The runnin' Rams scored early and often in dishing out a 64-31 rout of their rivals the Falcons in a District
7-B boys' basketball game on Thursday.
Eleven of Loyola's 12 players scored, but it was the LSH defense that set the tone. The Rams switched from their full-court to half-court defense every three or four trips down the floor, Anderson said, and forced the Falcons into eight quick turnovers en route to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter.
Loyola didn't let up in the second quarter as Florence fell behind 37-14 at the break.
“The kids listened and tried really hard to do what we asked them,” Anderson said. “We're really proud of them right now. They are coming along way faster than they have in the past.”
The Rams, who hiked their record to 3-0, didn't allow the Falcons to score in the second quarter, until there were three minutes to halftime.
An overtime game and a victory over a Class A team at last weekend's Butte Central tournament helped prepare Loyola, Anderson said.
In showed in both teams' conference opener.
“That's the most important thing, get a conference win,” he said. “Last week was great but this is what we're playing for, for seeding and for tournaments.”
The Rams cruised in the second half. Junior forward Caleb DeGroot led all scorers with 16 points, including 14 in the second half.
DeGroot, who transferred from Frenchtown prior to this season, drew a lot of attention from his teammates and the Florence bench.
When asked what Loyola was doing so well, the Falcons second-year coach Sam Baerlocher pointed to Loyola's new forward.
“Well going out and finding the best 6-3 kid in the state and bringing him into the school,” he said. “We can't compete with that. It's hard, he's a good player.”
“There's nobody to match up with that size, they're already bigger than us and then you get a kid like that in, it's pretty tough to compete.”
“They went to a zone and we just got some really easy looks for him,” Anderson said. “He's in the middle of the paint and the kids are real unselfish. Adam (Hollenback) must have given him four or five quick looks.”
Next to DeGroot in scoring was junior Zach Balcom who scored 11 points - all in the first half - and ripped down nine rebounds.
Hollenback and sixth-man senior Mac Cuffe added nine points each.
For the most part the Falcons controlled the third quarter when Reid Baerlocher had four of his team-high 11 points. Loyola still outscored Florence 9-8, though.
Alex Mitchell scored five points in the second quarter to help keep Florence afloat in the first half.
“They're young, they don't have anybody out there that's really a returning starter,” said Baerlocher. “They work their butts off. They're good kids.
“With no recruits.”
Prior to the game starting Loyola's Dan Evans read aloud a letter drafted by both schools' student councils in an attempt to curb the recent bad blood between the athletic programs.
Florence 7 7 8 9 - 31
Loyola 19 18 9 18 - 64
FLORENCE - Reid Baerlocher 4-9 2-3 11, Quinton Hoff 1-5 0-0 2, Jack Finlay 0-0 0-0 0, Trevor Stoos 1-4 0-2 2, Damon Moe 0-2 0-0 0, Max Burns 0-2 0-3 0, Tyler Barham 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Mitchell 3-5 1-3 7, Wedge Warford 2-4 1-2 5, Spencer Burns 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Lind 1-1 0-0 2, Jeremy Stevens 0-1 1-3 1, Alex Westoo 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 12-34 6-18 31.
LOYOLA - Adam Hollenback 3-3 3-4 9, Caleb DeGroot 8-11 0-2 16, Billy Chilton 1-3 0-0 2, Luke Mitzel 2-5 1-1 5, Zach Balcom 4-6 3-4 11, Mac Cuffe 3-5 3-4 9, Michael Breza 2-2 0-1 4, Mike Brown 0-0 2-4 2, Peter Shaughnessey 0-2 0-0 0, Trevor Diehl 1-3 0-0 2, Dan Evans 1-4 0-0 2, Sam Sopko 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-45 12-20 64.
3-point goals - Florence 1-7 (Baerlocher 1-3), Loyola 0-6. Total fouls - Florence 17, Loyola 25. Fouled out - None. Technical - Florence: Damon Moe (ejected). Rebounding - Florence 17 (Stevens 3), Loyola 32 (Balcom 9, DeGroot 8). Turnovers - Florence 17, Loyola 12.
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