Chartiers Valley’s playmaker makes his shot
Eddie Flohr soars to the hoop during action against Peters Township. After scoring his 1,000th career point in a win against Upper St. Clair, the Chartiers Valley senior fired in 22 points during an 8-77 win against the Indians.
Eddie Flohr ranks among the leading scorers in the WPIAL. In addition to his 20-point average, he manages five assists a game.
Eddie Flohr considers himself a playmaker not a shot taker. So the fact he recently surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in his career at Chartiers Valley High School surprises and humbles him.
“It was a great accomplishment,” Flohr said. “Only 15 other players in the program have done it, so it’s an honor. But, I’m not really worried about me. It’s we. We are a team. I’m a point guard so I’m more into passing than scoring. I love to get the ball to my teammates. Hit the open man,” he added.
Five minutes into a Section 4-AAAA contest last week against Upper St. Clair, Flohr was that open man. In characteristic Colt fashion, he buried a 3-point field from a shade left of the top of the key for his milestone bucket.
“It was the best shot I had and it went down. Everybody was passing me the ball. I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” explained Flohr, who was pleasantly surprised when one of his friends immediately unveiled a T-shirt he had made for the occasion. It has Flohr’s photo on the front and his name and the number 1,000 emblazoned on the back.
“I didn’t know about that but it was pretty funny,” said Flohr. “Really, we wanted to get it out of the way and focus on winning the game.”
The Colts, indeed, won the game, dispatching the Panthers, 63-45, as Flohr dropped in 26 digits and his teammates, Ross Wilkerson and Joe Antonucci, pitched in 16 and 15 points.
“We wanted to take care of business because we were only one game away from clinching sole possession of first place in the section,” Flohr said. “That’s the most important thing.”
The Colts followed up the USC victory with an 80-77 triumph against Peters Township. Flohr fired in 22 points followed by Wilkerson’s 21 tallies and Antonucci’s 17 markers. Not only did the win avenge CV’s lone league loss, 77-71, back on Jan. 5, it sealed the Section 4-AAAA banner. Heading into games Feb. 2 and 5 against Mt. Lebanon (7-5, 13-6) and Moon (2-10, 6-13), the Colts owned an 11-1 section slate and a 15-4 overall mark. Baldwin clung to second place in the division with an 8-4 mark followed by Bethel Park and Lebo.
“We had that game (against Peters) circled on the schedule ever since they beat us at home,” Flohr said. “We went cold and we couldn’t get any buckets. They made all they shot and they played great defense. We did not but the last few weeks, we’ve played well and we’ve been focused.”
Since age 5, Flohr has focused on sports. While he excels as an infielder and a relief pitcher on the baseball team, he is being recruited to play basketball in college. Pitt-Johnston, Gannon and Bluefield State in West Virginia are interested in the soon-to-be 18-year-old’s talents. “I just like basketball better,” he explained.
Tim McConnell agreed. The Char Valley coach acknowledged Flohr is a talented baseball player. He recalled the days he was a catcher and his son, Matty, was a centerfielder on a 10-year-old state championship team. “He’s a good baseball player,” McConnell emphasized. “He has a good glove and a feel for the game, but Eddie loves basketball.”
Flohr’s family fueled that passion. His father, Ed, and his uncle, Bob, both played at CV, graduating in 1980 and 1983 respectively. “They have influenced me the most,” said the son of Kate Flohr. The Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Carnegie also played a pivotal role in his development, he added. Plus, he has played AAU basketball.
So, too, did the McConnell family. Tim serves as his high school coach. Matty enabled Flohr to develop his skills as a playmaker. Matty was a 2,000-point scorer at CV before heading to Robert Morris College this past fall. According to Flohr, he always played up an age division so he could play with Matty.
“Matty and I have played together since second grade. We grew up to be best friends. We knew each other and where each other was on the floor all of the time. I miss him. I miss getting the ball to him and setting him up for the shot,” continued Flohr. “I’ve been a point guard forever and he was a way better shooter than I was. So I looked to get the ball to him.
“And, I love playing for Coach McConnell. He knows how good I can be and he pushes me. He knows his players and he knows how to get the best out of them.”
Flohr is hoping the Colts’ best is yet to come. Since his freshman year, he has participated in three straight WPIAL title games, losing to Montour, 47-40, in 2013 and Central Valley, 70-69, in 2014 before beating NA in the 2015 final.
“Eddie has grown up in the system and he really has embraced his role,” McConnell said. “He wants to be the best point guard that he can be. He works and works. He really worked hard to improve his shot and that has taken him to the next level. Plus, his leadership skills are tremendous. He really gets us going. Eddie has a lot of energy. That and his work ethic are what makes him successful.”
Flohr indeed has been successful at the scholastic level. Last year, the all-section performer averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 assists and two steals a game. His 52 percent field goal conversion rate also enabled the Colts to capture a WPIAL title. He fired in 24 points, 20 in a second-half uprising, and dished up five assists as CV defeated North Allegheny, 78-67, in the Quad-A championship game at the Petersen Events Center. This year, Flohr ranks among the top scorers in the WPIAL. He averages 20 points per game. He continues to average five assists a game.
“We’ve gone to the finals the last three years and winning the WPIAL last year has been the highlight. We want to go back for one more because playing at the “Pete” is a great experience that you never forget.
“So winning back-to-back,” Flohr said. “That’s our goal. We do have a chance to make a run and win another WPIAL title because we play good all-around as a team and we are an unselfish ball club.”
After surviving section action, the Colts can expect to face stiff competition in the playoffs, particularly from Latrobe. At the start of the week, the Wildcats were 18-1 overall. The Section 1 leader lost, 72-57, last week (Jan. 26) at Norwin.
“Latrobe is a concern,” Flohr admitted. “But, I think we have a good chance to make a run (at a WPIAL title) and maybe to face off against Allderdice (in the state playoffs). They are really good,” Flohr said of the Dragons, who are 17-1 overall and lead the City League with a 7-0 slate.
While the Colts are good at keeping pace with other team’s offenses, they muster 67.7 points a game and rank highest among playoff teams in points allowed (61.4). Plum is the top defensive team in Quad-A, permitting 47.2 points per game.
“A good defense is better than a good offense,” Flohr said. “The key to playing good defense is staying focused and help fill the gaps and help each other out. We’ve been improving. We’re covering each other’s backs.”