The way the season began, it appeared Coach Don Bell’s A.C. Flora boys’ basketball team was in for a very long season. However, with strong showings over the past few weeks the Falcons have begun to rattle the rims and drop in winning baskets. Heading into this week they had improved to 8–9 and were second in Region 4–AAA.

In 2003–04, they finished 13–11 meaning they will have to make a strong run to duplicate that, but things are looking up.

Through this past Friday, over a six game stretch, Flora had won five games. Those included a 57–51 win over Camden. Junior guard Xavier Bovain was the leading scorer with 17 points followed by 15 from Eric Booker, a junior guard, and 13 from senior guard Jerome Caughman. The week ended with an ever–so–close victory, 54–52, when they tangled with Eau Claire. Booker notched in 17 points and Bovain drilled in 11.

“Xavier, Eric, and Jerome are all averaging scoring in double figures,” said Bell. “As long as they do that we are given a chance to win.”

Of course, as the team blends its talents, there are others who are contributing, such as Mo Holler, a sophomore forward, senior forward Kenny Bovain, Justin Hall, another sophomore, and senior Trip Rush.

Bell has a good core of returning players next year including juniors John Taylor, Demetrice Guinyard, Graham Davis, and Alex Coakley.

“The young guys like Bovain, Booker, Holler, Hall, and the others give us a very good core group for next year,” added Bell.

Among the positives that have made Flora a more effective force, aside from the athletic fields, courts and tracks are the high classroom standards.

“Academically, we’ve just exploded with the International Baccalaureate (I.B.) program,” Bell said. “We have some kids who are super students. There are very few schools in the state with the I.B. To even get into the program you have to meet a lot of high standards and the teachers have to go for training. It’s a diploma that’s given worldwide.”

Spring Valley High is the only other school in the area that offers the I.B.

Reverting to recent sports accomplishments, Bell said, “Flora has won the AAA boys’ tennis and golf state championships, won a baseball championship a couple of years ago. Overall, athletically, Flora has been in the top five in the state. That’s a real feather in your cap to get that.”