Perry vs. Ithaca – – First Round MHSAA Boys District – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 23, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, it is the beginning of the 2026 Boys Basketball Tournament and your Bleacher Denizen is headed to Bath High Schools’ gym to see the Perry Ramblers play the Ithaca Yellowjackets in a first round game. Perry enters this game with a 9-13 record and Ithaca is at 5-17. The winner will play Bath in the District Semifinal on Wednesday.

While we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this video of “House of the Rising Sun” from my You Tube Channel.

I have seen both these teams play earlier this season.

In December, when the Yellowjackets played Fulton in the B4 Foundation Fundraiser, Coach Josh Reyburn gave me this information about his Yellowjacket players.

Gibson Rondy is a third-year varsity player. He is a versatile offensive player who can hit three three point shot or slash to the basket to score. Jaren Paradis is a tough perimeter defender who gives the Yellowjackets a good three point shot. Devyn Fisher is a fine athlete who defends and rebounds well in the paint. Adom Poff is a strong ball handler and leader.

Bentlee Skinner is a freshman guard with a good basketball IQ who slashes to the basket well. Braylon Kench and Jaxson Whitmore are good three point shooters. Griffin Marcy is a good rebounder and defender in the post. Riley Guild is a tough rebounder. Tanner Larney defends the perimeter well.

Perry is in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference, a league I cover frequently and I have seen the Ramblers play a number of times this season. Coach Scott Selbig has given me this information about his Rambler players.

Anthony Cochrane is a fine scorer who is a threat whether he is slashing to the basket or sniping from the three point line. When he gets hot, he can hit four or five three pointers in a row. Trey Selbig is a tall point guard who is a good perimeter defender that can also defend in the post when necessary. He is a fine ball handler and passer who is great slashing to the basket and can also hit the three point shot.

Jacob Adkins is a good rebounder who can slash to the basket to score. Alex McEwan is the big guy in the post for the Ramblers. He is a tough rebounder, scorer and defender in the lane. Aydin Sloan, Brady Doerner and Alex Torrez are dangerous three point shooters. Dylan King is a versatile athlete who defends every position well.

I got to the gym and saw that Jeremy Wood and Brady Guilbault were here to broadcast the game for WIYC radio! It was great to meet Mr. Wood, who helps me distribute this blog on Facebook and Mr. Guilbault!

The silver-tounged Bath announcer, Jon Hinsman, introduced the starting lineups.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when he attempted to hoop. As he learned to play horseshoes, before he tried to learn to hoop, he was very confused by the scoring. A leaner would be worth a point in horseshoes, but he quickly learned that slamming the ball into the bottom of the rim scored no points in basketball. It also annoyed his coach, who felt that when one is so close, he should consistently be able to get the ball over the rim to score basketball points. Alas, some things are simply not meant to be.

Perry wins the opening tap. The Ramblers miss a driving layup. Aydin Sloan gets the offensive rebound for Perry. Alex Torrez hits a long three point shot past the top of the key to give the Ramblers the first three points of the game. Alex McEwan steals the ball for the Ramblers. Perry misses a layup. Alex Torrez grabs the offensive rebound for the Ramblers. Perry misses a layup.

Ithaca loses the ball out of bounds. Perry misses a three point shot from the side. Jaren Paradise passes to Gibson Rondy, who spins and scoops in a layup for Ithaca. Anthony Cochrane drives and hits a layup to give the Ramblers a 5-2 lead.

Ithaca misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get another opportunity. Aydin Sloan gets a hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds. Ithaca retains possession. Ithaca misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Perry misses a three point shot from the corner. Trey Selbig is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Perry a 6-2 lead with 4:45 remaining in the opening quarter.

Jaxson Whitmore passes to Gibson Rondy, who hits a layup for Ithaca. Jaren Paradise steals the ball for the Yellowjackets and hits a fast break layup for Ithaca to tie the game. Trey Selbig drives and hits a layup for Perry. Ithaca misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Perry throws an outlet pass too far and out of bounds on a too fast break. Jaren Paradise passes to Gibson Rondy, who hits a layup for Ithaca to tie the game at 8-8.

