sports 7February 25, 2011

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Basketball season: determination, victories, defeats, memories, and pain. Many things go through a player’s mind when they look back on previous games and look forward to im-provements in upcoming games. One thing that doesn’t change is the fire in the hearts of the Florence Lady Falcon basketball team. The Lady Falcon’s performance against Loyola in their second game against the Rams proves just how much courage this young team holds in their hearts. “We have the ability to beat them. We just have to work really hard and come together,” said Sophomore Cassandra Skeers. “Our per-formance without two of our starts shows how we can really step up. With the whole team playing, there’s no stopping us.” This team doesn’t let anything get them down. Even after a hard loss in their first game against Loyola they were able to pull them-selves together and fight even harder to domi-nate Superior the next day. This victory was one of the player’s highlights of the season. “When we beat Superior right after we lost to Loyola the night before. We destroyed them!” said Junior Rosie O’ Brien. The team’s current record, 9-8, includes victories against Deer lodge, Darby, superior,

Whitehall, Corvallis, Drummond, and Val-ley Christian. The Falcons were ranked in 3rd place coming into the district tournaments on February 16-19. Those games rapidly ap-proached, and the Falcons had only one thing in mind and that is to improve their skills and play their absolute best. “Traditionally we have done very well in the tournaments, I have high expectations for the team, and we are not done growing or improv-ing,” said Coach Bryan Neuman. One thing the team has been worked on the whole season had been good defense. No mat-ter how the games go it is important to look back on a season and see how the team as a whole was able to come together and improve their playing skills. “We work together as a team, we commu-nicate well and are easily coachable,” said O’Brien. The Lady Falcons are a close knit team with high expectations and a never give up work ethic. They are a young team with only one thing in mind; to stay strong and strike fear into the eyes of their competitors. The team came into districts and had a hard fight but were taken down Superior.

The squeak of rubber on the gym floor and the unmistakable dribble of a basket-ball can only mean one thing; it’s tourna-ment season for the Falcon boys’ basketball team. As the boys head off to divisionals to prove they’re the best in the Northwest, we can look back on the season so far. From the first tip-off the Falcon boys commanded respect from every team they faced, earning a regular season record of 14 wins and 3 losses. Possibly the most exciting aspect of the season so far were the two crushing defeats of the Loyola Rams, 81-63 then 63-59. Then again, it could be the heart-stopping, over-time win, in which 6’9” Center Quinn Smith made a last second dunk to win over Class A rival, Stevensville. Even though this year has been great for both players and fans, it is also a somber season with five seniors playing their final season here at Florence. Most of the se-niors have played here since as early as 5th

and 6th grade, and coach Baerlocher has watched as many of the players developed into the people and players they now are. “These guys practice hard, are good kids, and have worked really hard on being a well rounded team of ball players who know their roles,” said coach Baerlocher. With the possibility of state just around the corner, many believe the boys have a very good chance at going all the way, but Baerlocher and the players are just trying to keep cool heads throughout the rest of the season. “Our goal right now is to just do well at districts and divisionals,” added Baer-locher. And do well is just what they did, with a double overtime win over district rivals Loyola to become 2010-11 district champi-ons. After their win over Loyola, the boys are now ranked third in the state as they head into divisionals.

Tanner LaveringFalcon Flyer

Girls Basketball

ABOVE: Quinn Smith dunks against LoyolaLEFT: Brittany Heinz shoots a lay up against Superior at the district tournament. Photos courtesy of Yearbook Staff

Shari LeedomFalcon Flyer

Boys Basketball

Post Season comes to a close