Anaconda. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
by Scott Sacry
The Florence boys played Eureka in the first round of the Western B Divisionals on Thursday, Feb 23rd. Florence started slowly and trailed 7-14 early in the game. They then went on a 29-10 run and led 36-24 at half. Florence increased their lead in the 3rd quarter, but Eureka made a run in the 4th quarter to make it a five point game with 26 seconds left. Florence persevered and was able to get the 74-66 victory. Patrick Duchien had a big game with 22 points and 11 rebounds, Jesse Padilla got hot and had 21 points, Tyler Abbott had 10, and Trapper Oster and Ethan Alexander each added 5.
Then on Friday, they played Missoula Loyola in the semifinal game. Missoula Loyola is arguably the best Class B team in the state and in their previous two contests Loyola beat Florence by 36 points and 18 points. But in the first half it was different. Florence came out energized and played methodically on offense and stingy on defense. They led 15-10 after one quarter and 23-15 at the half. The Falcons held the Rams to only 15 first half points, which is quite the accomplishment given they had scored 78 points the night before. But you knew Loyola was going to make a run in the second half and they did. Loyola started the 3rd quarter on a 12-2 run and outscored Florence 31-10 in the second half to get the 46-33 victory.
This sent Florence to a loser out game against St. Ignatius on Saturday morning. Florence sputtered out of the gate and were down 19-36 at halftime. They fought hard in the second half and got close a couple of times but couldn’t get back in the game and lost 56-67. Patrick Duchien led with 12 points, Trapper Oster had 9, and Tyler Abbott and Jesse Padilla each added 8. This ended the season for the Florence boys, they hoped to make it farther, but it was a successful season nonetheless.
Divisional tournament in Anacona on Feb. 23rd-25th. Williams and the
Lady Falcons reached the Consolation game where they lost to Anaconda. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
The Florence girls made it to the Consolation game in the Western B Divisional tournament, where they met Anaconda on Saturday, Feb. 25th. Florence floor general Maggie Schneider got three quick fouls in the first quarter and Florence fell down 11-14. In the 2nd quarter, the team stepped up and went on a 6-0 run to start the quarter and outscored Anaconda 19-8 to take a 30-22 halftime lead. The 3rd quarter was even and Florence led 39-31 going into the final quarter. Florence went cold and Anaconda went on a 11-0 run to take a 42-39 lead. Florence hung tough and a Josie Lewis steal and breakaway basket got Florence within one, but Anaconda pulled away and Florence lost 46-48. Kenzy Pickering had a great game with 14 points, Trista Williams had 10, and Taylor Pyette and Olivia Coulter each added 6.
The Florence girls played Thompson Falls in the first round on Thursday, Feb. 23rd. Thompson Falls is a solid team, ranked in the top ten most of the season. It was close early, with Florence trailing 15-16 after one quarter. But the basket seemed to have a lid on it for Florence in the 2nd and they were outscored 4-19, and were behind 19-35 at halftime. Florence outplayed Thompson Falls in the second half, outscoring them 30-26, but they had dug themselves too much of a hole and couldn’t make up the gap, and lost 49-61.
This sent them to play Eureka on Friday morning in a loser out game. The Lady Falcons took a while to warm up but when they did they cruised – they led 14-8 after the 1st and 38-20 at halftime. They kept rolling in the 3rd and won easily, 69-39. Trista Williams had a solid game and led Florence with 16 points, Maggie Schneider had 14, and Kenzy Pickering added 12.
The Florence girls then played St. Ignatius on Saturday morning. It was a close game throughout and after three quarters it was tied 40-40. St. Ignatius quickly got a 41-47 lead, but for the next 5 minutes, Florence went on a 11-3 run to earn the 52-50 victory. On the final play, St. Ignatius had the ball with a chance to tie the game and Florence’s Trista Williams made a game-saving block to preserve the victory.
The Florence girl’s season ends at the Divisional tournament. They lose two talented seniors in Trista Williams and Josie Lewis, but they are loaded with young talent, so expect big things in the future.