Farmington

Farmington High boys hoops falls in district final

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Farmington High’s Chris Hare pulls down a rebound in a Class A district semifinal against West Bloomfield High. The Falcons won, but fell in the final to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Photo by Donna Agusti Farmington High’s Chris Hare pulls down a rebound in a Class A district semifinal against West Bloomfield High. The Falcons won, but fell in the final to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

The Farmington High boys basketball team was one win away from capturing its first district title since 1998, but just missed.

The Falcons fell to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 42-40 March 9 in double overtime.

“I thought they played great. Their effort was great. They executed the game plan, and it came down to what we had been speaking about all year long: We didn’t make free throws at critical times,” coach Terrance Porter said.

Coming into the season, Porter had a team of mostly new faces. The Falcons had one player that saw time from the previous year.

“Early on in the year, we gave away at least four games. So, it was a successful season, recordwise. We had a winning record, but early on we were still trying to mesh egos,” Porter said.

The Falcons finished 14-9 overall and 6-4 in the Oakland Activities Association Blue Division, playing their best basketball in mid-February.

“That was our whole intent and whole goal. We wanted to play our best heading into the tournament, and I think we accomplished that,” Porter said.

“I think it was defensively. The kids really started to buy into that, and we hung our hat on defending and rebounding to give ourselves a chance to compete and win every game.”

The coach added that the program will miss three key seniors next season.

“Chris Hare was our returning leading scorer, and he took on a leadership role this season. Down the stretch, he played big and carried us in that district final game,” Porter said of Hare, who averaged 14.7 on the season. “Bryan Green was our second-leading scorer. His toughness, and his will to win — he brought those off from the football field and onto the basketball court.

Chris Morgan was the team’s third-leading scorer.

“His ball handling and ability to score and defend was an added bonus,” Porter said.

The Falcons are losing seven seniors, but Porter believes the run this season can help start a new one next year.

“I think it’s something we can use as a barometer during workouts over the summer to show what we are capable of getting to and accomplishing,” Porter said. “Now we have to get over that hump.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.