Guys stumble, gals rumble; Both to holiday tourneys
By Pete Mohr | December 17, 2008
CSHS – “He knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sakes!” Had not the Hoop Guys erupted for a 92-48 home whuppin’ of the Apache Junction Prospectors, Monday evening, Dec.15, Head Coach Dirk Walker might well have filled their Christmas stockings with ashes and switches! The Falcons head to Horizon’s tournament this Thursday at 5-3 (1-1 Region).
But their week of Nov. 8 was not pretty. Tuesday, Nov. 9, vs. Buckeye, the Falcons, down by 24 midway through the 3rd period, put together a furious comeback that sent the “Birds Nest” into an exultant frenzy when Tri-Captain Elijah Knox, with only six seconds left on the clock, drained a “three” from the right side for an 89-88 lead! Alas, the too-emotional Falcs slept on the Hawks’ inbound play, giving up a buzzer-beating lay-up that left them deflated, 89-90. Say it wasn’t so, ‘Birds!
The next night, at ‘Slope, the Falcons (and a to-be-congratulated road crowd) were treated to “The Royce Wooldridge Show.” The Vikings’ “pure -shooting” junior, son of NBA alumnus Orlando Wooldridge, scored Slope’s first 15 points on every shot in the doggone book; accounted for 33 of the Vikes 38 1st half points; and scored the last six of his 48 points in the 4th quarter after the Falcs had drawn respectably close at 44-52. With the Falcons fouling for possession, ‘Slope went six-for-six from the line to secure their 66-54 victory.
Friday evening, in Barrett Gym, was the loss that hurt most. Spotting the visting Chappies an 11-0 lead, the ‘Birds fought back to trail by only three at the half, 28-31. They lollygagged through a ho-hum 3rd, but cranked it up again in the 4th, only to see David Byrne’s try for his 5th “trey” bounce off the rim, 57-59. Four Chappie FTs sent the ‘Nest home unhappy, 57-63. Byrne had 19 for the night, with Tri-Captain Andrew Stauth the only other Falcon in double figures with 12.
Meanwhile … back at The Ryan Pletnick Ranch … the Lady Falcons were upping their regular season record to an unbeaten 7-0: Nov. 9, demolished (A) Buckeye, 66-24; Nov. 10, greased (H) ‘Slope, 64-26; and on Nov. 12, avenged (A), 64-42, their last season’s embarrassment at Chaparral. Nov. 15, the long ride to “A.J.” must’ve taken its physical toll as the Ladies eased off to a 52-41 verdict. “We came out flat,” Coach Pletnick diplomatically explained.
The Girls will play at Centennial’s after-Christmas Tournament (Dec. 27 and 29-30), with Falcon Boys hosting the annual “Great Desert Shootout.” Next regular schedule home games: Guys, Tuesday, Jan. 13 (Shadow Mountain); Girls, Tuesday, Jan. 6 (McClintock).
“Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down Falcon Lane!” “Crow” sez, “Merry Christmas, everyone!”