Shooting woes derail Falcons in sectional semis

WEST BEND – The Sheboygan Falls Falcons gave it all they could but were unable to overcome a tough night shooting as they fell to Grafton, 35-32, in Division 2 girls sectional basketball semifinal play here Thursday night.

“We did everything we had to do except shoot the ball well,” said a disappointed Falcon head coach Leroy Hamilton after the game.

“I give their defense credit but we didn’t shoot the ball well. They played physical defense.

“I was very pleased with the girls’ effort. I wanted them to be playing Saturday [March 20 in sectional finals]. I hate to see the season end,” Hamilton said.

The Falcons’ potent offense shot a paltry 25 percent (13 of 53) from the field and was held to its lowest point total of the season. Falls was 0-for-11 from three-point range and missed several shots inside, including many follow-up attempts.

“We were tentative [on offense]. We were rushing our shots a bit,” the Falcon coach observed.

The Black Hawks took the lead for good, 33-31, on 6-foot-1 center Myranda Tyler’s rebound basket with 1:07 left to play.

On Falls’ next possession, Cassie Quirt was fouled on a follow-up shot. Quirt sank 1 of 2 free throws which shaved Grafton’s lead to 33-32 with 53 seconds remaining.

Grafton went into a delay game – trying to milk the clock – and the Falcons were forced to foul. Falls needed to foul five times to put the Black Hawks in the bonus at the free-throw line as precious seconds ticked off. Senior forward Ali Lorge hit both ends of a one-and-one – giving Grafton a 35-32 lead with 11.9 seconds left.

Falls called a timeout with 9.3 seconds remaining to set up a three-point attempt. Brooke Buehler threw the inbounds pass from just inside the midcourt line but it was nearly picked off by Grafton.

The ball was batted into the air and Falls freshman forward Staci Hasler was able to grab it. Hasler attempted a three-point shot from left of the key but it was off the mark with a few seconds remaining and Grafton secured the win.

The Falcons, who were making their first sectional appearance in 31 years, finished 18-8.

Grafton, the defending state champion, came up shy of returning to state for the fourth straight year as it lost to New Berlin Eisenhower in Saturday’s sectional finals, 62-54. The Black Hawks ended their season at 16-11.

The Black Hawks’ vaunted defense came up big in the second half – holding Falls to only 15 points and forcing eight turnovers. Grafton outscored the Falcons 21-15 in the final half.

“Our defense was the key in the third quarter, and the kids off the bench,” said Grafton head coach Bob Maronde.

“Our defense ignited us. It gave us confidence on the offensive end.”

“In the second half, we got some post looks, created some shots on the perimeter and Hannah Eichler stepped up big-time,” Maronde said.

Eichler, a sophomore forward, exploded for eight of her game-high 13 points in the third period to spark the Black Hawks. She scored her team’s final eight points of the quarter, including a three-point goal and a three-point play off a drive.

Grafton outscored Falls 10-6 in the third quarter to take a 24-23 advantage. The Black Hawks were patient against Falls’ zone 2-3 defense and played good, aggressive defense. Grafton intercepted three passes in the period.

Falls scored the first four points of the third quarter to build a 21-14 lead. Lauren Carman made a followup shot and Buehler scored a fast-break layup. Grafton answered with a 10-2 run, keyed by Eichler, to seize a 24-23 lead.

Falls grabbed a 5-0 lead midway through the first quarter and was up 6-3 heading into the second. The Falcons should’ve had a bigger lead but missed several close-range shots.

The Falcons’ defense was strong in the first half as it forced Grafton to shoot mostly from the perimeter and the Black Hawks had one shot on many possessions. Falls went ahead 12-6 midway through the second period after Emilie Leffin hit a short jumper.

Carman’s free throw gave Falls a 15-14 lead with 25 seconds left until halftime. Buehler made a fastbreak layup at the buzzer off a Grafton turnover to make it 17-14 at intermission.

“We hung in there in the first half,” Maronde said. “Our defense is our calling card. We’ve come together as a group.

“When we got down 6-2, we were timid and we lost our confidence,” the Grafton coach said. “They [Grafton] don’t score a lot and know their limitations. They play aggressive, physical defense,” Hamilton pointed out.

Despite the loss, Hamilton was upbeat about his team’s performance.

“As a team, we played well. The girls fought hard,” he said. “We played very good defense and rebounded well.

“I was very pleased with our season. It’s disappointing to see it end though,” Hamilton said.

The Falcons dominated the boards with a 46-18 rebounding advantage and had an impressive 14 on offense.

Leffin, Carman and Quirt led Falls in rebounds with 11 each. Leffin also paced her team in scoring with 10 points.

Buehler, Hasler and Carman led the Falcons in steals with two apiece.

GIRLS
BASKETBALL
SHEBOYGAN 32
FALLS
GRAFTON	35

Score by Quarters
Sheboygan Falls.……..6 11 6 9 – 32
Grafton………….……....3 11 10 11 – 35
Sheboygan Falls scoring: Alyse Hucke 1, Cassie Quirt 5, Brooke Buehler 6, Emilie Leffin 10, Staci Hasler 5, Lauren
Carman 5.
Grafton scoring: Myranda Tyler 10, Kaitlyn Brandenburg 4, Ali Lorge 5, Hannah Eichler 13, Emma Fatla 3.
Three-point goals: Eichler 2, Lorge 1.
Field goals: Sheboygan Falls 13-53, 25%. Free throws: Sheboygan Falls 6-11, 55%; Grafton 8-9, 89%.
Rebounds: Sheboygan Falls 46, Grafton 18. Turnovers: Sheboygan ___________________________ Falls 14, Grafton 11.