FALCONS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM DROPS HEARTBREAKER

First Assembly 53 – Arborbrook 41

The Falcons (2-8) played and almost perfect first half but lost their focus in the second half and dropped a heartbreaker to First Assembly 53-41.  Mitch Moore scored the first basket of the game and then sprained his ankle and was lost to the team for the remainder of the game.  The Falcons were already playing without Daniel Zangmeister who was on the bench with a rib injury.  Down to five high school players, the Falcons played their best basketball of the year looking sharp on both offense and defense.  Five different players scored for the Falcons in the first quarter as they built a 13-5 lead.  The second quarter was even better than the first as the Falcons outscored Frist Assembly 15-6 to hold a 28-11 half time lead.  Seven different players scored for the Falcons in the first half.  We played a tight zone and forced First Assembly to shoot over the top and held our position so that the Wildcats could not pull down the rebound.  First Assembly became frustrated and it showed by their actions on the court and on the bench.  This was a significant turn around for the Falcons since we had lost to First Assembly by 26 points earlier in the season.  Unfortunately, there is always a second half.

We knew First Assembly would crash the boards in the second half and try and pick up the pace.  All we had to do was play solid defense and block out.  The key to the rest of the game would be the first couple of minutes.    Two lazy passes turned into two quick buckets for First Assembly and the momentum had shifted in the first 20 seconds.  Coach called time out but the damnage was done.  We never regained our focus and you could feel the game slipping away.  The Falcons still held a 36-31 lead going into the fourth quarter and finally lost the lead with 4 minutes to go but continued to hang within striking distance until the last minute.  First Assembly went 12 for 12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.  The game was much closer than the final score would indicate.  We still have not learned how to win the close games.  Free throws have hurt us the entire season and continued to haunt us this game.  There are some negatives to every game and I could pick apart the second half but that would not be fair.  The Falcons played a good game against a heavily favored opponent.  They missed Mitch and Daniel but the middle school players stepped up and played well.  It was a win for us.  The Falcon players definately had the better attitudes on the floor even when the game was sliding from our grasp.

For the Record:  Josh Black lead the Falcons with 17 points and 15 rebounds.  Caleb Farmer scored 7 points with 2 rebounds and 3 assists.  Trey Barnes scored 6 points on two 3 pointers to go with 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist.  Nathan Spitler knocked down 4 points with 5 rebounds.  Forest Landa scored 3 points on a banked in three pointer.  (counted no matter how it looked)   Forest also had 1 rebound, 4 steals, and 2 assists.  Caleb Robinson scored 2 points with 5 rebounds and 1 assist.  Caleb stepped in when Nathan got into foul trouble and played outstanding, especially since it was his second game of the day.  Mitch Moore scored 2 points with 1 assist even though he played only one minute before leaving with a sprained ankle.

MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENS RECORD, DEFEATS FIRST ASSEMBLY

Arborbrook 30 – First Assembly 17

The Falcons middle school evened their record for the season at 6-6 with a solid victory over First Assembly.   The Falcons never trailed in the game and won every quarter behind a stingy defense.  An aggressive zone defense forced First Fletcher to shoot over the top which allowed the Falcons to dominate the boards for the first three quarters.  Joel VanDusen and Kyle Boutross got the Falcons started in the first quarter with two baskets each to build an 8-4 lead.  Caleb Robinson came alive in the second quarter with 4 points and Matthew Pedemonte added a basket to give the Falcons a 14-8 half time lead.  The Falcons scored 6 more points in the 3rd quarter but held First Assembly to only a single free throw.  Matthew and Kyle provided the scoring punch and the lead was 20-9 heading into the fourth period.  The Falcons would put 10 points on the board in this quarter lead by Caleb Robinson with 6 points.  Matthew added 2 free throws and Joel scored from underneath the basket.  The Falcons controlled the game in every area and played with a confident attitude.  It was a good win and a perfect way to end their home season.

For the Record:  Caleb Robinson scored 10 points for the Falcons while pulling down 5 rebounds with one assist.  Matthew Pedemonte controlled the game from the point guard position while scoring 8 points with 2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.  Matthew and Caleb hooked up with several nice passes underneath the basket.  Matthew is starting to see the floor better every game.  Joel VanDusen played his best all around game of the year.  Joel scored 6 points but was outstanding on defense and a force on the boards pulling down a team high 9 rebounds.  Joel also came up with 2 steals.  Kyle Boutross scored 6 points with 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.  Kyle is probably the most dangereous player on the floor with the most natural ability when he plays under control.  Ryan Brown pulled down 3 rebounds.  Richard McFall grabbed 1 rebound.  Jonathan Spitler came up with 1 steal.

