The Falcon boys basketball team had an equally long day Saturday, made more so by a season-high tendency to turn the ball over. And over again.

South Whidbey lost 47-41 to the Friday Harbor Wolverines, despite senior Chad Anderson’s stand-up three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Maybe it was the ball. Falcon junior CJ Baker reported the team didn’t realize they were using the wrong ball until the first half was over; the team took the court with a girls basketball. (A boys basketball is 29.5 inches in circumference; for girls it’s 28.5 inches.)

Then again, maybe not.

“None of us noticed, although it probably didn’t matter,” Baker said.

“We didn’t play with the sense of urgency that was needed to be successful,” Falcons Coach Andy Davis said.

“Friday Harbor played with much more effort on the boards and generated much of their offense off second shots.”

Once again, costly turnovers spelled doom for a promising Falcon offense — 17, to be exact — that translated into 10 easy points for the Wolverines.

Veteran Wolverines Brock McNairy and Tommy Fowler delivered down the stretch, steadied the pace, and helped the Wolverines cling to a 6-point lead through most of the final period.

Key contributions from first-year starters and several players making their varsity debut provided the momentum Friday Harbor needed to defeat the visiting Falcons.

Coach Davis said the game was tight to the end, but “a couple of breakdowns late cost us a chance at the victory.”

He admitted the team showed precious little ammunition on its inside game.

“We didn’t come out with enough intensity and gave up too many offensive rebounds,” junior Blake Blakey said.

“We dropped the ball on defense in the second half. It was disappointing because they were certainly beatable,” Blakey said.

Chad Anderson led the offense with 16 points and Eric Stallman contributed 11.

The coach noted Adam Hosmer led in rebounds with six and played with great effort the entire game.

Hosmer was realistic in his evaluation of the loss.

“In my opinion, we could have shown a lot more effort. There were too many turnovers early and the other guys were quick to take advantage,” he said.

Hosmer admitted that it is taking time to coalesce better as a team.

“We’re getting more used to each other and its’ coming together. We’re only losing Chad next June and I think we’ll be tough to beat in the years ahead,” he said.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, the boys head north again to face the Coupeville Wolves.

Scott Rasmussen of the Journal of the San Juan Islands contributed to this report.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.