FLOWERY BRANCH — Tunnel vision was so strong for the Flowery Branch boys basketball team Saturday night they had no idea what they had actually done until it was all over.
“I didn’t know anything about that until (athletic director) Jimmy Lawler told me after the game. Our focus was just on that one game, nothing else,” Flowery Branch coach David Sokol said Monday in retrospect.
What the Falcons accomplished -- a thrilling 45-44 win over Villa Rica in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs -- had not been done since 2008 when they advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals with wins over Jackson-Atlanta and Sandy Creek. They later fell to Dunwoody in the quarterfinals.
Sokol didn’t try to downplay the significance of the victory for the program. However, he said they were treating it like just another game.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s great for these kids who have just worked so hard and done everything we’ve asked of them. I’m elated for them to be the ones to end that kind of a streak.
“But we came into the playoffs trying to win and we really had no idea about not having won (a playoff game) since that far back. To us we were just getting ready for the next game.”
Despite posting a solid 17-11 record coming into the playoffs in a tough Region 8-AAAAA -- the reigning state champion (Buford) and state runner-up (Cedar Shoals) from 2017 both reside in 8-AAAAA -- the Falcons were probably not on many experts' radar to get past a 24-win Villa Rica team. But Sokol said that hard slate and a solid game plan executed to near-perfection, especially in the final minute, paid dividends.
“We felt like coming into the tournament that our schedule had prepared us. Playing teams like Buford, Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central, Gainesville, Mill Creek, Lanier we felt prepared for just about anything we would see in the playoffs,” Sokol said. “Villa Rica was very similar to Cedar and Clarke and we felt like we had a good game plan put together. The kids did a great job of executing what we wanted done.”
Still, the Falcons trailed the Wildcats 32-28 on the road heading into the fourth quarter. They then stared at a 44-41 deficit with under a minute to go. Flowery Branch, however, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by way of good old-fashioned fundamentals.
Senior Joey Nidoy, who averages just 4 points a game, started the jaw-dropping comeback, knocking down a long 3-pointer to tie the game with just under 30 seconds left. The Falcons defense then forced a wild Villa Rica 3-point attempt that bounced off the rim. Fellow senior Pateshko Lutumba, who had blocked out his man, was poised for the rebound and a chance to send it to overtime. Instead, he was fouled on an over-the-back call by the Wildcats with 1 second remaining.
“We ran a good play that got Joey open for a 3-pointer. He didn’t hesitate and he made the shot. Then, we played excellent defense on their final possession, forcing them to take the shot we wanted and (Lutumba) did a great job of getting position to get the rebound and then he got the foul call,” Sokol said.
But Lutumba still had work to do with the game tied at 44. It was probably was the biggest pressure moment of Lutumba’s high school career.
So what was the plan?
“Well, Lutumba went up there and calmly hit the first one dead on so we called a timeout,” Sokol said. “I told him to miss the second one because we didn’t want them to be able to set up something inside the half-court. He missed it exactly like we told him and (Villa Rica) didn’t have time to get anything off from full court.
“If (Lutumba) was nervous he didn’t show it. These kids have seen a lot in their time so I don’t know if there’s a moment they can’t handle. Of course, it all comes down to execution and they did a great job in the final minute.”
Now the Falcons will see if they can continue their unexpected trek in Class 5A, traveling to Region 5-AAAAA champion Lithonia (22-6) Thursday night for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
(NOTE: The Falcons' game at Lithonia will be broadcast live on WDUN AM 550/102.9 FM -- as will the Flowery Branch girls game at Lithia Springs at 6 p.m. Wednesday.)
The Bulldogs took out Banneker 57-49 in the first round but were forced to hold on after nearly letting a 20-point lead (42-22) slip away in the fourth quarter. Unlike Flowery Branch, the Bulldogs are no stranger to this point in the season. They made 2016 Class 4A semifinals in, the 2015 Class 4A Elite Eight, and the Class 5A quarterfinals last season.
Sokol said they will approach this round like they have every other game they have prepared for all season.
“We know we’re usually going to be undersized and probably not as quick as most of the teams we play so we just focus on what our strengths are and on execution,” he said. “Our strength is in how well we play together. These guys have grown up playing together and they play for each other. They are a very close-knit group.”
When pressed, Sokol said he wasn’t sure how their first round victory will help as far as confidence as they attempt to move forward.
“Honestly, this group has been pretty confident all year. That has been built every day in practice and these kids have practiced well all season,” Sokol said. “I’m sure getting a big playoff win on the road in the manner that they did can’t hurt. But I didn’t see anything different from them on the first practice back. You probably wouldn’t have guessed they just won their first playoff game by the way they just came to practice ready to work.”
The keys to the Falcons knocking off the Bulldogs reads like a basketball instruction manual.
“Rebound the ball, make shots -- especially on the perimeter -- don’t turn the ball over, play good defense,” Sokol said. “We’re not going to be able to swarm people with depth or speed or having a bunch of 6-foot-5 guys. We have to play fundamental basketball and execute.
“Lithonia is well-coached and athletic. They’re more of a half-court team, good rebounders, and play tremendous half-court defense from what I’ve seen on film. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge. But we have some things we feel we can do to keep them off-balance and we’re going to try to do that.”
Is there more history to be made in the coming weeks? A home game in the quarterfinals is possible with some help. They would have to win, get a Eagles Landing win over Warner Robins, and then win a coin flip.
“We’re not looking at or talking about any of that,” Sokol said. “Of course that would be fun but that won’t happen if we don’t focus on just Lithonia and nothing else. That’s our only thought right now.”
