There are only two teams that finish their season on a winning note. The state champion and the third place team in the state tournament. All other teams have lost their final games. But playing the ‘early’ game or consolation game is not what a team aspires to – they want the championship game. For the past two years, Florence has played Saturday night. And for the past two years, they have won, third place. After losing to Malta in the semi finals, the Falcons knew they were back on the same road they had been in the past two years.
Florence had the early morning Saturday game. Immediately following was the Shepherd and Whitehall game. Shepherd had lost to Manhattan in the other semi final game Friday night, and Whitehall defeated Lodge Grass in loser out action on Friday afternoon. Whitehall and Shepherd battled for 32 minutes to a tie and then had to add an overtime period before Whitehall won, 51-44. With the winner due back in less than five hours to play for the consolation game, Whitehall had their work cut out for them.
Florence was a little tentative in the opening minutes of the game but soon took command of the game. Mike Finlay and Aaron Ward controlled the backboards, pulling down eight and 12 rebounds respectively. Finlay stepped out of his comfort zone and was very aggressive on the offensive board and was talking with his team the entire game. He finished the game with a career high 17 points.
“There’s nothing better than having big guy that’s in behind everybody that will communicate and help his teammates and still keep his end of the deal going on down there,” said coach Sam Baerlocher of Finlay. “He had to play some big goons this week.”
Finlay was very appreciative of his teammates. “I just got to give credit to my teammates, they were shutting out for me (under the basket).”
As Finlay and Ward worked the boards and pulled down rebounds, the confidence of the entire team grew and their shots started falling. As time ran out in the second quarter, Whitehall’s Sean McCarthy hit a three pointer from about six feet beyond the three-point line to pull Whitehall to within two points. But Florence freshman Rhett Baerlocher hit the shot of the night when he launched a three pointer from about 10 feet beyond the half court line. That shot gave Florence a five-point lead as they went into the locker room at halftime.
Coach Baerlocher was pleased with his team’s defense. “We played some great man to man defense. Sage Hansen did a remarkable job on Casey McLean who only scored five points. Chantz Hotsinpiller did a remarkable job, his man didn’t score at all.”
Florence 58, Whitehall 34
Florence – Sage Hansen 6, Ryne Baerlocher 8, Chantz Hotsinpiller 2, Mike Finlay 17, Aaron Ward 16, Riley Phillips 4, Rhett Baerlocher 3, Ryan Mangun 2.
Whitehall – Casey McLean 5, Sean McCarthy 2, Dawson Patritti 9, Keaton Corr 2, Layne Simon 11, Bryce Murphy 2, Dalton Heilig 3.
Florence opened against Lodge Grass on Thursday. Coach Baerlocher said his team expended a lot of energy in that game.
“We had to match their style of play,” he said. “Which is run and gun. It took a lot out of the kids.”
Ward finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in the 76-66 win. Ryne Baerlocher was three-for-four from three point land and finished with 17 points. Finlay added 13 in the win.
Semi finals
For the past three years, Florence has made it to the semi finals. This year was no different. After defeating Lodge Grass in the opening round, the Falcons took on Malta in the semi finals. The Falcons couldn’t get the monkey off their backs this year either and fell, 67-71.
“We messed up a little in Divisionals, losing and getting on the wrong side of the bracket. I think it would have been a lot better for us if we’d been on the other side,” concluded Baerlocher.
Florence opened up a five point lead at the end of the first quarter but the Malta Mustangs got right back in the game when Kendall Denham hit a trey and then Zach Handley followed with a short jumper to take the lead. The three-quarter court press the Mustangs used put Florence on the defensive. But Florence continued to work hard. Rhett Baerlocher tied the game and then Ryne Baerlocher scored the next Falcon basket to keep the game tied as time wound down in the second quarter. A basket at the buzzer from beyond the arc by Malta’s Kyle Boos put Malta up by three.
