fall in season opener

Falcons

The Abbotsford Falcons boys basketball team began the 2019-20 season with a pair of losses, dropping their season opener to the Wautoma Hornets in a nonconference road game in Milwaukee, and then fell in their first conference game of the season on the road at Athens to fall to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in Marawood - North play.

Wautoma, 78-47

The Abbotsford Falcons boys basketball team opened its 2019-20 campaign by playing on one of the grandest of stages in the sport, taking on the Wautoma Hornets in the Fiserv Forum - the home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

The season opener was part of the Bucks’ Prep Series, and while the trip to Milwaukee resulted in a 78-47 loss to the Hornets, the Falcons saw plenty of players receive varsity experience as they prepare for the long year ahead of them.

By the time the game as over, seven different players from Abbotsford would score, with junior Cade Faber, a second team Marawood - North selection last season, leading the way.

Faber finished with a double-double in his first game of the year, scoring 13 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Junior Hunter Soyk built off last season, and provided a spark for Abby’s offense, scoring eight points, including draining a pair of triples.

Senior guard Blake Draper also poured in a pair of triples as he too finished with eight points. Mason Carpenter showcased his improvement from the 2018-19 season, with the junior small forward scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds.

Senior center Reiley Schreiber had a solid game on both sides of the ball, pulling down seven rebounds while scoring seven points, including a solid day from the charity stripe, as he converted three of four free throw attempts.

The Falcons shot the ball well from the free throw line, finishing 10 of 16, and pulled down 44 rebounds as a team.

But it was turnovers, a total of 30 as a team, that limited their offense, allowing the Hornets too many chances to score. Abby will look to clean up those turnovers as the season progresses.

79-44

The Abbotsford Falcons were on the road for their first Marawood - North conference game of the season, travelling to Athens on Tuesday, Dec. 3, in their league opener.

The Athens Bluejays had won their first ever WIAA regional championship in school history in March, and while this year’s ‘Jays are without last year’s leading scorers Liam Payne and Seth Coker, they brought some size in the paint, with 6’6” senior post player Cameron Ford, and a pair of quick guards in Cobie Ellenbecker and Cooper Diedrich.

Ford would finish with 30 points and Diedrich poured in another 24 and Athens controlled the game from start to finish.

The Falcons were in a 49-25 deficit at the end of the first half, and Abby continued to struggle to get stops and put points. The Falcons were outscored 30-19 in the final frame as Abby had trouble establishing its offense and defense all night long as Athens topped the Falcons by a final score of 79-44, handing Abby back to back losses to start the season.

The Falcons connected on six triples, and shot the ball from the charity stripe, converting on eight of nine free throws.

Individual stats from Abbotsford were not available upon publication.