Falcons fought through adversity

The Sheboygan Falls Falcons boys basketball team had high expectations coming into the 2009-10 season.

The offense struggled early, but continued to improve by the season’s end.

Falls finished 6-8 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference (12-12) for a third-place finish. The Falcons defeated Campbellsport 64-31 in a first round regional game, but a miracle 3-point shot by Plymouth cut their season short, following a 47-46 loss in the regional semi-final.

“Our players worked hard to improve throughout the season,” said third-year Falcons coach Eric Spielman. “In the Plymouth game, we played our best game of the year. They made a great shot to beat us.”

The Falcons struggled to find their offense in the early part of the season. For the first few games, Spielman tried three different point guards and changed the team’s offensive style. By mid-season, the team put together a three-game winning streak.

“This team fought through adversity,” Spielman explained. “We didn’t find a way to win close games and often lost our composure in the fourth quarter.”

Spielman felt that there were some frustrations that the team had to deal with. The Falcons weren’t able to continue the momentum they built by winning the regional final last season.

Falls scored 55.6 points per game, while giving up 55.4. They shot just 61 percent from the free-throw line, which was the lowest in the EWC. The Falcons were tied for second in rebounding, averaging 27.9 boards per game.

The Falcons were often able to keep themselves in games through the strength of their 3-point shooting attack, with five players ranking among the top 11 3-point shooters in the EWC.

Junior Nick Roelse led the conference in rebounding, with 9.36 boards per game. He was also fifth in scoring, with 14.0 points per game and sixth in assists, with a 3.1 average per game.

Senior Zach Berg came through with many big 3-point shots, leading the team with a 32.9 percent 3- point shooting average. He also averaged 9.5 points per game and finished eighth in steals, with 23.

Senior Dan Duda was third on the team in scoring, with 7.14 points per game and ninth in EWC 3-point shooting, with 17.

The Falcons will lose seniors Duda, Berg, Spencer Hurlburt, Lewis Halverson, Corey Blizzard and Matt Henning to graduation.

“These seniors worked as hard as anybody could,” remarked Spielman. “The conference was very competitive and they fought hard.”

The Falcons will return a good core of juniors, which has coach excited about next season. “Our off-season work will be the key,” stated Spielman. “We will be replacing four starters.”

Falls started the season with non-conference wins over Mishicot and Chilton.

The Falcons then struggled through a three-game losing streak, with loses to Waupun, Plymouth and Kiel to start the EWC season.

Falls came back to hold off Slinger and score its first EWC win of the season over Kewaskum.

In the Homestead Holiday Tournament, Homestead and Waukesha North overpowered the Falcons.

After a loss to New Holstein gave Falls a 1-4 record in the EWC, the Falcons reeled off three-straight wins against Campbellsport, Lomira and Two Rivers.

Waupun came to Falls without its leading scorer Austin Armga, but still managed to notch a 55-45 victory.

Wins against West Bend East and Kewaskum gave the Falcons five wins in six games.

Three losses to Plymouth, Kiel and New Holstein took Falls out of contention for a top finish in the EWC.

The Falcons finished the regular season with decisive wins over Campbellsport 57-55 and Two Rivers 60-52.

In the postseason, Falls blasted Campbellsport in a first-round regional playoff game 64-31. Plymouth then eliminated the Falcons in a second-round playoff game on a last-second shot to notch a 47-46 victory.