FREWSBURG - First-year Falconer basketball coach Tim Anderson had seen his Golden Falcons lose seven straight games to start the season, but Thursday night they put it all together for a 59-51 victory over host Frewsburg in the first round of the Frewsburg Holiday Tournament.
Now the Golden Falcons will take on Maple Grove for the title at 8 p.m. today preceded at 4 p.m. with the consolation game between Frewsburg and Dunkirk.
Falconer started out red hot with a 15-5 lead as Mike Wilcox hit three of his four 3-pointers.
Article Photos
Falconer’s Nick Conti dribbles up court after making a steal during the Golden Falcons’ basketball game against Frewsburg on Thursday. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com.
P-J?photo by Scott Reagle
The Golden Falcons improved the lead to as many as 20 points before the Bears sliced the margin down to nine, 28-19, at halftime Frewsburg, behind Alex Elderkin, closed the gap down to three points but then Christian Boutelle recorded a key block in the late going and the Golden Falcons continued on for the victory.
Nick Conti led the Falconer attack with 19 points followed by Wilcox with 12 and Kyle Petersen with 10.
Elderkin had 18 points and eight rebounds while Derek Smith had five assists and three steals for the Bears (2-5).
FALCONER (59)
Conti 8 3 19, Petersen 3 2 10, Cameron 1 2 4, Wilcox 4 0 12, Carter 4 0 8, Nowicki 1 0 2, Carder 0 0 0, Boutelle 1 0 3. Totals 22 7 58.
FREWSBURG (51)
Smith 2 4 8, Munella 0 0 0, Nelson 3 0 7, Elderkin 7 2 18, Adelgren 1 0 2, Zabrodsky 1 0 2, D. Johnson 2 2 6, Caldwell 0 0 0, B. Johnson 2 3 8. Totals 18 9 51.
3-Point Goals - Wilcox 4, Boutelle, Petersen 2, B. Johnson, Elderkin 2, Nelson.
Falconer15 13 16 14 - 58
Frewsburg5 14 16 16 - 51
Jayvees: Falconer won
DRAGONS HOLD ON
FREWSBURG - Maple Grove seemed to be cruising along, but Dunkirk made things more than a little interesting as the Red Dragons hung on for a hard-fought, 53-50 victory.
Early on, Maple Grove was in control on offense and defense and held a 31-19 advantage at the half.
The Marauders, however, were far from finished.
Paced by Mike Bess, who scored all of his eight points, including a pair of 3-point baskets, in the third quarter, Dunkirk roared back and by the end of the period, the Red Dragons' lead was down to six points.
"We just couldn't find the basket," said Maple Grove coach Curt Fischer, "and they adjusted to our man-to-man."
With 3:21 left, the Marauders took the lead and the score was 51-50 in favor of Dunkirk with 47 seconds left, but Aaron Germain and Corey Wefing came through with big free throws to give Maple Grove a three-point cushion in the final seconds. Marquel Ruiz took a shot for Dunkirk with three seconds left, but it rimmed out and the Red Dragons were the victors.
Will Soffel led Maple Grove with 11 points while Wefing and Graham Soffel added 10 points each.
For Dunkirk, Ruiz led the way with 16 points and Jacob Lockett netted 14 points and completed the double-double with 12 rebounds.
Maple Grove will play Falconer for the tournament title at 8 tonight
MAPLE GROVE (53)
Pante 1 0 2, Green 1 2 5, Richardson 0 0 0, Kistner 1 0 3, WSoffel 5 1 11, Ahlstrom 0 0 0, GSoffel 4 0 10, Wefing 4 2 10, Germain 3 1 8, Goerke 2 0 4, Beaton 0 0 0, Swanson 0 0 0. Totals 21 6 53.
DUNKIRK (50)
Lockett 7 0 14, Bess 3 0 8, Ruiz 7 1 16, Masena 2 0 6, Wilson 1 0 2, Berries 2 0 4. Totals 22 1 50.
3-point goals: Green 1, Kistner 1, GSofil 2, Germaine 1. Bess 2, Ruiz 1, Masena 2.
Maple Grove 15 16 13 9 - 53
Dunkirk 12 7 19 12 - 50