Gibson Rondy steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Aydin Sloan steals the ball for Perry. The Ramblers miss a fast break layup. Alex McEwan blocks an Ithaca ten foot runner in the lane. A Perry eight foot basket in the lane is negated because there was a foul before the shot. Anthony Cochrane passes to Trey Selbig, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give his Ramblers an 11-8 lead.

Ithaca misfires on a threeball from the wing. A Perry pass receiver has his foot on the baseline and the Ramblers turn the ball over. Ithaca misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Jaxson Whitmore and Gibson Rondy knock the ball away from Perry and out of bounds. Ithaca gets the ball. The Yellowjackets miss a six foot shot from the side of the lane. Gibson Rondy steals the ball for Ithaca. The Yellowjackets are foul on a fast break layup, but miss two free throws. With 1:00 left in the opening quarter, the Perry lead remains at 11-8.

Riley Guild blocks a Perry six foot shot from the baseline. Ithaca misses a layup. Alex Torrez is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws for Perry. Jacob Adkins grabs the offensive rebound for the Ramblers. Perry misses a three point shot from the wing. Anthony Cochrane grabs the offensive rebound for the Ramblers Perry misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow just before the buzzer sounds to end the quarter.

After one quarter, Perry has an 11-8 lead.

Ithaca inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Gibson Rondy is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for Ithaca. Perry misses a three pointer from the wing. Alex McEwan gets a hand on the ball, but Ithaca recovers. Ithaca misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane.

Jacob Crawford knocks a Perry pass out of bounds; Perry retains possession. The Ramblers miss a three pointer from the top of the key. Jacob Adkins gets the offensive rebound for Perry. Trey Selbig inbounds the ball to Anthony Cochrane, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Perry a 15-9 lead.

Ithaca misfires on a triple try from the corner. Jaxson Whitmore pulls down the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a three pointer from the side. Jaxson Whitmore gets the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Trey Selbig steals the ball for the Ramblers.

Jacob Crawford defends aggressively and Perry loses the ball out of bounds on a too fast break. Ithaca misses a three pointer from the side. Perry misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the wing. Trey Selbig passes to Alex McEwan, who hits a layup to give his Ramblers a 17-9 lead.

Jacob Adkins gets his hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds; Ithaca retains possession. Griffin Marcy drives and hits an eight foot banked shot in the lane for Ithaca. Anthony Cochrane is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to boost the Perry lead to 19-9 with 2:02 remaining in the first half.

Ithaca misfires on a triple try from the corner. Perry misfires on a triple try from the side. Ithaca misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Perry loses its outlet pass out of bounds. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the side. Anthony Cochrane hits a fast break layup to give Perry a 21-11 lead.

Alex McEwan get his hand on a Yellowjacket pass and knocks it out of bounds. Ithaca retains possession. Ithaca misses a driving six foot hook shot. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get the ball back. Ithaca misses a three pointer from the side as the second quarter buzzer announces that it is time for a break.

Perry has a 21-11 halftime lead.

Gibson Rondy has 7 points to lead the Ithaca scoring.

Trey Selbig has 8 points and Anthony Cochrane has 7 points for Perry.

As there is not a halftime event today, I hope you will enjoy these videos from my You Tube Channel.

“Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” was a huge hit for the Royal Guardsmen in late 1966. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHucLvxuQx8

“A Man Like Me” is an original tune about an office worker having Walter Mitty fantasies! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

Perry inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Trey Selbig passes to Anthony Cochrance, who hits a three point shot from the side for Perry. Alex Torrez steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Perry a 26-11 lead.

Devyn Fisher passes to Gibson Rondy, who hits a layup for Ithaca. Anthony Cochrane passes to Alex McEwan, who is fouled on a layup and hits a free throw to give Perry a 27-13 lead with 6:04 remaining in quarter number three.

Alex Torrez gets his hand on a Yellowjacket pass and knocks it out of bounds. Ithaca retains possession. Gibson Rondy drives the baseline and hits a layup for Ithaca. Bentlee Skinner knocks a Rambler pass out of bounds; Perry retains possession. The Ramblers miss a three point shot from the side. Gibson Rondy passes to Riley Guild, who hits a layup to cut the Perry lead to 27-17.

