to learn that coaches and teammates are only impressed when you shoot accurately at the proper basket. While your Bleacher Denizen loved that the other team left him open when he shot at the other basket, his teammates and coaches were seldom happy when I scored this way. Alas, your Bleacher Denizen’s playing time dwindled quite a bit over that.

Fowler wins the opening tap. The Eagles are called for a charging foul. Fowler knocks the ball away from Fulton and Isaac Thelen scores the game’s first (two point) basket for the Eagles. Bryson Sattler drives and hits a layup for Fulton to tie the game. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Jonah Thelen steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 4-2 lead.

Fulton misses a layup. Bryson Sattler steals the ball for the Pirates and passes to Parker Billings, who hits a layup to tie the game. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the corner. Aidan Riley pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Dylan Pline is fouled on a shot and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 5-4 lead with 5:55 remaining in the opening quarter.

Dylan Pline grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a driving layup. Fulton is whistled for a traveling violation. Cameron Diana knocks the ball away from Fowler and Bryson Sattler picks it up for Fulton. Aidan Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a baseline jump shot. Isaac Thelen steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a layup. Joe Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles.

Fowler misses a layup. A Fulton layup by Parker Billings is negated because he was fouled before he shot. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Parker Billings steals the ball for the Pirates. Isaac Thelen knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. The Pirates miss a driving layup. Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key. Jonah Thelen steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Joe Epkey hits a outback to give Fowler a 7-4 lead.

Joe Epkey steals the ball for the Eagles. Jonah Thelen passes to Joe Epkey, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Parker Billings passes to Bryson Sattler, who hits a layup for Fulton. Joe Epkey hits a layup to give Fowler an 11-6 lead.

Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Connor Cunningham steals the ball for the Pirates, but steps on the sideline as he does it. Fowler misses a triple try from the corner. Ethan Henry knocks the rebound out of a Fowler players’ hands and out of bounds. Fulton takes possession. Isaac Thelen steals the ball and passes to Aidan Riley, who who hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 13-6 lead.

Fulton misses a driving ten foot banked shot from the side. Isaac Thelen passes to Dylan Pline, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Levi Palacios drives and dishes the ball to Carter Brown, who hits a layup for Fulton to trim the Fowler lead to 16-8.

Fowler misses a layup; an Eagle player steals the ball. (My apologies to the Eagle player who got the steal; just as basketball teams can be a bit sloppy sometimes in season opening games, unfortunately, your Bleacher Denizen is more inclined to senior moments early in the season.) The Eagles miss a threeball from the wing. Fulton misses a layup just before the buzzer decides it is time to end the first quarter.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 16-8 lead.

Fulton inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Bryson Sattler passes to Parker Billings, who hits a layup and is fouled on the play; he misses his free throw. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Anthony Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Aidan Riley gets the offensive rebound and passes to Isaac Thelen, who hits a three pointer from the corner to give Fowler a 19-10 lead.

Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Connor Cunningham hustles and forces Fowler to lose the ball out of bounds. Dylan Pline knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. The Pirates miss a driving layup. The Eagles miss a threeball from the wing. Isaac Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Anthony Epkey forces a tieup on the rebound. The Possession Arrow consults with the Basketball Authority from the Sky and decides to give the ball to Fowler.

Isaac Thelen passes to Aidan Riley, who hits a jump shot from the free throw line for Fowler. Fulton misses a threeball from the side. Fowler reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Anthony Epkey knocks a Fulton pass out of bounds; the Pirates retain possession. Fulton is fouled on a shot, but misses two free throws. With 4:05 remaining in the second quarter, Fowler has a 21-10 lead.

Carter Brown snares the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Dylan Pline passes to Garrett Klein, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Fulton is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Carter Brown gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Garrett Klein steals the ball for Fowler and hits a fast break layup to give his Eagles a 26-10 lead.

Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler commits an offensive foul. Hudson Fedewa knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Drew Weber steals the ball for Fowler. Connor Cunningham forces an Eagle dribbler to step out of bounds. Joe Epkey blocks a Fulton layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Garrett Klein hits a putback to give Fowler a 28-10 lead.

Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Fulton is fouled on the rebound, but misses two free throws. Garrett Klein passes to Anthoney Epkey, who hits a layup for Fowler. Dylan Pline forces a Fulton dribbler to turn the ball over. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Anthony Epkey is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Fowler a 31-10 lead with 37.4 seconds remaining on the first half clock.

