Falcons suffer pair of defeats from top programs
By Nathaniel Underwood
The Abbotsford girls were dealt two losses from a pair of the top teams in Wisconsin over the past week, falling on the road to conference foe Phillips last Tuesday while suffering a defeat at the hands of the Assumption Royals on Thursday. The two losses dropped the Falcons back under .500, putting them at 10-11 on the season with two games left before playoffs begin.
Assumption, 52-44
Sommer Brodhagen and Sydney Falteisek both had double-doubles as the Falcons went toe to toe with the number one ranked team in Division 5. Abbotsford only trailed by one to the Assumption Royals at halftime, but a tough stretch to open the second period allowed the visitors to deal the Falcons a 52-44 defeat.
Abbotsford matched the first-ranked Royals over the first 18 minutes of the contest, using better rebounding and solid shooting to keep pace with one of top teams in the state. The Falcons were able to largely navigate Assumption’s full court press in the first period, taking away a key part of the Royals’ game plan. While the visitor’s managed to take a small lead early, Abbotsford was the first to record a significant run.
Down 12-7, the Falcons rattled off 10 straight points. Falteisek turned two offensive rebounds into four points to start the streak and Brodhagen connected on consecutive possessions to give the Falcons the lead. Falteisek then wrangled another offensive rebound and sank the ensuing jumper to give the Falcons a 17-12 advantage midway through the half.
Assumption bounced back to tie the game at 19-19 and then regained the lead before the half. Falteisek briefly tied the game with a free throw on Abbotsford’s first possession of the second period, but things would quickly get out of hand for the home team.
The Royals scored on their next eight possessions and ultimately outscoredAbbotsford 22-4 over the next eight minutes of the contest. Two turnovers forced by Assumption’s full-court press turned into quick points for the visitors and started the change in momentum. After a half of fairly consistent production from the Falcons’ offense, baskets were suddenly hard to come by forAbbotsford and Assumption was able to take a 47-29 lead.
A late game rally from the Falcons saw them putting up 13 points to Assumption’s three. They were able to cut the Royals’ lead back down to single digits, with Briseida Escalera’s fast break layup bringing her team back within eight points, but time was not on the hosts’ side and the visitors were able to escape with the 52-44 win.
Falteisek put up 21 points, shooting 9-for-14 from the field, and came down with 10 rebounds while Brodhagen had 13 points and 10 rebounds herself. Escalera contributed seven points and four assists, Azul Diaz finished with two points and Celia Schindler had one point.
Phillips, 80-39
Abbotsford was on the road for its second meeting with the Phillips Loggers last Tuesday evening. As in the first meeting between the two squads a week prior, Phillips’s swarming defense proved difficult for the Falcons to deal with and the hosting Loggers were able to double-up their guests, 80-39.
Phillips’ full court press made it difficult for Abbotsford to find their footing and, as they have against a number of opponents this season, the Loggers were able to take full advantage of those mistakes. Eight of the Falcons’ first 11 possessions ended in a turnover, six of them forced by Phillips’s steals. The Loggers were able to use those turnovers to push the ball down the court, getting three transition baskets and scoring 14 of their first 18 points off of an Abbotsford turnover.
Sydney Falteisek put her team on the board four-and-a-half minutes into the contest, but Phillips had already created an uphill battle for their opponents by then, having scored those 18 points over that stretch. The Loggers continued their offensive efficiency after Falteisek’s basket, scoring on their next four trips down the court and eventually taking a 29-4 lead.
Sommer Brodhagen scored six of the team’s next eight points and Celia Schindler added another basket over the Falcons best stretch of the contest. The 8-2 run made the score 31-12, but Phillips’s lead never shrunk further than the 19-point differential.
By halftime, the Loggers held a 47-24 advantage and consistently had an answer to any score by the Falcons in the second period, matching nearly every Abbotsford basket with two of their own. Buoyed by a 55.0 shooting percentage and 22 steals over the course of the contest, Phillips was able to cruise to the 80-39 final.
Abbotsford pulled down more rebounds than the Loggers, 38-31, including seven more offensive boards, but they could not quite turn those extra opportunities into enough points, as they were still outscored 13-10 in second chance points.
Brodhagen’s 13 points were the most on the team on Tuesday night. She also had six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Schindler and Falteisek both had nine points and seven rebounds, Briseida Escalera added four points and Asia Atkinson and Marilyn Hammock finished with two points each.
Looking ahead, the Falcons will wrap up their regular season with a trip to Chequamegon on Thursday, Feb. 15 followed by their final game against Spencer on Friday, Feb. 16. The two squads are a combined 8-36 in 2023-24.
Abbotsford was also given a five-seed in the upcoming WIAA tournament. Their postseason will begin against a familiar opponent, as they have drawn the 12th-seeded Colby Hornets for their first round matchup. The game will be held in Abbotsford on Tuesday, Feb. 20th and will have a tipoff time of 7:00 p.m.
FLOATING IN THE LANE - McKinley Klabon sends up a shot in Abbotsford’s duel with Assumption.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
