Falcons Get Newsworthy

Last year was a lost year for Fillmore Central boys basketball.  There isn’t much news in a 0-27 season.  The first week of this year was already more eventful.  The Falcons welcomed in a new season by taking it to Cotter 94-56.  Zach Haugerud (24 pts, 4-6 threes, 8-14 FGs, 7 rebs) and Haidyn Gunderson (23 pts, 10-19 FGs, 11 rebs, 4 asts) became the first Falcons since 2015 (Trace Tollefson/Kiel Larson, Nick Mensink/Drew Tienter) to each top 20 points in a game.  Haugerud had 20 in the first.  Ian Shupe (9 pts, 8 rebs) helped.  Two nights later versus L/P, FC overcame deficits of 24-15 (first half) and 42-34 (second half).  They finished the first 13-3 (led 28-27 at halftime), the game 15-5.  Layups by Shupe (44-44) and Wyatt Breeser (46-44), plus two free throws by Gunderson (48-44) put FC up very late.  L/P’s Mach Diang then hit a three (48-47) with 5.5 left.  After a Haugerud free throw, with 0:00.6 seconds left, Cole Walters nearly hit a half-court game winning three.  It rimmed out and FC escaped 49-47.  Gunderson (14 pts, 10 rebs), Haugerud (12 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asts), and Shupe (8 pts, 12 rebs, 3 stls) led the way.  Frosh Buay Koak (15 pts, 13 rebs, 3 blks) led L/P.  FC then ended its week in Decorah for the Border Batttle, but couldn’t go from 0-27 to 3-0.  The Falcons led MFL Mar Mac (Monona, Farmersburg, Luana, Marquette, McGregor) 34-31 in second quarter before surrendering a 9-0 run.  MFL led 40-34 at intermission and started the third quarter 7-0 to lead 47-34.  FC got to within one twice, two once, and three thrice, but couldn’t get over the hump.  They fell 84-79.  Gunderson (28 pts, 14-18 FTs, 15 rebs, 7 asts), FC’s transfer newcomer, authored his third double-double in as many games.  Haugerud (13 pts), Carson Kiehne (12 pts, 3-5 threes, 5-7 FGs), Shupe (10 pts), and Grant Kennedy (9 pts, 6 rebs) helped.  FC’s starting five scored 72 of 79 points.  Cedrick Drahn (6’1” Sr. G) led MFL with a huge game (36 pts, 5-9 threes, 9-17 FTs, 13-18 FTs, 10 rebs, 7 asts).  FC is 1-0, 2-1.  Brady O’Connor’s group go from not winning a game last year to being the last unbeaten team (asterisk) in the county this year.