MADISON — Florence’s season ended with a 65-44 loss to No. 4 Austin in the girls Class 6A, Area 15 tournament Thursday night, but it was hardly a lost season for the

Falcons.

The Black Bears (28-5) raced to a 25-point halftime lead and maintained its double-figure cushion over the final two quarters to advance to Saturday night’s area championship against tournament host and No. 1 Bob Jones, a 60-17 winner over Decatur in Thursday’s other matchup.

Florence finished 13-13, an eight-win improvement from the previous year.

“I’m proud of this group of girls because they achieved a couple of goals we set (before the season),” said Florence coach Marc Johnson.

“We wanted to win an area game and we did, and we wanted to finish with a winning record. So they should feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Florence hurt itself against Austin by committing 10 first-quarter turnovers and quickly fell behind 13-4.

Meagan Hamilton sank a pair of 3-pointers and Terrian Smiley also hit a shot from behind the arc as the Lady Black Bears finally warmed up after going nearly four minutes without scoring to start the game.

Austin’s Takisha Jordan poured in 11 of her 14 points during the second quarter, including five as the Lady Black Bears closed the half on a 7-0 run to stretch their lead to 35-10.

“Our play was indicative of our record — inconsistent,” said Johnson.

Florence junior Emily Towery scored two baskets and Jerrisa Green and C.J. Siner made layups as the Lady Falcons mounted a mini-rally midway through the third quarter to draw to within 43-21. But Austin closed the third quarter with an 11-2 run, with Aaliyah Rice scoring the final five to give her team its largest lead of the game, 54-23.

Green, one of only two seniors on the Lady Falcons’ roster, then pumped in nine of her 17 points as Florence trimmed the deficit to 58-40 with four minutes remaining.

That was as close as Florence got, however, as Austin sealed the win and a fourth shot at 6A’s No. 1 team. Three of the Lady Black Bears’ five losses were to Bob Jones.

Green led all scorers with 17 points, 15

coming in the second half. Towery finished with 12.

Jordan was joined in double figures for Austin by Smiley and Teosha Ray with 10 each.