This Week’s Game Schedule

TUESDAY
3:30pm — Boys MS vs. First Assembly @ Southbrook
4:45pm — Girls HS vs. First Assembly @ Southbrook
6:00pm — Boys HS vs. First Assembly @ Southbrook

WEDNESDAY
5:00pm — Boys MS vs. Berean Academy @ Berean Academy

FALCONS LOSE GAME BUT WALK OFF COURT AS CHAMPIONS

Queens Grant 103 – Arborbrook 19

Two teams met at the Southbrook gym last night.  It was an obvious mismatch before the opening tip off.  One team played to the glory of God, the other team, not so much.  One team walked off the court with their heads held high and the look of champions while the other team proved what is wrong with sports in today’s world.  I was so proud of one team for the way they finished and the attitude they maintained.  I would have been embarressed to be associated with the other team.  I was so impressed with the Arborbrook fans that  shouted “ARBORBROOK – ARBORBROOK – ARBORBROOK and stamped the bleachers when their team was trailing by 80 points.  This was a difficult game for the fans and the parents.  This was a difficult game for the coaches who couldn’t waive the white flag or ask the other coaching staff what they thought they were doing.  But, this was especially difficult for the players who kept on going.  Who played through it when it would have been easier to quit.  God builds charater in so many different ways.  Anyone who was at the Southbrook gym last night left the court as a different person.  God’s message got through to some, and some it did not.  Parents, you have raised some fine sons.  I am proud of each and every one of them as I know you are.  Guys,  what you experienced last night and the way you responded will help mold you into the man you will someday become.  You did good.

FALCONS FALL TO LAKE NORMAN

Lake Norman 36 – Arborbrook (MS) 26

The Falcons (5-6) middle school started out slow and could never recover in a 36-26 loss to a good shooting Lake Norman team.  The Falcons normally start out slow and this time they dug an 11-0 hole before Ryan Brown got us on the board with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.  We took only six shots in the first quarter and never got into a good offensive flow because of the numerous turnovers.  The Falcons settled down in the second quarter and started shooting good open shots that seemed to rim out.  Lake Norman is a very good shooting team and did not take nearly as many shots but knocked down the ones they did and extended the lead to 14.   Ryan Brown banked in a 3 pointer from the cornor and Joel VanDusen hit a shot from just left of the lane to trim the Lake Norman lead to 11 points at half time.  Trailing 20-9, coach felt we had played them even in the second quarter and could make our move in the third.  Our goal was to start out fast and cut the lead in half and win the game in the 4th quarter.  Sounds good but it didn’t work.  We once again started out slow in the third quarter with three straight turnovers and the Lake Norman offense beating us down the floor for two straight baskets.  Trailing by 15 we regrouped once again and controlled the flow of the game for the rest of the quarter with Caleb Robinson and Kyle Boutross providing the offense.  The score was 28-15 when the fourth quarter started and the Falcons became the team they can be.  Caleb Robinson made a power move to the basket,  Joel VanDusen grabbed a huge rebound and put it back in, Ryan Brown hit a 3 pointer from the cornor and followed with a 2 point shot from inside.  The defense played tough and created turnovers or held Lake Norman to one hurried shot.  It was now a 28-24 game and Lake Norman was feeling the pressure with 3 minutes to go.  As so often happens in sports, the momentum suddenly shifted when Lake Norman’s big guy scored on a rebound after a missed shot and then banked in a shot from the cornor to extend the lead to eight.  Ryan Brown would add two free throws but the Falcons would get no closer and went on to lose 36-26.  It was a good game.  We did not play well the first quarter and it probably cost us the game but Lake Norman is a good team and we played them better than even the rest of the way.  The players played hard and never gave up.  The fourth quarter run is the third time thay have done that this year.  We lost this one on the score board but won in every other area that we count.  So, we move on to the next game as the season is starting to wind down.

For the Record:  Ryan Brown scored 14 points knocking down 2 three pointers and hitting 4 of 8 from the free throw line.  Ryan also had 10 rebounds and 1 steal.  Caleb Robinson scored 6 points with 8 rebounds and 1 steal.  Joel VanDusen added 4 points with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.  Kyle Boutross scored 2 points with 6 rebounds and 1 steal.  Matthew Pedemonte pulled down 3 rebounds with 1 steal.  Conor Murdock came up with 1 assist.