Bulldogs varsity boys pick up two more early-season wins

The Franklin County High School boys varsity basketball program remained unblemished to start its 2022-2023 campaign after thumping a pair of opponents at home last week.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Bulldogs overpowered Amite County by a 55-30 margin, and then bulled past North Pike, 68-28, on Thursday, Nov. 3.

FC improved to 3-0 overall with the victories.

DAWGS 55, AMITE 30

Franklin County outscored the visiting Trojans in all four quarters of action — 18-13; 15-2; 7-6; and 15-9.

In the first eight minutes of the game, Daylen Thomas drained four field goals while teammate Michael Covington hit a pair of two-pointers and connected on a shot from beyond the arch to help set the early tempo.

FC’s Kentrez Bonds scored a two-pointer and added 1-of-2 from the charity stripe in that first frame.

Covington stayed hot in the second quarter with a pair of buckets while hitting 3-of-4 from the free throw line.

Also before intermission, Derrick Wilson recorded a pair of field goals, Jailan Hunt sank a trey and Bonds went 1-of-2 from the line to help the Dawgs build a 33-15 advantage at the mid-game break.

The second half saw both teams assume a more defensive posture with FC’s scoring limited to a single two-pointer each from Covington, Wilson and Thomas in the third quarter.

Covington also finished 1-of-2 from the line in that particular frame.

The Bulldogs’ offense refired in the fourth quarter with Hunt credited with four points while Derrick Wilson and Donovan Wilson each had a three-pointer.

Bonds and Thomas tacked on two apiece late while Jamie Green was 1-of-3 with his free throw attempts.

Covington led the FC effort and all players with 17 points and Thomas wrapped up with 12.

Derrick Wilson had nine in the victory while Hunt chipped in seven.

Bonds finished with six, Donovan Wilson nailed down three and Green was credited with one point.

Against the Trojans, Franklin County was 7-of-16 (43.7 percent) in terms of free throw shooting.

DAWGS 68, NORTH PIKE 28

Three Bulldogs scored in double figures against North Pike last Thursday with Covington and Bonds winding up with 13 points each and Derrick Wilson contributing 12 in the win.

FC went on a 23-11 first-quarter tear with Derrick Wilson hitting a trio of three-pointers in the stanza, Covington adding six and Thomas tacking on four.

Hunt and Green scored two apiece in the first eight minutes of regulation.

The Bulldogs’ offense continued to work its way to the rim thanks to a 16-4 second-quarter scoring spurt.

Covington drained a three-pointer and added a field goal before intermission while Bonds added a two-pointer and went 2-of-2 from the stripe.

Thomas, Hunt and Derrick Wilson each collected a field goal while the latter also sank 1-of-2 from the line.

In a 15-2 third-quarter run, FC’s Bond scored nine of his team’s points as Kepatrick Nimox, Covington and Thomas each added a two-pointer.

Going to the bench late and with a running clock, FC’s Green paced the effort with a three-pointer and two field goals.

Eddie O’Quinn also hit from beyond the arch before time expired. Hunt and Tyler Walton also scored a two-pointer each for the Bulldogs.

When the dust had settled, Green finished his night with nine and Thomas scored eight. Hunt chipped in six for the Dawgs while O’Quinn had three and Nimox and Walton added two apiece.

Franklin County wound up 6-of-8 (75 percent) from the line against North Pike.

JUNIOR VARSITY

DAWGS 32, NORTH PIKE 29

Franklin County’s junior varsity boys basketball team had trailed much of the way last Thursday night at home in its regular season opener, but rallied in the fourth quarter to claim a 32-29 victory to improve to 1-0.

The JV Dawgs scored 14 points in the first half of the game with O’Quinn sinking two three-pointers and Rylei Edney collecting two field goals.

Detrick Starks and Quentin Logan each recorded a two-pointer in the half.

FC went into the locker room on the short end of a 19-14 decision at the mid-game break.

North Pike outscored FC 4-3 in the third period with Starks hitting a field goal and Casey Cook sinking 1-of-2 from the free throw line.

A fourth-quarter rally — spurred by a 15-6 FC run — pushed the Bulldogs to victory as Edney had two field goals to fall and Donovan Wilson and O’Quinn both had a three-pointer each in the frame.

Logan recorded a bucket and point-after free throw while Starks connected on two shots from the charity stripe to help seal the win.

UPCOMING GAMES

FC’s varsity boys will be at home again to face North Pike in the rubber match of the series on Thursday, Nov. 10 before hosting Tylertown on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Prior to varsity play against the visiting Chiefs, the JV boys are slated to have the early game beginning at 5 p.m.

Just prior to the Thanksgiving hiatus, Franklin County is slated to go on the road to battle Loyd Star on Thursday, Nov. 17.

After the holiday, the Dawgs will head to McComb on Tuesday, Nov. 29 and will make their way to Brookhaven on Friday, Dec. 3.