Abby suffers defeat at the hands of ‘Jays, ‘Cats
The Abbotsford Falcons girls basketball team has come a long way from last year. The Falcons have won more than twice as many games as the 2020-21 season, and they have a solid core of contributors who will be coming back next year.
However, the Falcons still have a long way to go before they can challenge for a conference title. Abby dropped two Marawood - North matches last week, a road game with Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 18, and a home game with Edgar on Friday.
Abby still has a winning record as they sit at 10-7 overall, but the two losses drops the Falcons to 4-6 in league play.
62-53
The Abbotsford Falcons and Athens Bluejays have played their share of close contests over the last two years, but the ‘Jays continue to have Abby’s number.
Athens swept the season series with a single digit victory over the Falcons, thanks to 18 points from Sophie Coker, 17 points from Addison Lavicka and 16 points from Mackenzie Schug.
Lavicka scored twelves points in the first half, Coker had nine, and forward Mackenzie Schug added another eight points in the first half.
The Falcons got excellent production from Sydney Falteisek. The sharp-shooting sophomore had 14 points in the first half, but she and fellow sophomore Briseida Escalara were the only two Falcons to score more than one bucket, and Abby trailed 35-25 at halftime.
Abby’s offense was more alert in the second half, and eight different players got in the scorer’s column in the final frame. Falteisek continued to score, finishing with a game high 22 points, but the ‘Jays size and length allowed Athens to get putbacks and trips to the line.
The ‘Jays only converted 10 of 20 attempts, including several misses on the front end of a 1 and 1, but in a game decided by single digits, every made free throw was another nail in the coffin.
The Falcons out-scored Athens 28-27, but could not stop Coker and Schug, and fell 62-53. Escalera finished with seven points, Brissa Diaz and Sommer Brodhagen had six points apiece and Alea Graff and Calley Ruesch each had four points.
Bridgette Pogodzinski and Adriana Fuentes both left Athens with two points apiece.
59-34
The Abbotsford Falcons girls basketball team’s offense was almost as cold as the winter weather on Friday night. The Falcons struggled to score 20 points in both halfs.
Those struggles translated to the other side of the ball as well. Abby had no answers to Reagan Borchardt and Malia Hoesly’s offense. Borchardt and Hoesly both finished in double digits, and Borchardt’s 19 points were vital to giving the ‘Cats the win.
The Falcons allowed Borchardt to reel off 12 points in the first frame, and Hoesly added another nine.
Sommer Brodhagen and Briseida Escalera scored seven points apiece to keep the Falcon’s hopes for an upset over the 12-5 ‘Cats alive. Alea Graff added two points in the first frame, and Abby was only down 25-16 at the break.
The Falcons got more players involved on offense in the second half. Bridgett Pogodzinski and Calley Ruesch got on board, but the ‘Cats held Abby’s leading scorer in check as Sydney Falteisek failed to score a single basket.
Things began to quickly turn south for the home team as Abby managed just 18 points in the second half while giving up 32 more to Edgar.
Escalera had a game high 14 points for Abbotsford, and Brodhagen scored nine. Graff added another six points, Pogodzinski recorded three and Ruesch finished with two points.
The Falcons will have a chance to snap their three game losing skid, their longest of the season, this Thursday.
Abby hosts the Prentice Buccaneers, and will look to sweep the season series. Tip-off begins at 7:15 p.m.
BRIDGETT ON THE BLOW-BY -Abby’s Bridgett Pogodzinski attempts to dribble past an Edgar defender for a basket on Friday night.
