Girls' basketball squad goes 6-0 in district

by Sean Dunlap

Franklin County’s varsity girls basketball squad rolled to two more Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A District 7 victories over Jefferson County and Port Gibson last week after falling to Bay Springs in a non-regional holiday tournament appearance on Monday, Jan. 16.

FC improved to 6-0 in district play while seeing its overall season mark grow to 14-7 with just four contests remaining in the 2022-2023 hoops campaign.

FC 47, PORT GIBSON 46

In a hotly contested district match-up on Friday, Jan. 20, Franklin County opened with an early lead and held on down the stretch to take a one-point victory to remain undefeated in 7-3A regional competition on the hoops season.

The Lady Bulldogs held a 22-16 halftime lead over the visiting Lady Blue Waves – thanks to runs of 15-10 in the first quarter and 7-6 in the second frame.

After intermission, Port Gibson began a comeback by tying the home team 12 points apiece in the third quarter and then rallying for an 18-13 run in the final period to come up just one point short to FC in the end, 47-46.

Franklin County’s JaKya Brown and Port Gibson’s Samya Thomas finished with a game-high 22 points apiece to pace their respective teams. Brown had six two-pointers in the contest while Thomas sank five.

Additionally, Brown had 11 rebounds, including eight defensive boards, which was good enough for a statistical double-double and also accounted for a team-high five assists.

FC’s Niyla Wright wound up with 15 points against the Lady Blue Waves with nine rebounds, which included five defensively.

Other Lady Bulldogs contributing to the win and their points totals included: DaShara Hannon, five; Kennedy Washington, three; and Harmoni Porter, two.

From the charity stripe, Franklin County finished 15-of-27 (55.5 percent) overall with Brown draining 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) and Porter sinking 2-of-3 (66.6 percent). Wright and Hannon were both 1-of-2 (50 percent) from the line and Washington was 1-of-4 (25 percent). Raine Edmond was 0-of-2 on free throws.

FC 34, JEFFERSON

COUNTY 30

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Fayette and walked away with a 34-30 victory in 7-3A competition in another nip-and-tuck game.

Franklin County outscored the host team 13-8 in the first eight minutes of the affair with the Lady Tigers outscoring the visitors, 6-5, before intermission.

Things stayed close through the second half with FC going on an 11-10 run in the third and JC holding a 6-5 advantage in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs’ DeAsia Buie and Porter paced their team with 10 points apiece while Wright scored eight and Brown wound up with six.

Porter successfully drained a pair of three pointers — one in each half — and a field goal while Buie had four field goals — two of those in each half.

FC was 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) in bonus shot opportunities against the Lady Tigers with Porter winding up 2-of-2 (100 percent) and Buie went 2-of-4 (50 percent). Wright was 2-of-5 (40 percent) from the line while Brown was 0-of-3 and Hannon was 0-of-2.

BAY SPRINGS 49, FC 37

In the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., hoops tournament played at Jefferson Davis County High School in Bassfield on Monday, Jan. 16, Bay Springs claimed a 49-37 win over Franklin County.

Bay Springs overran FC, 11-6, in the first quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs were able to bounce back with an 11-all run in the second frame to trail by five, 22-17, at intermission.

The second half belonged to Bay Springs with a 12-9 run in the third period and a 15-11 pace through the final eight minutes of the game.

Brown set a blistering pace for Franklin County with 22 points in the loss while going 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) in free throw shooting. In addition, Buie finished with five points while Porter, Hannon and Arya Williams recorded three points each and Wright was credited with one.

Buie and Wright were 1-of-2 (50 percent) from the stripe against Bay Springs while Hannon was 1-of-4 (25 percent).

• • •

UPCOMING GAMES

Remaining contests on the FC girls’ hoop slate included a Wednesday, Jan. 25 showdown at home against Wilkinson County.

Results of that contest were not available at press time, but a full recap will appear in next week’s print edition of The Franklin Advocate.

On Friday, Jan. 27, FC will travel to face Wesson and will head to Hazlehurst on Tuesday, Jan. 31 for a battle against the Lady Indians.

The Lady Bulldogs will wrap up their season with a home game on Friday, Feb. 3 against Jefferson County.



Meadville Methodist Holy Week Luncheons