Abby improves to 3-2 with win over Greenwood
The Abbotsford Falcons girls basketball team got back to winning ways after taking their first loss of the season. Abby picked up their third victory of the season with a 52-46 victory over Greenwood.
The Falcons were coming off a loss to Athens the week before, but quickly put that behind them as they travelled to Greenwood for their non-conference tussle on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
The Falcons spread the wealth, and the floor, during the game, with seven different players contributing on offense. Bridgett Pogodzinski scored five points in the first half, including the team’s only three. Briseida Escalera had six first half points, and Sommer Brodhagen scored seven of her eight points in the first frame to give Abby a 26-18 lead.
That early lead proved crucial as the Indians came storming back in the second half. Greenwood forced plenty of fouls from Abbotsford, and took 27 trips to the charity stripe, sinking 17 of their free throw attempts.
The Falcons were equally adept at getting to the line, also shooting 27 free throws, but could only convert on 13 of these chances.
But a sensational offensive flurry from sophomore guard Sydney Falteisek gave the Falcons the firepower they needed to maintain their lead, finishing with her first double-double of the year.
After going scoreless in the first half, Falteisek erupted for a season high 15 points, scoring buckets and converting five of six free throws, and ripped down a team high 12 rebounds.
Greenwood’s Kia Abel and Mesa Rasmussen scored 12 and 10 points in the game, with almost all of those coming in the second frame, as the Indians outscored the Falcons 28-26.
The Falcons countered with a more balanced approach, one that saw five players score five or more points to help Abby get the win and move them to 3-1.
Escalera was second on the team with nine points, and Brodhagen and Pogodzinski had eight and seven points.
Senior Alea Graff added six points and Adriana Fuentes scored five more, and had a team high four steals. Brissa Diaz chipped in with two points.
Auburndale, 61-32
The Falcons were looking to start another win streak on Friday, but Auburndale had no plans to go down to Abby, especially while playing at home.
The Eagles came in with a perfect 3-0 record, and made that 4-0 after controlling each half, out-scoring the Falcons 2910 in the first frame.
However, the Falcons did an excellent job of controlling Auburndale’s Annamarie Aue, holding the Eagles leading scorer to a mere eight points, well shy of her 21.7 average.
Unfortunately for Abbotsford, the Eagles have a deep team, and one capable of finding shooters to replace Aue’s production. The Eagles had seven different players score five or more points, with Ashlyn Grimm tallying a game high 17 for Auburndale.
Sommer Brodhagen led the Falcons with 12 points, and Abby found a spark on offense, scoring 22 against their hosts, but the Eagles first half shooting performance continued into the second half.
Auburndale out-scored Abby 32-22 in the second half to hand the Falcons their second loss of the season, dropping Abby to 3-2 on the year with the 61-32 loss.
Sydney Falteisek nearly joined Brodhagen in double digits, scoring nine points. Briseida Escalera had five points and Adriana Fuentes added four points. Brissa Diaz chipped in with two points.
