Falcon GBB Has a “Free”-For-All

One sure fire way to make it hard for an opponent to beat you, is to make it so said opponent’s best players aren’t on the floor the last few minutes of the game.  In two holiday contests, FC girls basketball fouled out seven of ten of their opponents’ starters.  The Falcons had a free-for-all at the free throw line, shooting 98 total freebies!  Using a combination of speed and strength, the Falcons picked up two wins.  Versus Houston (winners of four straight), the foul and free throw spectacle began.  The ‘Canes were perpetually in foul trouble.  Four of five starters took a seat early (very early).  Houston was up most of the first half, but FC went 10-0 to end the stanza to lead 30-26 at intermission.  They then never trailed in posting a 63-43 win.  The Falcon starting five of, strong interior presence Kandace Sikkink (15 pts, 12 rebs), shooter Madison Scheevel (14 pts, 3-8 threes), speedsters Paige Donlinger (12 pts, 10-20 FTs, 5 rebs, 4 stls), Emma Breitspecher (10 pts, 11 rebs), and Kassidy Broadwater (6 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 6 stls), out-quicked and over-powered Houston.  Alyssa Rostad, the only ‘Cane starter to not fouled out, scored a game-high (20 pts, 7-12 FTs, 7 rebs).  Sister Becca Rostad added 12 points.  FC went 24 of 49 from the free throw line (Houston 31 fouls).  The ‘Canes were 12 of 21 from the free throw line (FC 18 fouls).  A night later, FC did the same thing to M-C.  The Cougars were in perpetual foul trouble, three starters eventually leaving early.  A 24-20 FC halftime lead gave way to a controlling second half, lead growing as high as 17 (56-39).  Levi Olstad’s Falcons prevailed 64-55.  Sikkink powered her way inside to a career high (21 pts, 13-16 FTs, 16 rebs).  Donlinger (13 pts), Broadwater (10 pts, 7 stls), and Scheevel (8 pts) helped.  Maddy Michels (12 pts, 6 rebs), Payton Danielson (11 pts, 10 rebs), and Lexi Thorson (9 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts) led the Cougars.  The Falcons again shot 49 free throws, making 31 (M-C 29 fouls).  The Cougars went 4 of 9 (FC 16 fouls).  The Falcons improve to 4-2, 7-4.