Say what you will, the teams that ran into the Lady Falcons of Florence knew they had been in a game afterwards. This group of tough, athletic players may have been outsized but they played with all heart.
Florence opened against Conrad on Thursday. The two teams were fairly evenly matched in the first half but then Conrad pulled away in the third quarter while holding Florence to only four points. Conrad went on to win, 59-39. Megan Byrne, who usually scores from eight to 10 points, was scoreless in the game. Courtney Byrne led all scorers with 11 points.
Conrad 59, Florence 39
Conrad –Hayley Orcutt 12, Makayla Barringer 12, Taylor Judisch 17, Morgan VanDyke 10, Jayde Richardson 3, Michaela Deboo 5.
Florence – Cassandra Skeers 1, Courtney Byrne 11, Cody Miller 3, Kyndall Hoff 4, Paige Bodner 7, Jill Harris 1, Hailey Huott 6, Carli O’Brien 6
Florence had to play Malta in loser out action on Friday. The M’Ettes used their height to control the boards and pulled down 55 rebounds, compared to 37 for Florence in the 62-58 loss for the Lady Falcons. Malta’s edge came with their second chance shots.
Malta took a one point lead at the end of the first quarter. However Florence started the second quarter out with a steal by Cass Skeers that was converted into a field goal by Kyndall Hoff and a free throw off the foul. The Lady Falcons went on a little run and led by as many as six points. Courtney Byrne had been injured in a melee early in the quarter and sat out for much of the quarter. But Malta inched their way back and only trailed by two points at the end of the half.
Malta took back the lead and led throughout the half but with five minutes left in the game, Courtney Byrne hit a deuce and then her sister, Megan, forced a turnover. A field goal by Paige Bodner tied the game at 50 all. Hoff converted two free throws and then a basket and a free throw to pull Florence within one point but then on the next play, she fouled Courtney Henry and sent her to the charity line. Malta went on to win, 62-58.
Malta 62, Florence 58
Florence – Courtney Byrne 7, Paige Bodner 7, Jill Harris 6,Cody Miller 6, Carli O’Brien 2, Megan Byrne 18, Cass Skeers 2, Kyndall Hoff 10.
Malta – Courtney Henry 13, Jayla Graham 13, Mercedes Stiles 3, Darby Schye 4, Brenna King 8, Hailey Nicholson 16, Danielle Lett 5.
Florence finished their season with a 16-10 record.