B&B Lady Falcons Basketball

Soaring out on top yet again are the Lady Falcons of B&B after winning the volleyball State title this year the ladies followed that up with a 1A-DII State title in basketball, capping off a 24-3 season.

It was a true team mentality that got provided the success for the Falcons throughout the season as Coach Roger Schmelzle took over for the final year for the school. Throughout the year multiple girls stepped up providing key contributions for Falcons success.  

Looking for a return trip to State the B&B Falcons had a battle on their hands with Axtell in the Sub-State championship game and needed a buzzer beating shot by Ashley Schmitz to secure the 40-38 win and the trip to Hays.

In Hays it was the defense that the Falcons rode to the State championship as they held their three opponents to 35.5% field goal percentage (44-124) and 25.8% from three-point land (8-31) while forcing 44 total turnovers, snatching 28 steals and out rebounding opponents by 30 (112-82). The most impressive defense perhaps was the fact the Lady Falcons held their opponents to nine points of less in eight of the 12 quarter of action at State, while outscoring their opponents 107-55 in those quarters.

B&B Falcons came into the State tournament as the top seed and played the eight seeded Attica Bulldogs in the opening round and grinded out a 51-35 win. The Lady Falcons held Attica to 33.3% from the floor (14-42) and just 4-14 from three-point land while forcing 17 Bulldog turnovers and winning the rebounding battle by 24. The offense for the Falcons only shot 36.9% but had three gals score double figures with 12 points from Cassidy Husling and Katie Huerter, both and a double-double from Laura Sudbeck who posted 11 points and 12 rebounds. Fellow senior, Nicole Sudbeck set the tone early for the Falcons off the bench with a strong seven points and six rebounds in the contest.

Moving on into the semifinals the Falcons took on the Dighton Hornets, the offensive struggles continued for B&B as the shots just wouldn’t fall and Dighton took the 22-16 lead into the half. Starting the second half the Falcons went into lock down mode on defense and B&B outscored Dighton 24-15 in the second half, to come back and win 40-37. The Falcon defense once again stifled the Hornets holding them to 33.3% shooting percentage, 2-9 from three-point land and forcing 12 Dighton turnovers. The Falcons offense shot only 37% from the floor but was 8-14 from the free throw line and was led by Laura Sudbeck who posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while Huerter added nine points.

With two wins in books the Falcons moved one win shy of the schools third girls basketball State title and the Golden Plains Bulldogs stood in the way. B&B flew out of the gates quick and established control of the game stymieing the Bulldogs offense holding them to just 20 points in the first three quarters of action providing B&B a cushion early as the offense was clicking and the Falcons cruised to the 59-40 win. The defense stepped up again holding Golden Plains to 40.5% shooting (15-37) and forced 15 Bulldog turnovers, while out rebounding the Bulldogs 26-17. While on offense the shots started to fall for the Falcons with regularity shooting 51.2% (21-41) from the floor, 14-17 from the free throw line and had 13 assists on 21 made buckets.

The duo of Huerter and Ashley Kramer in the backcourt paced the offense with 19 and 17 points, respectively, while Laura Sudbeck added 12 points and eight rebounds in the State Championship.

Defensive prowess of the Falcons was displayed throughout the State tournament and the year as they held opponents to 40 points or less 20 times during the year and were 19-1 in those games.

Throughout the season everyone contributed in many ways as the Falcons starting five was steady with Huerter, Kramer, Laura Sudbeck, Hulsing and Ashley Schmitz. While, Nicole Sudbeck and Jenna Macke both came off the bench with regularity for the Lady Falcons. Gals like Megan Sudbeck, Bailey Schmitz, Theresa Koch, Kaley Dalinghaus and Erin Schmitz all year were there when called upon doing whatever was needed for the Falcons, while Coach Roger Schmelzle and his assistant coach, Abby Stueve put the pieces in the right place for the Lady Falcons.

The Falcon Legacy grew with one final team State Championship in school as the B&B Lady Falcons flew out on top yet again this season.