Several weeks ago, the Falcon basketball coach, Roy Vieux, predicted the team would play a part in the regional tournament. His prediction proved accurate, thanks in part to a late surge by the team.After defeating Woodland Park, the Falcons played the Liberty Lancers and bested them 79-71. All five of the Falcon starters scored in the double digits. Gabriel Jackson scored 19 points, with 15 rebounds and 10 steals, while Lewis Baumann scored 15; Eric Perez and John Kienast each scored 10 points. Junior Adam Link made the Gazette’s weekly honor role by scoring 24 points and making 11 blocks in the game.This strong finish earned the boys a spot in the regional playoffs. In the first round Feb. 26, the seventh-seeded Falcons hosted Pueblo County. The word “hosted” is arguable since the Falcons soundly defeated the Hornets 56-28. Coach Vieux even played some of his sophomore reserves. One of them, Paul Rotering, scored two three-pointers and six rebounds. “He’s a great all-around athlete,” Vieux said. “He’s just going to get better.”Despite their win, Vieux said the game was “sloppy.” However, after a timeout and a pep talk, they rallied.However, that was the end of the road for Falcon. Broomfield defeated the Falcons Feb. 28 79-54. The Falcons never led in the game, and Broomfield outscored Falcon in the fourth period 32-19. Broomfield also scored a devastating 85.7 percent of its free throws, compared to 66.7 percent by the Falcons.Lady Falcons also have a good finishThe Lady Falcons finished strong, defeating Liberty High School 60-48. The Falcon team looked more confident, outscoring Liberty 21-9 in the fourth period. Amber Wilmore scored 24 points in the game, and Kiah Hicks added 14. Wilmore also grabbed eight rebounds, while Hicks managed 10.The Lady Falcons entered the regional tournament as a fifth seed. On Feb. 27, they played the Mountain View team in front of a home crowd at the Falcon High School facility. During the first half, the Lady Falcons got into foul trouble and had difficulty making their shots, while the Mountain Lions, with two six footers, were methodical, outscoring Falcon 22-15. However, during the second half the Lady Falcons regained their composure and played a disciplined defense, tying the score in the third quarter. Then, they relentlessly pounded Mountain View to win 47-39. Seniors Wilmore, Schawe and Waskowsky each scored three-point field goals, while Anneliesa Rotering contributed eight points and dominated on defense as well. Coach Dennis Coates noted that this was the team’s first 4A tournament win.Unfortunately, the girls’ team also was defeated in the second round of the tournament.The Lady Falcons were beaten by Pueblo County on Feb. 29 by a score of 42-38. Amber Wilmore scored 21 points, but she and Kiah Hicks fouled out in the fourth, allowing the Hornets to outscore the Lady Falcons 9-1. Coach proud of wrestlers finishOn the wrestling scene, the Falcons lost in the preliminaries at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Feb. 23, although Zach Roscoe and Jose Cos made it into the second round. Jessie Brown lost his bout in overtime. Falcon’s wrestling coach, Andy Franko, said the guys had tough draws. “Two of their first-round matches were against state champions, and they lost three really tight matches,” Franko said. “But that’s the way it goes when you meet the best of the best. The boys did really well this year, and I am really proud of them.”One wrestler from Falcon who performed well at the state championships was Ethan Martinez. Although he’s a senior at St. Mary’s High School, Martinez and his family have been Falcon residents for several years. His father, Danny, and his uncle, Brian Martinez, are the wrestling coaches at St. Mary’s. Ethan won the 125 pound division at the championships. Boys spring sportsThe Falcons played their first varsity baseball game March 6, entertaining the Fountain-Fort Carson team at Falcon Middle School. It was a rugged first outing for both teams. The “boys of summer” were greeted by a temperature of 30 degrees and a blustery wind as they took the field. Coaches and spectators were bundled up in ski coats and stocking hats.The Falcons sent senior Travis Ewing to the mound. The veteran left-hander had control problems in the beginning, throwing low and inside. One batter had to jump backward to keep his knees from being hit, and the catcher was hard-put to corral the ball in his glove. However, Ewing soon found the strike zone and had nine strikeouts before darkness cut the game short in the sixth inning.The Falcons scored six runs in the third and fourth innings to support their pitcher and then brought home two more runs. They held the second-ranked Trojans to three runs to win 8-3.The teams will meet again March 8 at 4 p.m. in Fountain.Boys’ track and fieldIn other Saturday action March 8, the boys’ track and field season begins with School District 11 hosting a relay meet at Gary Berry Stadium. Falcon runners Kevin Johnson and Wes Rickman will compete in the distance relays. The pair recently returned from the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho, where Rickman won the 3,200 meter event. Johnson placed fourth in the same event.Girls’ spring sportsThe Lady Falcons are gearing up for their spring events. In track and field, Jessica Brungardt (shot put) and Katelyn Gatrost (400) are returning and expected to anchor the team.League play in girls’ golf will begin April 10 with the Marauder Invitational. There are four tournaments in the 4A Metro League season. Golfers count their scores from three of the four tournaments.Falcon has three returning golfers: Zoey Nunn, Lisa Shipley and Amanda Chemodurow. Joining them on the team are Lia Weaver and Sonia Roose.Basketball honorsAlthough basketball season is over, two of the Lady Falcons received honors. Amber Wilmore was named to the first team of the 4A Metro and will represent the Falcons when the 4A All-Stars take on the 5A All-Stars at 5:30 p.m. March 20 at Doherty High School. Kiah Hicks was named to the second team. In addition, Rose Waskosky and Keli Coffee will participate in the three-point contest at 4:30 p.m.
