Franklin faces Oconee for third place
By Shane Scoggins
Publisher
A banner hanging on the gym wall of the Lion’s Den shows the long list of success that has made the Lady Lions basketball team one of the trademark programs at Franklin County High School.
In 59 years of school history, the Lady Lions have made the state basketball tournament more than 30 times.
The 2022-23 team will add to that list.
Franklin County defeated Monroe Area 46-37 Monday in the first round of the Region 8AAA tournament in Watkinsville to earn their state playoff berth.
The team will play Oconee County today at 3 p.m. for third place in the region. Franklin fell to Hebron Christian, the consensus No. 1 team in the state regardless of classification, 73-20 in the semifinals Wednesday.
Coach Chad Bridges said he used the state playoff banner to challenge his seniors to make sure their team was added to that list of honor.
“I tried to sell them on that this week,” he said. “They were pretty excited to get it up there after the game.”
This season has been a struggle at times for the Lady Lions.
Franklin went into Monday’s first-round game as the underdog, the No. 5 seed in the tournament taking on No. 4 Monroe Area.
The Lady Lions used a fourth-quarter surge to take command and hold on for the win.
“Neither team played well,” Bridges said, “and then we had a good stretch there at the end.”
Monroe held a 10-7 lead after the first quarter, with a three-pointer by LayLay Sturgill, a basket by Paris Gaye and a pair of free throws by Ta’Kaiha Winkfield keeping the Lady Lions close.
The two teams battled to a draw in the second quarter.
Calin Baird made a couple of timely baskets in the period to allow Franklin to trail only 20-17 at halftime.
The Lady Lions benefited from Monroe Area’s struggles at the free throw line.
Monroe made just three of 15 free throws in the first half and just six of 25 in the game.
Franklin cut into the Lady Hurricane lead in the third quarter, with Gaye, Winkfield, Baird and Roniyah Johnson all scoring in the quarter.
Still, Monroe held a 30-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Two Sturgill free throws tied the game with 5:40 left.
Franklin took the lead with 3:00 left when Myah Strange hit a three-pointer to make the score 37-36 Lady Lions.
That started a 10-0 Lady Lion run over the next 1:27 that left Franklin County with a 44-36 lead they would not give up.
Winkfield had four points during the stretch, Strange added another basket and Sturgill added a free throw.
Monroe managed just one free throw the rest of the way, while Winkfield added one final basket with :30 left in the game to seal the win.
As the final buzzer sounded, Gaye threw the ball high in the air as she and her teammates celebrated with coaches and near the bench.
Bridges said he was proud his team kept playing and doing what they needed to do to get the win.
Winkfield led the Lady Lions with 13 points, with Gaye and Baird adding eight apiece, Strange seven, Sturgill six and Johnson four.
Franklin advanced to the region semifinals Wednesday to face Hebron Christian Academy.
Hebron is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and the consensus No. 1 team in the state regardless of classification.
The winner of Wednesday’s contest – results were unavailable at press time – will play for the region title Friday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the other semifinal between Hart County and Oconee County.
The losers of Wednesday’s semifinals will play Friday at 3 p.m. in the consolation game to determine seeding in the state tournament.
All tournament games are being held at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville.