The Lady Falcons basketball team split its final pair of matches for the regular season, besting Payson early last week before going on to lose a close match-up versus Salt River.

The girls took on Payson again in the sectional tournament yesterday, Feb. 5. Results of that game were not available at press time. If victorious, the Falcons will go on to play their next opponents this Friday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. That game will be hosted out of Valley Vista High School.

Payson

The week started on a high note for the Lady Falcons as the team from Fountain Hills went on to beat the Payson Longhorns 50-40 Tuesday evening, Jan. 29.

According to head coach Mandy Baca, however, the Longhorns weren’t the Falcons’ only opponent that evening.

“Battling the flu and injury, we were able to squeak out a road win,” Baca said.

“We got off to a slow start but had an excellent second quarter picking up intensity defensively and began looking inside to our bigs.”

Down 10-9 after the first quarter, the Falcons carried bounced back in a big way to carry a 30-18 lead into halftime.

Play remained steady through the second half with the Falcons going on to claim a 50-40 win.

Natalie Stilwell scored six of her eight points during the second quarter from the free throw line, going eight for nine on the night.

All told, Stilwell grabbed 14 points on the night with Brooke Yost shooting 12 and Ashlin Caltabiano scoring 11.

Salt River

Game two on the week saw the Falcons back on the road for the final game of the regular season, going on to lose a close competition against Salt River.

“This was a very physical game,” Baca said.

“We had a good effort but came up short offensively, having trouble executing in the first half.”

The Falcons were out in front 13-11 after the first quarter, but fell behind 28-20 by the half.

Play remained deadlocked through the third with Salt River leading 38-30. The Falcons made a last-ditch run in the fourth but came up shy, losing 52-47.

“Salt River is a good squad,” Baca said.

“This game, even though it goes in as a loss, is great preparation heading into post-season play.”