The goal on the first day of basketball season is to play on Saturday of the last day of basketball season, in the last game – the championship game. Florence didn’t quite make that goal; they ran into a team from the Rocky Boy Reservation that kept them out of the championship game. But they did finish on a winning note, taking third place at the Class B tournament in Great Falls with a victory over Shepherd.

Doing what they have done all season, the Falcons started slowly but patiently worked their way back into the consolation game. They trailed by as many as seven points in the first half but pulled within four at the buzzer.

“We made some adjustments,” said coach Sam Baerlocher of his Florence team. “Then we started hitting a few shots and that changed the tempo of the game.”

Although the two teams battled back and forth with at least nine ties in the game, Baerlocher said he felt his team was in control most of the second half. But he didn’t discount the threat the Mustangs could pose. They came into the Southern B Divisional as the third place team in their district. They finished second in the divisional tournament and outlasted both of the other teams from the south.

Florence took the lead for good late in the third quarter when Adam Greger made a steal and a lay up. Greger came off the bench to make 10 points in the game. Shepherd pulled within two points but then had a couple of players foul out. Free throws made the difference down the stretch. Florence didn’t make a field goal in the last two minutes of the game but made eight straight free throws for the win. Reid Baerlocher led all scoring with 22 points including going seven of nine free throws.

Brandon Lorensen puts up a hand against Rocky Boy’s JC Hawk during semi final action Friday night in Great Falls at the Class B state tournament. Jean Schurman photo

The action was very physical in Florence’s game against Rocky Boy. Here, Reid Baerlocher bears the brunt of a couple of Rocky Boy players. Jean Schurman photo

Florence 54, Shepherd 47

Florence – Alex Mitchell 6, Quinn Smith 7, Reid Baerlocher 22, Brandon Lorensen 9, Adam Greger 10.

Shepherd – Austin Harper 9, Jake Moshaben 4, Lee Hansen 8, Zach Edwards 10, Tanner Johnston 10, Kyler Houston 3, Austin Bies 1, Ben Mader 2.

Florence met the eventual state champions, Rocky Boy, in the semi finals on Friday night. With a partisan crowd on hand, Florence took and early lead and kept the crowd quiet, for a while. The Falcons lead by as many as nine points in the first quarter but the running and gunning by Rocky Boy took its toll. With Reid Baerlocher sitting on the bench after scoring often and early, Rocky Boy took advantage and extended their lead.

“It’s a tempo game and we just didn’t get the tempo taken care of,” said coach Baerlocher. “I watched them about three different times and we made them do different things. That’s exciting but we should have capitalized on that and we didn’t. They’re a good team.”

Rocky Boy went on to win, 74-54. Every time Florence started to get hot, Rocky Boys answered with a field goal or a free throw. It was only the second loss for Florence. Reid Baerlocher finished with 18 points.

Rocky Boy 74, Florence 54

Rocky Boy – Garrett LaFromboise 4, Jerod Parker 16, Eric Schildt 5, Leisen Oats 22, Lindsey Eagleman 3, Loren Standing Rock 8, J.C. Hawk 14, Allen Parisian 2.

Florence – Chris Benson 2, Alex Mitchell 6, Quinn Smith 7, Reid Baerlocher 18, Brandon Lorensen 12, Ross Mangun 2, Adam Greger 7.

With the loss, Florence had to get up early and play at 9:30 on Saturday morning in loser out action against Wolf Point. Coach Baerlocher wondered Friday night if his team would and could come back. He needn’t have worried. Florence came out on fire and built a lead that, although challenged, was never relinquished.

“It was an incredible battle,” said coach Baerlocher. “We went toe to toe. They have some great athletes.”

Florence defeated Wolf Point, 75-61

Florence 75, Wolf Point 61

Wolf Point – Jesse Driftwood 5, Mikel Weeks 14, Jordan Moran 10, Walker DeWitt 10, Zach Zilkoski 9, Matthew Weeks 3, Martin Weeks 4 , Alex Barr 5, Taylor Hanks 1.

Florence – Chris Benson 10, Alex Mitchell 12, Quinn Smith 13, Brandon Lorensen 18, Reid Baerlocher 12, Adam Greger 5, Adam Huot 1, Aaron Wood 2, Mike Finlay 2.

Florence defeated Columbus in their opening game of the tournament but they had to come from behind to do it. They trailed by seven points at the end of three quarters but rallied and stormed back to win, 41-39. Smith led the Falcons with 11points.

Florence finished their season with a 24-2 record.

Blue Devils lose out at state

It was a tough road for the Corvallis Blue Devils at the Class A tournament in Butte. They opened against the home team, Butte Central, on Thursday afternoon. Corvallis took an early lead and held it until the end of the third quarter. They pulled within two points but couldn’t get the ball to drop. Corvallis lost, 70-64. Riley Bradshaw had 24 points including nine from beyond the three-point line.

Coach Dave Bradshaw was proud of the way his team played and said that the teams in the tournament were very well matched.

“Both our games were close and it could have gone either way,” said Bradshaw.

Butte Central 70, Corvallis 64

Butte Central – Andy Ritter 9, Colin Hollow 12, Aschan Richards 4, Sean Ferrieter 4, Jonathan Richards 28, Phil Antonoli 2, Zach Kasperick 11.

Corvallis – Drew Zeiler 21, Tyler Tintzman 2, Rodee Anderson 13, Riley Bradshaw 24, Joel Connolly 4.

With the loss, Corvallis had to take on Billings Central in loser out action Friday afternoon. The Blue Devils led for three and a half quarters before Billings Central took the lead with a couple of minutes remaining. But Corvallis couldn’t match up with the Rams’ big guys under the basket and lost, 57-55. Corvallis finished their season with a 14-8 record.

Billings Central 57, Corvallis 55

Corvallis – Drew Zeiler 12, Tyler Tintzman 6, Rodee Anderson 8, Riley Bradshaw 22, Joel Connolly 2, Colby Henderson 5.

Billings Central – Kevin O’Brien 24, Connor Cunningham 8, Cole Cattelan 2, Jacob Stanton 8, Connor Novakovich 12, John Heger 3

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