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With the regular season winding down, Public League teams are gearing up for the playoffs.
The Furness Falcons, on the other hand, are simply happy to have won their first Public League game in a very long time. The last league win came Feb. 10, 2004, when they defeated GAMP, 60-51.
"I knew it was long, but I didn’t know how long," Dave Connelly, Furness boys’ basketball coach, said.
After losing 27 straight Public League match-ups, the Falcons have a reason to celebrate – Monday’s 54-46 victory over Franklin Towne Charter.
"The kids were excited to finally crack the ice and win a league game," Connelly said. "Franklin Towne Charter had some good three-point shooters, who kept them in the game. We mixed it up on defense, and we penetrated easier hitting open shots and we’re more patient on offense."
Leading 39-37 after three quarters, Furness outscored Franklin Towne Charter 15-9 in the game’s final eight minutes to secure the win. Junior guard Robert Antrom led the home team with 19 points, while senior forward Malik Tappe added 18.
Furness went into Tuesday’s game at West Philly looking to make it two straight wins, but the visitors struggled to muster much offense in the 74-35 defeat.
THE FALCONS OPENED the season Dec. 14 with a 50-41 non-league win over Kensington. One day later, the team lost to Central, beginning a string of defeats.
But the squad had other chances to win, like the Jan. 24 contest against Bok that was decided in the final seconds. Bok took the win, 80-79. Furness missed four key foul shots – which would’ve sealed a victory – in the final five seconds. Instead, Bok senior James Jones made two clutch foul shots to give his team the win.
Furness also came close Jan. 5, but lost, 65-62, in overtime to Roxborough. Furness was outscored 6-3 in the final period.
The close ones can drive a coach to distraction, but Connelly tries to keep things positive by praising the team’s efforts. At practices, he stresses the importance of following up missed shots, boxing out underneath the basket and getting open.
"The kids play hard, but we need to do the little things better" he said. "It’s about putting 32 minutes together and we haven’t done that."
Part of the problem is inexperience. Connelly has five seniors in rotation, but they are first-year varsity players.
"It’s tough on the first year of varsity to do well," he said. "You need a stepping stone like junior varsity to move up."
Connelly said 5-foot-8 senior guard Dwayne Wilson put forth a solid effort all season.
"He works real hard and shows a lot of guts," he said. "He has no problem stepping in the path of kids three times his size."
Juniors Quieron Abbott, Robert Antron and Bashir Brooks are a few of the other athletes the coach said have put forth strong efforts. But the Falcons final three games will be tough, as Martin Luther King, University City and Germantown all have winning records.
Now that the Falcons have a victory by doing the little things right, Connelly hopes his players take the same approach in the final three games.
"When we do the things we are supposed to do, good things happen," he said.
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA WILL still be well represented during the upcoming playoff season as Southern, Bok and Prep Charter all entered the week in qualifying positions. Southern will play in the AAAA bracket; Bok, in the AAA bracket; and Prep Charter, in the A bracket. Bok and Prep Charter won Public League District 12 titles last season and advanced to the state tournament.
On the girls’ side, the Prep Charter Lady Huskies are looking to make a return trip to states.
All playoff action gets under way later this month.
