FC boys hoops team falls to McComb, beats Brookhaven

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Franklin County’s varsity boys basketball team returned to hardwood action and fell for the first time this season — a 63-53 loss to McComb on Wednesday, Nov. 30 — before downing Brookhaven, 71-55, on Friday, Dec. 2.

The Bulldogs’ season record currently sits at 7-1 overall.

FC 71, BROOKHAVEN 55

Franklin County outscored Brookhaven in all four quarters of play last week — thanks initially to a 14-12 first-quarter run and then a 20-17 offensive overload through the second frame.

In the third quarter, the Bulldogs outlasted the Panthers, 17-15, and then went on a 20-11 tear in the final eight minutes of regulation.

FC starter Kentrez Bonds had one of his biggest nights of the hoops season thus far — scoring 22 points from start to finish with all but four of those coming after intermission.

In all, Bonds recorded seven field goals, a three-pointer and went 5-of-10 from the charity stripe to pace the Dawgs.

Derrick Wilson, another FC starter, also finished his night in double figures with 17 points, which included a trio of three pointers and a single field goal in the first half.

After the mid-game break, Wilson had a pair of two-pointers and was 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

Also contributing to the victory over Ole Brook was starter Daylen Thomas, who had nine points from four field goals and a 1-of-6 effort at the line.

In addition, starter Kepatrick Nimox and Quez Rancifer, who came off the bench, scored six points each while Jailen Hunt and starter Michael Covington added four apiece and Reshon Baker tacked on three.

From the stripe, Nimox went 3-of-6, Rancifer was 0-of-2; Hunt finished 0-of-4; Covington was 1-of-6; and Baker was 1-of-2.

As a whole, the Bulldogs claimed the victory despite finishing 13-of-40 (32.5 percent) at the free throw line.

McCOMB 63, FC 53

A late surge by Franklin County against McComb could not help the Bulldogs dig out from an early deficit, and the Bulldogs lost their first contest of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 30 against the Tigers.

McComb overran the Dawgs 15-14 in the first quarter, 24-9 in the second frame and 15-10 in the third stanza before FC rallied for a 21-9 offensive spurt in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Three Bulldogs had double-digit scoring efforts as Covington led the way with 18 while Bonds and Thomas combined for 10 points each.

Covington mustered three points — all from the stripe — in the first half, but exploded for a trio of three-pointers after halftime along with a pair of field goals and a 2-of-5 free throw shooting performance.

Bonds drained a trey and a field goal while going 1-of-2 from the line before intermission and had a pair of two-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Thomas scored four points (a two-pointer and two free throws) in the first half and three field goals after the mid-game break.

Others contributing to the Bulldogs’ effort included: Derrick Wilson, eight; Baker, four; Hunt, two; and Jamie Green, one.

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UPCOMING GAMES

Franklin County’s varsity boys hoops squad was scheduled to travel to Morton on Tuesday, Dec. 6, but results of that game were not available at press time.

The Dawgs will return home on Friday, Dec. 9 to battle Loyd Star and will host Lawrence County on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and Natchez on Friday, Dec. 16.

Other games remaining before the Christmas holiday include taking part in the Lions Club Classic at Southwest Mississippi Community College on Saturday, Dec. 17 and a road trip to Amite County on Monday, Dec. 19.

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JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS

BROOKHAVEN 34, FC 16

Franklin County’s junior varsity boys dropped a 34-16 decision to Brookhaven on Friday, Dec. 2 with the Dawgs trailing the Panthers, 26-9, in the first half and 8-7 after halftime.

Tyson Windom led FC with six points — a three-pointer, a field goal and going 1-of-2 from the free throw line — while Jonathan Shell chipped in three; Jailen Hunt, Quentin Logan and Dennis Shell added two apiece; and Eric Dyer scored one.

FC 27, McCOMB 21

Despite a sluggish start against McComb and trailing 19-10 at the half, Franklin County’s JV boys basketball team charged back after intermission thanks to a 17-2 offensive run to claim a six-point win over the JV Tigers.
Donovan Wilson led the Dawgs with six points while Windom tacked on five and Hunt recorded four.

Derrick Starks and Rylei Edney finished with three apiece, Jonathan Shell and Dennis Shell contributed two each and Derrick Wilson and Detrick Starks wound up with one apiece.