Falcons GB begins season 2-1

The Abbotsford Falcons girls basketball season is off to a white hot start after making quick work of the Chequamegon Screaming Eagles with a 70-19 road victory in their season opener. Abby followed this up by topping the Colby Hornets at home before falling to Marawood - North rival Athens to begin the year 2-1.

70-19

The Abbotsford Falcons were relentless on both sides of the ball on Thursday, Nov. 18, pulling down 44 rebounds and forcing 24 turnovers in their 70-19 rout of Chequmegon.

“Team chemistry stood out,” Abby head coach Ally Meserole said after the game. “Girls found the open spots, and then found their open teammates.”

The Falcons spread the wealth, dishing out 20 assists and they raced out to an early lead and never looked back.

Senior Bridgett Pogodzinski and sophomore Briseida Escalara led the way, scoring ten and eleven points. Sydney Falteisek added nine, Stephany Espino tallied eight points. Calley Ruesch had a team high eight boards. Sommer Brodhagen and Pogodzinski corralled another seven rebounds apiece.

The Falcons faced a bigger test in the Colby Hornets in their home opener on Monday, Nov. 22.

It was a tense first half as neither team was able to penetrate the other’s defenses. The Falcons held a slim 13-11 advantage with 5:23 left in the half.

“We really wanted this win, and those nerves definitely affected them in the beginning,” Meserole said about the slow start. “Once they got into a rhythm, they were looking to score and they found their confidence.”

After those first few buckets Abby pulled away from Colby, closing out the first half on a 13-4 run that was keyed by baskets from Bridgitt Pogodzinski, Alea Graff and Sydney Falteisek.

Abby flashed their range, with Graff and Adriana Fuentes each hit a triple in the first half to give the Falcons a 25-15 lead at halftime. With the offense flowing, the Falcons controlled the tempo of the game, using ball movement and passing to break Colby’s 1-3-1 zone defense.

“The girls motto this year so far is ‘Stay calm, cool and collected’,” Meserole said. “They know when to hold the ball, when to slow things down. They are easily controlling the pace of the last two games.”

The Falcons grabbed 40 rebounds, blocked four shots and stole the ball twelve times. On offense, Abby converted 21 of 45 field goal attempts as they outscored Colby 26-17 to earn a 52-32 victory.

Alea Graff was the straw that stirred the drink on Monday, recording her first double-double of her senior year. Graff finished with a game high 13 points to go with her ten rebounds.

Sydney Falteisek added 11 points and Adriana Fuentes pitched in with seven points. Sommer Brodhagen, Briseida Escalera and Pogodzinski scored six points apiece. Calley Ruesch rounded things out with three points.

53-40

The Falcons were looking to extend their winning streak to three on Tuesday, Nov. 23, but the Athens Bluejays had other ideas on their minds. The first half saw multiple ties and lead changes, but the ‘Jays held a 18-14 lead with 7:08 to play in the first half. Abby tied things up at 18-18 only for Athens to go up 24-21.

Adriana Fuentes’s steal and fast break bucket cut into the deficit, and after one half it was a 26-26 ball game. But that was as close as to victory as Abby would get.

The Falcons converted 11 of 18 free throws to the ‘Jays ten of 23 attempts, but Abby struggled to find its offense in the second half.

The Bluejays used their height advantage to block or deflect shots in the post, and Athens put that height to good use in the second half, with Athens scoring on put backs and offensive boards to open the latter half on a 13-2 run.

The Falcons limited Athens to one of nine shooting from three, and rallied late in the second half, but could not overcome a double digit deficit as they dropped their first game of the season.

Jazelle Hartwig scored a game high 14 points for the ‘Jays. Sophia Coker and Addison Lavicka added 12 and 10.

Sommer Brodhagen led the way for Abbotsford, scoring a team 11 points. Fuentes and Bridgett Pogodzinski had seven apiece and Briseida Escalera scored four points. Alea Graff, Sydney Falteisek and Calley Ruesch all collected three points.

A REAL SPITFIRE -Alea Graff prepares to drive the ball through Colby’s zone defense. Graff recorded a 13 points and 10 boards in the win.STAFF PHOTOS/ROSS PATTERMANN