By Jean Schurman
Both the Florence Lady Falcons and the Falcons will advance to play at the Western B Divisional in Ronan this week. The top two teams from the boys’ tournament and the top two teams from the girls’ tournament will advance to the state tournament in Billings. That will be a combined tournament and will be held from March 9-11 at the Metra and at Billings Skyview.
The Lady Falcons, as the No. 2 seed in the district, had a 1st round bye on Thursday. Their first game was against the Deer Lodge Wardens, a team that didn’t have a senior on the team. Deer Lodge is coached by Kirk Walker, a graduate of Darby, who played basketball for the University of Montana Grizzlies.
Florence jumped out to an early lead and never really looked back as they went on to win, 48-36. The Wardens made a run in the third quarter and closed the gap to a margin of only five points. But Florence’s Chloe Arthur got a steal and dished to Danielle Zahn who made the bucket. The momentum shifted and Florence took off. Florence’s Autumn Round and Rilee Mangun combined for 13 rebounds for Florence.
“Chloe (Arthur) played well,” said head coach Duane Zeiler. The senior finished with three steals, and 11 points.
Florence 48, Deer Lodge 36
Deer Lodge – Nicholson 12, Applegate 7, Gray 5, Worth 3, Scully 2 Alyssa Lamb 7.
Florence – Autumn Round 7, Rilee Mangun 8, McKenna Liles 6, Danielle Zahn 16, Chloe Arthur 11.
The championship game between the undefeated Ronan Maidens and Florence was a tale of two halves. Last week, Florence played Ronan to a one-point difference and it was looking like the game would be close again. Florence only trailed the Maidens by five points at the break. But Ronan came out on fire in the second half and quickly built the lead up to a 16 point margin before Florence was able to get going. Lee Camel, who finished with 18 points and Alicia Camel who finished with 20 points scored the bulk of Ronan’s points in that run. Zahn and Arthur each made baskets but Florence was unable to get their inside game going. Arthur closed the gap down to nine points at the buzzer with a long three point shot from three feet behind the arc. Ronan went on to win, 61-48.
“It was unfortunate that we got them on a night where they were up and ready to play again,” said Zeiler. “They got hot in the third quarter and we couldn’t. They get hot, we get behind and we have to start gambling. They took advantage of it, and that’s part of the game.
Championship game
Ronan 61, Florence 48
Ronan – Micalann McCrea 8, Jaelynn Askan 8, Louetta Conk0-Camel 5, Alicia Camel 20, Hanna Moss 2, Lee Camel 18.
Florence – Autumn Round 10, Rilee Mangun 11, McKenna Liles 4, Danielle Zahn 12, Chloe Arthur 11.
Florence, who has a record of 13-7, will play Eureka (12-8) at 9:40am on Thursday morning. Florence has not played them before.
The Florence boys opened their tournament against the Ronan Chiefs. Florence had a 10-point lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter but Ronan reduced the lead to only four when Jackson Duffey hit a trey after two Ronan free throws. Dillon Christopherson sank two free throws to give Florence some breathing room. But the Chiefs kept up pressure and another trey by Duffey reduced the Falcon lead to only two points. Tyce Pedersen sank one of two free throws with 17 seconds left. Brent Stroppel and Brendan Bailey each also sank one of two free throws in the final seconds to give Florence the 57-52 win.
Florence 57, Ronan 52
Ronan – Duffy 9, Z. Misa 7, A. Misa 8, Morigeau 13, Stewart 4, Camel 11.
Florence – Tyce Pederson 2, Brendan Bailey 11, Brent Stroppel 15, Cody Liles 17, Dillon Christopherson 12.
The win for the Falcons moved them into the semi finals where they met up with Loyola. Loyola jumped out quickly with a long ball by Ryan McHugh but the Falcons came right back with Cody Liles hitting a couple of quick shots. By the end of the first quarter, Florence was up by one point. But after the break, Loyola went on a 12-point tear while holding Florence to four points. Liles picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter and had to sit. But the bench was keeping up with Loyola and by the end of the quarter, were up by one point again. But Liles fouled out early in the fourth quarter and Stroppel picked up his third foul. Florence was only able to score four points in the quarter and fell, 37-29.
Semis
Loyola 37, Florence 29
Loyola – Lincoln 8, Round 3, Swanson 2, McHugh 5, Davis 9, Richardson 10
Florence – Tyce Pederson 5, Branden Bailey 2, Than Stensrud 2, Brent Stroppel 10, Cody Liles 8, Dillon Christopherson 2.
Florence then had to play St. Ignatius on Saturday morning in loser out action. After a slow beginning, the Falcons went on a tear in the second quarter and scored 13 points while holding the Bulldogs to only two points. Coach Caleb DeGroot said his team dominated inside after breaking the press. Ethan Stensrud came in off the bench and scored 16 points to lead all scorers.
Florence 50, St. Ignatius 32 (loser out)
Florence – Tyce Pedersen 8, Ethan Stensrud 16, Brent Stroppel 4, Cody Liles 18, Dillon Christopherson 4.
St. Ignatius – Bolen 2, Matt 2, Cahoon 8, McClure 11, Alexander 6, McPherson 3.
With a spot at the divisional tournament secured, Florence then advanced to play Deer Lodge for third place. The Falcons were subdued as they went into the game after Dillon Christopherson went down in the warm-ups with a leg injury. He did not return to play in the game.
“Our energy level was really low in the first half,” said DeGroot. “Dillon, (going down) that hurt us but we’re a no excuses kind of program. We have to be able to move on and put in the next man up.”
The Wardens came out and hit three baskets before Liles hit an inside bucket. But those two points were the only Falcon points in the quarter. Florence got going in the second behind Stensrud and Liles. Deer Lodge led at the end of the half but only by four points. Liles picked up his third foul early in the third quarter but was able to keep out of trouble the rest of the frame. He pulled Florence within two points before Deer Lodge pulled ahead again. A long shot by Koby Owens at the buzzer gave Deer Lodge a four-point lead with one quarter to go. The two teams were tired but still working for the shot. Florence took the lead for a brief time but then the Wardens took it back. With less than two and a half minutes remaining, Stensrud hit an inside shot to tie the game at 28 all. Stroppel then hit another inside shot for the lead. But 20 seconds later, Stroppel picked up his fourth foul. A foul on Stensrud led to a technical on Florence. Cade Benjamin sank one of two shots on the foul shot and one of two on the technical to tie the game at 30 seconds and 9 seconds left. Benjamin hit one final field goal for the 32-30 win.
“We’re getting better day by day,” said DeGroot. “We’ve come a long ways.”
Florence will play Bigfork (16-4) at 7:20pm on Thursday in Ronan.
Third place
Deer Lodge 32, Florence 30
Deer Lodge – Scully 2, Benjamin 11, McDermid 8, Owens 9, Porter 2.
Florence – Pederson 2, Bailey 2, Stensrud 5, Stroppel 4, Liles 15, Carson Katen 2.