Just after the start of the second half, Mike Finlay picked up his third foul. He came back to score a nice hook shot and pull the Falcons within one point but then the Mustangs went on a six point run before Ryne Baerlocher hit both of his free throws after Tucker Schye fouled him on a lay up. Aaron Ward hit a couple of baskets midway through the quarter to tie the game at 41. Again the Mustangs went on a run and were up by seven points before Aaron Ward hit a long three pointer at the buzzer.
The fourth quarter was delayed when the north end buzzer collapsed. The maintenance crew put it back up and play resumed. Malta, who shot 9-of-18 from beyond the three point line, led by eight points at the 5:40 mark in the game.
“They were hitting long threes in the wrong zip code,” said Coach Baerlocher of Malta.
But Ryne Baerlocher hit an inside shot that was followed by a bucket by Finlay. Two free throw by Hansen and the Falcons were back in the game. A couple of key missed shots as the clock ticked down had Florence scrambling and they just couldn’t make up the difference. Malta went on to win the state championship.
“They are just bigger, stronger and more physical than we are,” said coach Baerlocher. “I guess if we want to get to that championship game then eventually we’re going to have get in the weight room.”
Malta 67, Florence 61
Florence– Sage Hansen 9, Ryne Baerlocher 9, Chantz Hotsinpiller 2, Mike Finlay 6, Aaron Ward 27, Riley Phillips 3, Rhett Baerlocher 2, Bradley Schaff 4.
Malta – Kendall Denham 21, Landon Costin 7, Zach Handley 20, Kyle Boos 4, Tucker Schye 10, Jake Bushman 5.
Florence 64, Fairfield 55
“It was a gut check out there,” said Florence coach Sam Baerlocher
The Saturday morning game between Fairfield and Florence was a hard fought game with neither team willing to give an inch. Florence didn’t look like their usual snappy selves and in fact, if one went by body language, you would have thought that Florence was trailing most of the game. But the Falcons went on to win and advance to the consolation game, 64-55.
But the young Falcon team – there’s only one senior on the team – had Fairfield playing catch up most of the game. After leading by three at the end of the first quarter, the Falcons spread the gap to 12 points. But the Eagles climbed back in, creating turnovers and scoring opportunities until they were back in the game. Both Sage Hansen and Ryne Baerlocher tweaked their ankles and were not at 100 percent. By the end of the half, Florence had only a four-point lead.
“It was just playin’ with heart,” said Coach Baerlocher who credited Aaron Ward with his strong play under the basket with keeping the Falcons moving forward.
Ward sparked another Falcon run with a quick shot at the beginning of the third quarter. He then blocked a Fairfield shot and gave the Falcons the much needed momentum. Fairfield was pressing and again created turnovers but the Falcons didn’t lose their composure. Fairfield’s Bryan Durocher hit a long trey with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter to put Fairfield up by two but Hansen came right back to tie the game when Ryne Baerlocher hit him with a long pass and he made the lay-up. The very next play, Hanson stole the ball and raced three quarters of the court for another lay-up. A couple of free throws by Mike Finlay put Florence ahead again with a minute remaining in the third quarter and a basket by Ryne Baerlocher sealed the lead. Fairfield came within a point early in the fourth on a long trey but that was the last they threatened.
Ryne Baerlocher led the scoring with 18 points. Hansen had 14 points and was two-for-two from three-point land. He also had two steals and Aaron Ward had 13 points, 12 rebounds and a blocked shot.
Florence 64, Fairfield 55
Florence – Sage Hansen 14, Ryne Baerlocher 18, Chantz Hotsinpiller 2, Mike Finlay 7, Aaron Ward 12, Riley Phillips 2, Rhett Baerlocher 3, Brandon Johnson 2, Tommy Shepard 1.
Fairfield – Collin Allen 14, Trace Brady 14, Taylor Johnson 9, Bryan Durocher 9, Bo Harris 4, Chad Barrett 3, Yancy Gagne 2.
“It’s another bittersweet win,” summed up Ryne Baerlocher. “We hope to come back next year and play later.”
