Franklin County’s girls basketball team knew how it wanted to play Tuesday’s game – the same way Frankfort High wanted to play.
“We wanted to utilize our depth and play as fast as we could possibly play,” FCHS coach Joey Thacker said after his team defeated Frankfort 71-33 at FCHS.
“A lot of people don’t seem to want to play them that way,” he added, “but it had nothing to do with them. We have to play that way to get our blood flowing.”
Once the Lady Flyers (6-0) got in the flow they were able to pull away from FHS (1-4).
Franklin County closed the first quarter with a 9-2 run, including a layup by Chelsea Craig after a steal and a 3-pointer by Lacinda Hack with six seconds left, and the Lady Flyers led 21-8 at the end of the quarter.
FCHS outscored Frankfort 12-4 in the first four minutes of the second period to lead 33-12. By halftime the Lady Flyers’ lead was 42-20.
In the second quarter the Lady Panthers went 6-for-12 from the foul line with one of the misses coming on the front end of the bonus.
“We do a great job of getting the ball to the basket,” FHS coach Jody Hellard said. “We’re able to break most presses. I think Shauntae (Brown) is one of the best point guards around. She does a good job of helping out when other teams are pressing us.
“What we don’t do well is finish or blocking out to keep the big girls off the backboard,” he added. “We played hard, but we have to learn to finish, we have to hit our free throws, and we have to be willing to slide over and take a charge.”
FCHS led 53-28 after the third quarter and opened the fourth period with an 8-0 run. After a basket by Shauntae Brown, the Lady Flyers scored eight more points for a 69-30 lead with 2:10 left in the game.
Franklin County had 10 players score with three in double figures – Craig with 17, Hack with 13 and Ashli Mayes with 10.
“I’m proud of the way we shared the ball,” Thacker said. “We had three players in double figures and we were getting to the basket. We had 43 rebounds, and I’m proud of that.”
Shauntae Brown led Frankfort with 12 points.
“I’m not displeased with the way we played,” Hellard said. “We had a couple of lapses where we didn’t hustle, but 90 percent of the time we got after it.
“We got in foul trouble early with Sheree (Brown) and Shanae (Brown),” he added. “They were fouls, but those are two of our big defensive players. Franklin County has a good team, and Joey does a great job with them.”
Franklin County’s softball team was honored in a ceremony following the game for finishing in the top five at the state tournament last spring. The team presented a banner commemorating its accomplishment that will be hung in the gym.-
Frankfort’s next game is at home Friday against Bardstown, and the Lady Panthers begin play in the Forcht Bank/Dry Ridge Toyota Holiday Classic Saturday.
Franklin County plays Leslie County in the PRP Lady Panther Classic Friday in Louisville.
FRANKFORT (33) – Jasmine Washington 2, Abby Green 2, Shanae Brown 2, Shauntae Brown 12, Malaka Frank 3, Mattie Hutcherson 2, Kimber Woodrum 4, Sheree Brown 6.
FRANKLIN CO. (71) – Emily Hampton 7, Chelsea Rivers 6, Nannilena White 6, Andrea Howard 4, Brittany Mello 2, Chelsea Brown 4, Shakiyla Collins-Wilson 2, Lacinda Hack 13, Ashli Mayes 10, Chelsea Craig 17.