Aidan Riley steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Bryson Sattler drives and hits a layup for Fulton just before the buzzer announces that the first half is over.

At halftime, Fowler has a 33-12 lead.

Bryson Sattler leads the Fulton scoring at halftime with 6 points and Parker Billings has 4 points.

Garrett Klein leads Fowler’s scoring with 7 points. Joe Epkey and Aidan Riley both have 6 points and Isaac Thelen has 5 points.

Fulton inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Pirates miss a driving ten foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Connor Cunningham ties up the rebound for Fulton. The Basketball Authority from the Sky is watching an old NBA repeat game and misses the play. The Possession Arrow is on the spot, but quickly awards to the ball to Fowler while ignoring Mr. Cunningham’s hustle and determination.

Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Anthony Epkey grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Dylan Pline is fouled on a shot and hits two free throws to boost Fowler to a 35-12 lead with 7:22 remaining in quarter number three.

Joe Epkey steals a Fulton pass. Dylan Pline inbounds the ball to Aidan Riley, who hits a layup for Fowler. Dylan Pline steals the ball for the Eagles. Jonah Thelen drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Jonah Thelen gets his hand on a Fulton pass; the ball goes out of bounds and Fulton retains possession. The Pirates miss a layup. Dylan Pline drives, hits a layup and is fouled. He sinks his free throw to give Fowler a 42-12 lead with 6:14 to go in quarter number three.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Anthony Epkey snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Connor Cunningham is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 42-13 with 5:30 left in the quarter.

Carter Brown gets the offensive rebound from the missed free throw. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Anthony Epkey makes a strong post move and hits a layup for Fowler. Aidan Riley steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Joe Epkey steals the ball for the Eagles. Dylan Pline hits a fast break layup to boost the Fowler lead to 48-13.

Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the side. Jonah Thelen hits a putback for the Eagles. Bryson Sattler drives and hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the wing and a putback. Bryson Sattler alertly throws the ball off an Eagle player and out of bounds to preserve a Pirate possession. Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Garrett Klein passes to Joe Epkey, who hits a layup for Fowler to give the Eagles a 52-15 lead.

Levi Palacios drives and dishes the ball to Connor Cunningham, who hits a layup for Fulton. Isaac Thelen passes to Garrett Klein, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key for Fowler. Levi Palacios is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for Fulton. With 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, Fowler has a 52-18 lead.

Dylan Pline passes to Jonah Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Fulton is fouled on a drive to the basket, but misses two free throws. Drew Weber passes to Hudson Fedewa, who hits a layup for Fowler. Bryson Sattler hits a fifteen foot shot from the side as the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 60-20 lead.

Fulton has the ball to start the final quarter. Carter Thelen taps the ball away from Fulton, but the Pirates are able to recover. Parker Billings saves a deflected pass to preserve a Fulton possesion. The Pirates are whistled for an offensive foul. Bryson Sattler knocks the ball out of bounds; Fowler retains possession.

The Eagles miss a layup. Anthony Epkey taps the ball away from Fulton and Garrett Klein picks it up for Fowler. Anthony Epkey hits a putback for Fowler. Connor Cunningham inbounds the ball to Parker Billings, who is fouled on a layup. Parker Billings hits one of his two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 62-21 with about 3:20 left on the clock.

Parker Billings blocks a Fowler layup. Cameron Diana is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Fulton. Hudson Fedewa passes to Drew Weber, who hits a ten foot shot from the side for Fowler. Fulton is fouled on a driving layup and misses two free throws. Fowler runs the final 1:17 off the clock.

Fowler wins this game 64-23.

Bryson Sattler led the Fulton scoring with 10 points. Parker Billings added 5 points. Connor Cunningham tossed in 3 points. Cameron Diana and Carter Brown each added 2 points. Levi Palacios put in 1 point.

Dylan Pline led Fowler’s scoring with 11 points. Aidan Riley and Garrett Klein each joined Dylan Pline in double figures with 10 points apiece. Jonah Thelen contributed 9 points. Joe Epkey had 8 points and Anthony Epkey had 7 points. Isaac Thelen scored 5 points. Drew Weber and Hudson Fedewa each tallied 2 points.