Both South Whidbey varsity basketball teams rebounded Tuesday, but in unexpected directions. The Falcon boys overcame Archbishop Murphy by a thin 44-43 margin, while the girls dropped their match-up against ATM, 50-47.

The victory moved the boys out of the league cellar by two spots (to fifth) while the loss dropped the girls to fourth.

Only one 3A team can advance to districts. And with Cedarcrest two spots ahead, there is still a chance for the boys when they play the Red Wolves Jan. 31

Also that day, the girls welcome Cedarcrest — a win will almost guarantee a trip to Playoffville.

The Lady Falcons

Facing the 10th-highest rated 2A team in the state, the girls used what Coach John Pyrtek calls the “Princeton offense,” developed by Coach Pete Carill. The Falcons used a disciplined half court strategy where players get open on the pass and cut instead of dribbling.

Alas, though up 36-28 going into the fourth quarter, Wildcat guard Krista Ecknes made three straight treys — 13 points overall — and that made the difference.

“We were a heartbeat away from a classic league victory,” the coach said.

“Marcella Litwiller played her best defense of the year,” Pyrtek said.

Caitie Newman led scoring with 25 and 10 rebounds; Litwiller had 13 and 12 rebounds.

Tuesday, the girls welcome the Sultan Turks, 7 p.m. in Erickson Gym.

The boys

With a total 17 points off turnovers, the Falcons stunned ATM — and won their first Cascade Conference victory — with disciplined passing, theft on a grand scale and layup domination in the first and fourth quarters.

But at 44-43, it was definitely “A close run thing,” as Wellington famously remarked after Waterloo.

With Duncan Adams out with an illness, Chad Anderson led with 17 points, Josh Gulvin chipped in nine and Ian Ward had one of his best offensive games with eight. Freshman Chris Carey entered the fray and snagged four.

On Tuesday, the boys travel to Sultan, then prepare to greet the league-leading Lakewood Cougars on Jan. 20.