We don’t want to say that Freedom was worried about Avonworth’s Mitch Locher, but they did position pretty much their entire squad between Locher and the ball, and with good reason. Locher scored 26 points in this game, and had just scored his 1,000th career point. Despite his efforts, however, the Antelopes lost a close one to Freedom. His 1,000 point achievement created another family basketball dynasty at Avonworth, where older sister Morgan did the same for the Lady ’Lopes. The Lochers now join the three Costa sisters in Antelope sports history.
Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen
By JIM RUMBLE
Although it was a good week of basketball for the Avonworth boys’ team in terms of wins, that was offset by the team's fourth consecutive section loss when they hosted Freedom this past Tuesday.
The'Lopes, who led to start the fourth quarter, went scoreless for a good bit of the final six minutes on their way to a disappointing 66-61 loss.
"I don't think it was anything they [Freedom] did. We missed a lot of lay-ups and our foul shooting wasn't good again," said coach Dan Bradley.
Avonworth fell behind early in the opening quarter as Freedom connected on three shots from the perimeter to take an 8-0 lead. Shane Sommers got the 'Lopes on the board with a 3-pointer and then a fast break score to put the score at 8-5.
The Buldogs moved ahead 10-5 before Mitch Locher hit on two consecutive shots to cut the Antelopes’ deficit to one.
Freedom drove the lane for another score, but Matt Kujawinski's transition basket and a free throw by Conor O'Donnell had the teams tied at 12-12. The Bulldogs finished the quarter with a 4-0 run to take a 16-12 lead.
Avonworth got a score inside by O'Donnell and a pair of free throws by Locher to claim their first lead at 16-15 early in the second quarter. Freedom scored a basket to reclaim the lead before O'Donnell, Kujawin-ski and Locher scored in a 6-0 run to put the 'Lopes up 22-18.
The Bulldogs fought back to a tie when Coby Croft's 3-pointer gave the Antelopes their last lead of the quarter at 25-22. Freedom outscored Avonworth through the remainder of the quarter to lead at the half 33-31.
The teams continued to battle back and forth, with five lead changes in the third quarter. Kujawinski's 15-footer put Avonworth ahead 37-35, but the Bulldogs answered from long range to take a 38-37 lead. Dan Coulter connected on a 3-pointer to put Avonworth back in front and when Locher converted a 3-point play on the 'Lopes' next possession, their lead was 43-38 with 2:14 left in the quarter. Freedom responded with an 8-2 run that included another basket by Coulter that would give the lead back to the Bulldogs 46-45 with a minute left in the period. Locher's baseline jumper gave Avonworth a 47-46 lead to end the third quarter.
The Antelopes began the fourth quarter with a 5-2 run but then went dead offensively. Locher's basket inside, a pair of free throws by O'Donnell and a free throw by Brian Vales had Avonworth leading 52-48 with nearly five and a half minutes remaining. The Antelopes would not score again until Kujawinski's 3-pointer with :30 left on the clock broke a 13-0 Freedom run that had the 'Lopes behind 61-55.
Avonworth was able to cut their deficit to three before the Bulldogs closed with two free throws to secure their 66-61 win.
Locher finished with 26 points, followed by Kujawinski with 9 and O'Donnell and Coulter with 7 points each.
On Friday, Jan. 21, the 'Lopes won a non-section game at Riverview 69-52.They followed that game with a win the next day at Trinity Christian, 68-49.
In that game Locher, following in his older sister Morgan's footsteps, reached the 1,000 point mark of his career.
