Ferris State at Saginaw Valley – – Women’s Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 13, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is going to temporarily graduate from blogging high school sports and will cover the women’s basketball game between the Ferris State Bulldogs and the Saginaw Valley Cardinals.

This is an exciting game for me because each team has a starting player that played a huge role in my high school sports blogs four to six years ago before they got to college. Mia Riley (Ferris) starred for Fowler and Lydia Meredith starred for Portland St. Patrick.

In their senior year, they were the two best Division 4 Girls’ basketball teams in Michigan. (That can’t even remotely be disputed. St. Patrick was undefeated in the 2021-22 regular season and Fowler lost only to St. Patrick twice and Division 2 Portland, who was good enough to win their district once. Fowler was coming off a season where they blew through the tournament and easily won the state title with many players returning for the next season.)

They packed the gym at Lansing Christian for their district final. (Literally, some people had to be turned away because the gym was full.) The Ghost of Bleacher Denizen Past has agreed to post this memorable game here!! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/03/05/fowler-vs-portland-st-patrick-girls-basketball-mhsaa-district-final-the-bleacher-denizen-march-4-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

Ferris enters this game with a 12-2 record and is 19-4 overall this season. Kadyn Blanchard is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer with 16.5 points per game. She is also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Mia Riley is scoring 15.3 points and pulling down 5.2 rebounds per game. Mya Hiram averages 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. Emma Schierbeek scores 10.9 points per game.

Saginaw Valley enters the game with a 3-12 record in the GLIAC and a 5-13 overall record. Megan McCalla is the leading scorer; she averages 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Lydia Meredith stuffs the stat sheet with 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Kaitlyn Geurink scores 10.4 points and gets 4.0 rebounds per game. Lauren Borsenik averages 8.0 points per game.

Lainey Yater averagees 2.9 assists and1.7 steals per game. Lydia Meredith’s sister Laynie Meredith comes off the bench for the Cardinals and has played in all but one game this season. Mia Riley’s sister Emma Riley is also on the Saginaw Valley roster. She has been injured most of the season and has only played five games; she is hoping to heal up for next season. Emma Riley and Laynie Meredith were also All-State basketball players when they were at Fowler and St. Patrick.

Let’s take a look at this game through the lenses of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to hoop in ages past. Alas, your Bleacher Denizen felt that even though his coach insisted that he stay between his man and the basket on defense, your Bleacher Denizen believed this infringed on his creativity and frequently chose to play near midcourt. When the Bleacher Denizen’s man starting scoring basket after basket, the coach stopped playing him and found players who approached defense less creatively.

Ferris wins the opening tap. Mia Riley quickly hits a fast break layup to give Ferris the first two points of the game. Saginaw Valley misses a driving layup. Kadyn Blanchard passes to Elle Irwin, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Ferris a 5-0 lead.

Saginaw Valley misses a three pointer from the wing. Ally Schultz steals the ball for the Bulldogs. Ferris misfires on a triple try from the wing. Chloe Kilbride passes to Lydia Meredith, who hits a three point shot from the side for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a driving layup. Mya Hiram is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to give Ferris a 17-9 lead with 4:51 to play in the first quarter.

Mia Riley knocks the ball away from Saginaw Valley and Grace Lyons picks it up for Ferris. Mya Hiram drives and hits a layup for Ferris. The Cardinals miss a threeball near the top of the key. Ferris misses a threeball from the wing. Saginaw Valley misses a three pointer from the corner. Emma Dziezgowski prevents the offensive rebound from going out of bounds. Ally Schultz ties up the ball for the Bulldogs. The Possession Arrow dropped a stitch while knitting a baby bonnet and missed the play; it decrees that Saginaw Valley shall get the ball back.

Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the wing. Bella Paradowski gets the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a layup. Mara Mitchell drives and hits a layup for Ferris. Megan McCalla drives and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Mia Riley is fouled on a driving scooped layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Ferris a 22-11 lead with 2:14 to play in the opening quarter.

Mia Riley steals the ball and hits a layup for Ferris. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw. Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the wing. Ferris reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the wing. Saginaw Valley misses a driving layup. Ferris reciprocates and misses a driving layup. Megan McCalla gets bored with all the repetition and is fouled as she drives and spins for a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to trim the Ferris lead to 25-12 with 39.7 to go in the quarter.

Ferris misses a ten foot turnaround jump shot from the side of the lane. Kaitlyn Geurink passes to Megan McCalla, who hits a three point shot from the corner just as the first quarter buzzer seeks attention and blares to end the quarter.

After one quarter, Ferris has a 25-12 lead.

Ferris inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Lainey Yater steals the ball for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a jump shot off the dribble from the free throw line. Ferris misses a fifteen footer from the side. Saginaw Valley misfires on a threeball from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Cardinals get another opportunity. The Cardinals miss a layup. Elle Irwin passes to Mya Hiram, who hits a layup for Ferris and is fouled. Mya Hiram sinks her free throw to give Ferris a 28-15 lead with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter.

Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the corner. Megan McCalla grabs the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley throws a pass out of bounds. Lauren Borsenik knocks the ball away from Ferris and Lainey Yater picks it up for Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals miss a threeball from the wing. Lauren Borsenik gets the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a layup. Megan McCalla hits a putback for Saginaw Valley and is fouled. She makes her free throw to trim the Ferris lead to 28-18 with 7:28 to go in the second quarter.

Kadyn Blanchard passes to Claire Erickson, who hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Saginaw Valley throws its inbound pass out of bounds. Lainey Yater taps the ball away from Ferris and Megan McCalla picks it up for Saginaw Valley. Lainey Yater passes to Lydia Meredith, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Ferris lead to 30-21.

Ferris misses a driving layup. Megan McCalla is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a threeball from the top of the key. Lydia Meredith is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to knock the Ferris lead down to 30-24 with 5:15 remaining in the quarter.

Mya Hiram passes to Mia Riley, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Ferris. Saginaw Valley misses a three pointer from the corner. Megan McCalla gets the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a reverse layup. Ferris commits an offensive foul. Saginaw Valley travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. Somehow, I doubt that traveling without the ball would be terribly newsworthy.) Mya Hiram ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s semantic musings and passes to Kadyn Blanchard, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup to give Ferris a 35-24 lead.

Saginaw Valley loses the ball out of bounds. Ferris misses a three pointer from the wing. Saginaw Valley commits and offensive foul. Emma Eziezgowski and Lauren Sollom dive to tie up the ball for Saginaw Valley. The Possession Arrow is proud of the Ragland sleeve it just finished, focuses and awards the ball to the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a layup. Kadyn Blanchard is fouled on the rebound and hits one of her two free throws to boost Ferris to a 36-24 lead with 2:48 left on the second quarter clock.

Lydia Meredith drives and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a jump shot from the side. Saginaw Valley misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Ferris gets the ball. Kadyn Blanchard passes to Mya Hiram, who hits a reverse layup for the Bulldogs. Lydia Meredith drives, spins and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Mia Riley is fouled and hits two free throws to give Ferris a 40-28 lead with 1:17 to play in the second quarter.

Lydia Meredith passes to Lauren Borsenik, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Saginaw Valley. Emma Schierbeek hits a six foot shot from the baseline for Ferris. Kadyn Blanchard steals the ball for Ferris and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits two free throws to give Ferris a 44-31 lead with 27.0 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Mya Hiram steals a Cardinal pass. Lydia Meredith blocks a Bulldog layup. Saginaw Valley has no time to shoot before the second quarter buzzer decides to call for halftime.

At halftime, Ferris has a 44-31 lead.

Megan McCalle and Lydia Meredith each have 12 points to lead Saginaw Valley’s scoring at halftime.

Kadyn Blanchard has 12 points, Mia Riley has 11 points and Mya Hiram has 9 points for Ferris.

Ferris inbounds the ball to open quarter number three. Lauren Borsenik gets a hand on the ball and Ferris loses it out of bounds. Mya Hiram gets her hand on the ball, but Saginaw Valley recovers. Mia Riley ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow discovers a dropped stitch, misses the play and awards the ball back to the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley is whistled for a shot clock violation. Mya Hiram passess to Mia Riley, who hits a layup to give Ferris a 46-31 lead.

Lydia Meredith drives the baseline and is fouled (by Mia Riley in a brief encounter that reminds me of all the fine plays each of them made in high school. Lydia Meredith hits one of her two free throws for Saginaw Falley. Ferris misfires on a three pointer from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Saginaw Valley takes possession. Lauren Borsenik passes to Megan McCalla, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Ferris lead to 46-35.

Ferris misses a layup. Lydia Meredith drives and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a three point shot from the wing. Megan McCalla passes to Lauren Borsenik, who spins and hits a six foot shot for Saginaw Valley. Lydia Meredith steals the ball for the Cardinals and passes to Lauren Borsenik, who hits a layup to trim the Ferris lead to 46-41.

Claire Erickson passes to Emma Schierbeek, who hits a three point shot from the side for Ferris. Lauren Borsenik passes to Megan McCalla, who is fouled as she shoots a reverse layup. Megan McCalla hits two free throws for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Lydia Meredith passes to Megan McCalla, who hits a layup to knock the Ferris lead down to 49-45.

Ferris misses a driving layup. Claire Erickson knocks a Saginaw Valley pass out of bounds. The Cardinals retain possession. Lydia Meredith drives, spins and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley to cut the Ferris lead to two points. Mya Hiram hits a short jump shot for Ferris. Lydia Meredith nails a three point shot to chop the Ferris lead to 51-50.

Ferris misses a layup. Saginaw Valley misses a three pointer from the side and fouls on the rebound. Ferris misses a driving layup. Mya Hiram is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for the Bulldogs. With 3:19 remaining in quarter number three, Ferris has a 53-50 lead.

Lydia Meredith passes to Megan McCalla, who spins and hits a short hook shot to bring Saginaw Valley back within one point. Kaitlyn Geurink draws a charging foul from the Bulldogs. Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the side. Kadyn Blanchard passes to Emma Schierbeek, who hits a fast break layup, is fouled and hits her free throw to give Ferris a 56-52 lead with 2:21 to play in quarter number three.

Mya Hiram draws a charging foul from Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a three point shot from the side. Lydia Meredith passes to Bella Paradowski, who hits a layup to cut the Ferris lead back to two points. Mya Hiram is fouled on a driver layup and hits two free throws to give Ferris a 60-54 lead with 42.2 seconds remaining in quarter number three.

Kadyn Blanchard harasses Saginaw Valley into throwing a bad pass out of bounds. Mia Riley drives and hits a layup and is fouled. She hits her free throw and Ferris has a 63-54 lead. Saginaw Valley has only 5.7 seconds to shoot and ends up missing a long heave.

With three quarters in the books, Ferris has withstood a Saginaw Valley run and has a 63-54 lead.

Ferris inbounds the ball to start the fourth quarter. Kadyn Blanchard passes to Emma Schierbeek, who hits a three point shot from the corner for the Bulldogs. Emma Schierbeek knocks a Cardinal pass out of bounds; Saginaw Valley retains possession. Saginaw Valley misses a threeball from the wing. Mia Riley passes to Mya Hiram, who hits a layup for Ferris. Kaitlyn Geurink drives and is fouled on a six foot banked hook. She hits one of her two free throws to shave the Ferris lead to 68-55 with 8:44 remaining in the contest.

Mia Riley passes to Kadyn Blanchard, who hits a layup for the Bulldogs. Saginaw Valley misses a triple try from the side. Lauren Borsenik gets the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Sagainw Valley misses a three point shot from the side. Emma Schierbeek passes to Kadyn Blanchard, who hits a three pointer from the side for Ferris. Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the wing. Elle Irwin passes to Kadyn Blanchard, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Ferris a 76-55 lead.

Saginaw Valley misses a driving layup. Kadyn Blanchard passes to Emma Schierbeek, who hits a three point shot from the side for Saginaw Valley. Megan McCalla drives and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a driving layup. Lainey Yates passes to Lauren Borsenik, who hits a ten footer from the baseline for Saginaw Valley. Mia Riley hits a three point shot to boost Ferris to an 82-59 lead.

Kaitlyn Geurink drives and hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Ferris misses a thtree point shot from the side. Saginaw Valley misses a threeball from the wing. Megan McCalla grabs the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley misses a layup. Lainey Yates grabs the offensive re bound and passes to Megan McCalla, who hits a layup for Saginaw Valley. Mya Hiram drives and hits a layup for Ferris. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to give Ferris an 85-63 lead with 3:51 to go.

Saginaw Valley throws a pass out of bounds. Charlotte Miller is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Saginaw Valley. Charlotte Miller steals a Ferris pass. Elizabeth Stuart steals the ball for Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals miss a jump shot. Kaitlyn Geurink pulls down the offensive rebound for Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals miss a fourteen foot shot in the lane.

Ferris misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Bulldogs get another opportunity. Laynie Meredith gets her hand on the ball and a Ferris dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Saginaw Valley loses a pass out of bounds, Ferris misses a three pointer from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Saginaw Valley gets the ball. The Cardinals miss a ten foot jumper off the dribble from the side of the lane. Charlotte Miller hits a layup to give Ferris an 89-63 lead.

Saginaw Valley misses a three point shot from the wing. Ferris misses a driving layup. Grace Lyons hits a putback for Ferris. Mara Mitchell steals the ball and passes to Charlotte Miller, who hits an eight foot banked shot from the side for Ferris. Chloe Kilbride is fouled and hits two free throws for Saginaw Valley with just 4.3 seconds to go. Ferris dribbles out the clock.

Ferris wins this game by the final score of 93-65.

It was great to see both Mia Riley and Lydia Meredith have fine games!!

Megan McCalla led the Saginaw Valley scoring with 23 points. Lydia Meredith had 20 points as well as four rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Lauren Borsenik added 9 points. Kaitlyn Geurink scored 6 points. Lainey Yater tossed in 3 points. Chole Kilbride and Bella Paradowski each tallied 2 points. I’d also like to give a shoutout to Lainey Meredith, Lydia’s sister who also starred for Portland St. Patrick. She played twelve minutes and had a rebound to go along with her trademark ferocious defense!

Mia Riley led Ferris with 21 points. She also had two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Kadyn Blanchard and Mya Hiram each supported her with 20 points. Emma Schierbeek pitched in with 17 points. Charlotte Miller scored 6 points. Elle Irwin added 3 points. Mara Mitchell, Grace Lyons and Claire Erickson had 2 points.