By JIM RUMBLE

It was a tough week of basketball for the Avonworth Antelopes, a week that involved teams heading in the opposite direction as the regular season winds down.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, the 'Lopes hosted Quaker Valley, a Top 10 team and the section's second place team, and were defeated 75-33. The following day the Antelopes hosted Beaver Falls, another Top 10 team and the section leader, and were defeated 83-61.

Against the Quakers, the 'Lopes struggled to find their rhythm on offense while Quaker Valley seemed to be firing on all cylinders, especially from long range, where they connected on 10 3-pointers on the night.

"They're good -- they're deep -- they're big, and they didn't have two starters," said coach Dan Bradley, commenting on the Quakers’ loss of two players.

Avonworth's only lead came early in the first quarter with consecutive baskets by Coby Croft and Matt Kujawinski that put the Antelopes ahead 4-0. That seemed to be a wake up call for Quaker Valley, who stepped up their play defensively then fired up the offense and jumped to a 12-4 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Croft connected on a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, but the Quakers picked up where they left off on offense, putting together an 11-0 run that ended with a free throw by Ryan Scherling that had the Antelopes trailing 23-8 with 5:13 remaining in the quarter.

Kujawinski, Conor O'Donnell and Dan Coulter added baskets in the period, but Quaker Valley tacked on 15 more points to extend their lead.

The Quakers were 10-14 from the field, including five 3-pointers in the second, as they led 38-14 at the half.

Avonworth's top scorer, Mitch Locher, finally got on the scoreboard with a pair of free throws in the third quarter, but continued to labor from the field. Brian Vales registered his only basket in that time, but the Quakers utilized a 10-0 run in the middle of the period that helped push them to a 58-22 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Locher scored 7 points in the final period, five of those coming at the stripe, but Quaker Valley outscored Avonworth 17-11 to put the final at 75-33.

Locher finished with 9 points, Kujawinski with 8 and Croft with 7.

In their game against Beaver Falls, which was a make-up game from last month, the Antelopes hung with the Tigers through a good bit of the first quarter until the visitors began to create some separation with a run at the end.

Locher's 4 points, along with 4 by O'Donnell and a free throw by Scherling, had the 'Lopes trailing 11-9 when the Tigers scored three consecutive baskets inside to lead 17-9 when the period ended.

Kujawinski led Avonworth offensively in the second quarter with 7 points, but Beaver Falls kicked their offense into high gear and began to broaden their lead. The 'Lopes were outscored 37-19 in the quarter as the Tigers led at the half 54-28.

Give the Antelopes credit for not folding as they began to trade baskets in the third quarter. Beaver Falls managed to maintain their edge, out-scoring Avonworth 14-13 to lead 68-41 going into the fourth quarter.

The 'Lopes continued to compete in the final quarter, as Locher led the way offensively with 9 points. Vales added 5 points which, along with 4 by Shane Sommers and a basket by Coulter, allowed the Antelopes to outscore the Tigers 20-15 to put the final score at 83-61.

Avonworth is scheduled to play at Beaver Falls in their second meeting of the season today at 7:30 p.m.