Hoops teams split — girls beat Terry, 45-36; boys fall 50-47

Franklin County’s varsity basketball teams are slated to move into the heart of their district slate of games over the next four weeks.

In post-Christmas contests at McComb on Monday, Dec. 27, the FC Lady Bulldogs claimed their fourth win in a row by knocking off Terry, 45-36.

Meanwhile, Franklin County’s varsity boys dropped their third-straight decision in losing to Terry High School’s Bulldogs, 50-47.

Both FC’s boys and girls hoops teams are sporting 10-4 season records as they prepared for a pair of home district contests this week against Port Gibson on Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Wilkinson County on Friday, Jan. 7.

Results from Tuesday’s game were not available at press time, but will appear in next week’s edition of The Franklin Advocate.

FC LADY DAWGS 45, TERRY 36

Terry outscored Franklin County, 15-13, in the first eight minutes of regulation in Monday’s holiday tournament action at McComb.

FC charged back with an 8-5 run in the second frame to hold a one-point, 21-20, lead headed into intermission.

The teams battled to an 8-all offensive stalemate in the third quarter before Franklin County dominated the fourth frame with a 16-8 run before the final horn sounded.

Niyla Wright paced FC with 13 points in the winning effort as she sunk a team-high six field goals and hit 1-of-6 on bonus shot opportunities.

Hunt added 10 points, which included four two-pointers along with a 2-of-6 performance from the free throw line.

JaKya Brown and De’Asia Buie both chipped in nine points apiece with the duo hitting a trio of field goals while going 3-of-6 and 3-of-7, respectively, from the charity stripe.

Rylei Turner and Madison Sparkman each tacked on two points for the Lady Bulldogs in the victory.

As a whole, FC hit 10-of-25 in the free throws department.

TERRY 50, FC BULLDOGS 47

The Terry High School Bulldogs charged out to a 11-9 advantage in the first quarter before FC bulled its way to a 15-11 run during the second eight-minute period in last Monday’s contest.

Leading by two, 24-22, at the half, Franklin came up on the short end of a 15-10 offensive burst by Terry in the third quarter with the teams battling to a 13-all tie in the final frame.

FC was led by Caleibria McDonald, Daylen Thomas and Amarion Wilson, who all had eight points for the Bulldogs in the loss.

McDonald pumped in four field goals with Thomas hitting three from inside the arch while going 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Wilson also drained four field goals for FC while going 0-of-1 from the line.

Franklin’s Kobe Marshall ended the night with seven points, which included three field goals and a 1-of-4 effort from the stripe.

Derrick Wilson scored six points on three field goals with Craig Jackson and Michael Covington each adding five thanks to a field goal and a trey for both players.

FC shot 3-of-7 from the free throw line while Terry was 12-of-19 on charity shots in the contest.

“The girls and boys basketball teams have gotten off to a great start to the season,” Bulldogs Head Basketball Coach Rickey Van O’Quinn said.

“Despite playing a tough schedule, both programs have played well coming into our big district run after the holidays. I’m super proud to coach them and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds.”

On Friday, Jan. 7, the Bulldogs will host Wilkinson County with the varsity girls tipping off at 5 p.m., and the varsity boys taking the court at 7:30 p.m., in Meadville.

Franklin County is slated to travel to Wesson on Tuesday, Jan. 11 before heading to Hazlehurst on Friday, Jan. 14.

The Bulldogs will next play at home on Tuesday, Jan. 18 when they face Jefferson County.

FC will then head to Port Gibson for road contests on Friday, Jan. 21 and will square off against Wilkinson County on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

On Friday, Jan. 28, the Wesson Cobras will play FC at Meadville with Hazlehurst calling on the Bulldogs Tuesday, Feb. 1.

The final game of the regular season will see Franklin County travel to Jefferson County on Friday, Feb. 4.

“We’re hoping to see a good turnout from our fans over the course of the next four weeks,” O’Quinn said.

“There’s nothing better than having people in the stands making noise and supporting our teams that have worked so hard throughout the season.