Perry misses a layup. Alex McEwan pulls down the offensive rebound for the Ramblers. Perry is called for traveling on a drive to the basket. Alex McEwan blocks an Ithaca layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get another opportunity. Ithaca misses a threeball from the corner. Perry misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Ithaca gets the ball.

Alex McEwan blocks an Ithaca jump shot from the free throw elbow. Perry throws a pass out of bounds. Alex McEwan blocks an Ithaca ten foot shot in the lane; the Yellowjackets recover the loose ball. Gibson Rondy is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Perry lead to 27-18 with 1:15 remaining in quarter number three.

Jaxson Whitmore steals a Perry pass. Jaren Paradise throws in a threeball from the corner for the Yellowjackets. Trey Selbig is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to boost Perry to a 28-21 lead with 21.2 to play in quarter number three.

An Ithaca layup is negated by a Perry foul before the shot Trey Selbig knocks and Ithaca pass out of bounds with just .5 of a second to play in the quarter. Ithaca is not able to shoot before the buzzer decides it is time to end quarter number three.

With three quarters in the books, Perry has a 28-21 lead.

Ithaca has the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Yellowjackets miss a three point shot from the wing and foul on the rebound. Perry misses a driving layup. Ithaca misses a reverse layup. Jaren Paradise steals the ball for the Yellowjackets. Gibson Rondy hits a two point jump shot for Ithaca. Perry misses a driving layup. Gibson Rondy is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to chop the Perry lead to 28-25 with 5:32 remaining in the game.

Trey Selbig passes to a teammate, who hits a layup that is negated because he was fouled before he shot. Perry misses two free throws. Gibson Rondy passes to Jaren Paradise, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Ithaca and this game is tied at 28-28!!

Anthony Cochrane drives the baseline and hits a layup to retake the lead for Perry. Ithaca misses a three point shot from the wing. Jaren Paradise pulls down the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses an eight foot shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Yellowjackets get another opportunity. Ithaca misses a threeball from the side. Perry is called for a three second (in the lane) violation and turns the ball over.

Ithaca misfires on a triple try from the wing. Jaren Paradise knocks the ball away from Perry and Gibson Rondy picks it up for Ithaca. Ithaca misses a fast break layup. Adam Poff grabs the offensive rebound for the Yellowjackets. Ithaca misses a threeball from the top of the key. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow considers all the possibilities and decrees that Perry shall have the ball.

Perry runs its offense for over a minute before calling timeout with 2:07 remaining in the game. Perry throws a pass out of bounds. Ithaca misses a layup off the inbound pass. Anthony Cochrane is fouled and hits two free throws to boost Perry to a 32-28 lead with 1:26 to go.

With 57.0 seconds to go, Bentlee Skinner passes to Gibson Rondy, who banks in an eight foot shot and is fouled. One of Perry’s starters fouls out on the play. He hits a free throw to cut the Perry lead to 32-31 with 57.0 seconds left in the game.

Perry is fouled, but misses two free throws. Gibson Rondy drives and banks in a six foot shot to give Ithaca a 33-32 lead.

Riley Guild blocks a Perry layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Ramblers get another opportunity. Trey Selbig passes to Jacob Adkins, who takes a couple hard drivels and hits a layup to give Perry a 34-33 lead.

With 7.2 seconds left on the clock, Ithaca calls timeout. The Yellowjackets miss a driving layup. Riley Guild pulls down the offensive rebound for Ithaca. Just before the buzzer sounds, Ithaca puts up a layup that bounces on the rim twice before finally falling to the floor.

Perry wins this game 34-33 and will play Bath in Wednesday night’s semifinal game.

Ithaca’s Gibson Rondy had 21 points to lead all scorers. Jaren Paradise supported his teammate with 8 points. Riley Guild and Griffin Marcy each scored 2 points.

Anthony Cochrane had 14 points to lead Perry. Trey Selbig chipped in with 9 points. Alex Torrez added 6 points. Alex McEwan tossed in 3 points and Jacob Adkins scored 2 points, but it was the game winning layup with about nine seconds left!!