Chartiers Valley senior nets MVP honors
During halftime of last year’s WPIAL Quad-A championship game, Eddie Flohr endured an ear beating from Chartiers Valley boys’ basketball coach Tim McConnell for not playing up to his potential. When Flohr emerged from the locker room, he exploded for 20 of his 24 points and engineered the Colts’ comeback victory, 50-48, against North Allegheny.
“Coach got into me at halftime and let me know that he didn’t think that was the Eddie Flohr that he’d seen all year and he let me know about it,” explained the point guard. “That really kicked in the gears and I started playing and ended up having a great second half. Helping us win and get a victory,” he added.
Fast forward to the 2016 season and Flohr again came alive for the Colts, leading them to a section title as well as another 20-win season.
”I believe you did see the real Eddie Flohr this year. A dual threat,” he said.
Indeed, Flohr scored as well as dished and all the Colts benefited. He led the club in scoring with a near 20-point average. He also managed 5.2 assists per game, a number of which he is proud.
“That’s the most important stat that a point guard should be worried about. He shouldn’t be worried about scoring,” he said.
“That’s what I believe I am. I am a true point guard who just wants to win games and make sure that everyone gets their points. You have to get the ball around.”
A former point guard, himself, McConnell agreed and pointed out that asset regarding Flohr’s game.
“Eddie is a great distributor,” McConnell said. “He really finds the open guy but he can score when he needs to. He knows when and when not to. That’s what differentiates him from the other players. He knows when to score. He knows when to pass. And, he knows who to pass it to. He puts it in the right people’s hands to be able to score baskets when we need to.”
After losing Jake Ritson and Matty McConnell from the WPIAL championship club, CV needed a leader this season and Flohr answered the call. He guided the Colts to a 13-1 record in Section 4-AAAA and to the quarterfinals of the district playoffs before finishing 20-6 overall. In addition to his points and assists, Flohr managed 3.2 rebounds despite his 5-foot-10 frame. Plus, he led the team in steals with 41 for the season and 3-point field goal percentage.
“Eddie has worked hard every year to improve his game but after losing Jake and Matty least year, we were worried about our leadership,” McConnell said. “I thought that Eddie did a remarkable job of leading this team and getting us to a 20-win season, winning the section and just having the year that he had. He played well. He led well. And that’s why I thought we were successful because of his leadership.”
Throughout his career, Flohr has led. He helped the Colts reach the WPIAL finals three times. As a 1,000-point scorer, he ranks 15th in school history.
Yet, contributing to last year’s championship means most to Flohr. “It’s definitely the highlight,” he said. “Winning the WPIAL title was the greatest feeling that I have ever come across. I was happy we were able to get it done.”
In 2016, Flohr got plenty done. He merited all-section first-time honors. Plus, he was the top vote-getter in the balloting. Ditto for the Almanac. As a result, Flohr has been named The Almanac’s Most Valuable Player for boys’ basketball.
“It’s a great achievement and I’m honored,” he said. “I think I had pretty good numbers this year. Maybe not the best with top guys in scoring but in overall helping the team; assists, rebounds and just leading us to win games.”
In the future, Flohr hopes to help some college win games. Recruited by Division II schools, he has narrowed his choices down to two: Seton-Hill and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Flohr is well aware that improvements are necessary.
“I just want to get better with my game,” Flohr said. “Shooting-wise, I want to improve my shots. I need to get stronger in the summer if I want to play well at the next level.”
McConnell concurred. “Eddie’s got to get a little bit stronger. He’s got to get his handle a little better to get his shot more consistent. He’s good for the high school level but to be good on the Division II level where he wants to play he’s got to get more consistent with those categories.”
Having survived and thrived at the CV program, McConnell is certain of Flohr’s future success. At CV, McConnell said that Flohr learned how to compete and be a winner.
“To be in this program you have to be dedicated and you have to be able to take criticism. With those things, moving forward with a job or whatever he decides to do, and his boss gives him some criticism, he’ll be able to take it and move on and be able to improve.
“I always tell our players that they can improve. That’s the one thing (Eddie) realizes. I wasn’t getting on him to downgrade him. I was getting on him to be better. If he takes that with him to the next level in college and his job, then I think it’s going to take him far.”