Anderson takes down No. 1 Franklin County 64-32

“I just wonder how good we are from a basketball perspective,” FCHS coach Joey Thacker said. “I’m not talking about how good we are from an athletic perspective, or how quick we are, but from a basketball perspective, are they conscious of the fact that great teams have basketball savvy?”

FCHS came into the game ranked No. 1 in the state in the latest Associated Press poll, and Anderson was ranked second.

Franklin County kept the deficit in single figures for most of the first quarter, but a 3-pointer by Amiya Jenkins with 25 seconds left gave Anderson a 22-12 lead at the end of the period.

The Lady Bearcats held FCHS to three points in the second quarter to lead 37-15 at halftime, and they stayed in control the rest of the game.

“I was extremely pleased with our defense tonight,” Anderson coach Clay Birdwhistell said. “We just got after people.”

Anderson shot 47% from the field compared to 27% by the Lady Flyers.

Jenkins scored a game-high 24 points for Anderson, and teammate Jacie Chesser finished with 14.

Patience Laster was FCHS’ top scorer with 11 points.

“I’m not of the belief that you can win in March and look like a pickup game at Capitol View Park,” Thacker said. “Make no mistake, Anderson County should have been the preseason No. 1. They have six kids who could play for anybody, and all their kids are multi-faceted.”

FCHS (3-1) plays its first district game Friday at Great Crossing. The game is the second in a doubleheader with the boys team.

ANDERSON CO. (64) — Jacie Chesser 14, Sophie Smith 5, Jenna Satterly 3, Rachel Satterly 6, Paige Serafini 3, Amiya Jenkins 24, Tiffani Riley 4, Lainey Johnson 2, Payton Baum 3.

FRANKLIN CO. (32) — Shauvi Kennedy 2, Nevaeh Carter 8, Brooklynn Miles 6, Jazmin Chambers 5, Patience Laster 11.