Faribault Boys Basketball Falls to Byron in Competitive Game
The Faribault Falcons boys basketball team never led tonight in a 65-57 loss to the Byron Bears. However Falcons Head Coach Eric Hildebrandt had to be pleased with the hustle of his team.
Faribault was down double digits midway through each half and rallied back both halves to make it a competitive game. Byron is a physical, very good defensive team. The Bears attacked the basket for layups repeatedly to start the game.
Coach Hildebrandt took a few timeouts in the first half I assume to talk more about the defensive end of the floor. The first half Faribault comeback appeared to be ignited by a charge taken by sophomore Alex Sullivan. Prior to that Byron seemed to get layup after layup.
The Falcons made it a one possession game late in the first but trailed 30-24 at the half. The same situation happened in the second half. The Bears tried to send Faribault into hibernation but it was a 5 point game with a couple minutes to go. They had to foul late and Byron junior guard Jake Braaten kept the ball in his hands so he could cash in at the free throw line.
Braaten was 6 for 6 from the line in those final couple minutes finishing the game with 24 points. 14 of them on layups or runners in the lane. 8 points from the free throw line in 10 attempts.
6'8 Byron center sophomore Ahjahy Lee had to record double digit rejections in the game to go along with 8 points and double digit rebounds. Lee has some hops and if he hits the weights and gets stronger look out.
The Bears had two players come off the bench to score 10 points each. Sophomore 6'1 Trent DeCook and Sophomore 6'3 Jaxon Marine.
Faribault had 4 players score double digit points. Senior 6'5 Abdi Abdullahi had 14. Senior Evan Larson and junior John Palmer had 13 points each. Sophomore 6'1 Hunter Nelson finished with 10 points. Nelson joined Abdullahi and Palmer for our State Farm Faribault agents Faribault players of the game.
Larson earned the Malecha's Auto Bpdy Crunch Time Defender of the game. He receives a certificate for the recognition and qualifies for a $2,000 scholarship to be awarded by Malecha's through a drawing at the end of the school year.
Faribault fell to 2-17 with the loss while Byron is now 13-9. The Bears are 3-0 against section opponents. Both of Faribault's wins came against section opponents.
Byron is at Stewartvillle Tuesday with varsity scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. start. The Falcons host Winona Tuesday night with varsity scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
POWER 96 Radio, 95.9 FM will broadcast the girls game in Winona Tuesday beginning 7:15 p.m. if it's on time.
On KDHL Jarred Becker will broadcast the Kenyon-Wanamingo boys game at Triton. Coverage starts at 7:00 p.m.