Lady Dawgs drop two straight to McComb, Brookhaven

by Sean Dunlap

Franklin County’s varsity girls basketball team came up short in back-to-back contests last week by losing to McComb, 48-38, and Brookhaven, 53-41, following the Thanksgiving holiday.

The two losses dropped the Lady Bulldogs to 4-4 overall on the 2022-2023 season thus far.

BROOKHAVEN 53, FC 41

Ole Brook jumped out to a 10-point bulge in the first half — 26-16 — and never looked back in upending the Lady Bulldogs on Friday, Dec. 2 in Lincoln County.

The Lady Bulldogs mounted a late comeback attempt with a 19-13 scoring run in the fourth period, but that proved to be too little, too late to get past the Lady Panthers.

Still, a trio of FC players put up impressive numbers on the tally sheet as Ja’Kya Brown paced her team with 12 points while DeAsia Buie and Niyla Wright both scored 10 each in the contest.

All of Brown’s points came at the line as she drained 12-of-19 free throws. Buie connected on four field goals and sank 2-of-6 from the stripe while Wright hit four two-pointers and went 2-of-8 with her free throw attempts.

FC’s Harmoni Porter scored five, including a three-pointer and going 2-of-3 from the line.

Saiyon Harris and Kennedy Washington both added two points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs.

As a team, FC was 18-of-36 (50 percent) from the charity stripe against Brookhaven.

McCOMB 48, FC 38

The Lady Tigers outpaced FC in three of the four quarters of action on Wednesday, Nov. 30 to claim a 48-38 win over the Lady Bulldogs.

McComb went on a 6-5 run in the first quarter and an 18-9 tear through the second eight minutes of the affair.

Franklin County led 15-13 offensively through the third quarter, but the Lady Tigers controlled the fourth frame, 11-9.

Two Lady Dawgs scored in double figures with Wright leading with 14 and Brown adding 11.

Wright had six two-pointers on the night and was 2-of-4 from the free throw line while Brown drained three field goals and was 5-of-12 from the stripe.

Buie finished with eight points, including a pair of two-pointers and a 4-of-8 performance from the line.

Porter chipped in three points — a two-pointer and sinking 1-of-4 on charity opportunities — and Arya Williams scored two points in the fourth quarter.

FC was 12-of-29 (41.37 percent) from the stripe against McComb.

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UPCOMING GAMES

The Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to take on Morton Tuesday, Dec. 6, but results of that contest were not available at press time.

A recap will appear in next week’s newspaper.

The squad has a three game home tilt starting Friday, Dec. 9 when FC plays host to Loyd Star.

Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, Franklin County will welcome Lawrence County and will face off against Natchez on Friday, Dec. 16.

The team has two more dates on the schedule — both on the road — before Christmas with the Lions Club Classic tourney on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Southwest Mississippi Community College and a contest at Amite County on Monday, Dec. 19.