DISTRICT CHAMPS AGAIN: Bulldogs take wins over JC, Hazlehurst for top seed

WOODVILLE – Franklin County’s varsity boys basketball season punched its ticket as the No. 1 seed exiting the District 7-3A hoops tournament thanks to an 86-39 semi-final thumping of Jefferson County on Thursday, Feb. 10 and a 56-43 championship decision over Hazlehurst on Friday, Feb. 11.

The tourney wins gave Franklin County its third-straight district championship in a row.

FC 86, JEFFERSON CO. 39

The Bulldogs led from start to finish against the Tigers — with FC outscoring Jefferson County 12-7 in the first quarter, 24-9 in the second, 29-10 in the third and 21-13 in the fourth.

The margin of victory allowed Franklin to clear it benches and pretty much the entire line-up found its way onto the final tally sheet.

Three Bulldogs were in double figures in terms of scoring with Michael Covington leading the way with 17 points — including four three-pointers — with Kobe Marshall chipping in 15 and Caleibria McDonald finishing with 10.

Daylen Thomas had nine points, Kentrez Bonds added eight and Amarion Wilson scored six.

Others contributing to the victory were Iverson Hughes, four; Craig Jackson, three; Derrick Wilson, Bradley Washington, Jay Malone and Christian Goins, two each; and Jailen Hunt, one.

The Dawgs went 12-of-20 from the free throw line with McDonald hitting 2-of-4; Marshall draining 2-of-3 and Amarion Wilson, Malone and Goins sinking 2-of-2 each. Covington and Hunt both went 1-of-2.

FC 56, HAZLEHURST 43

The battles between the Bulldogs and Indians proved to be some of the scrappiest match-ups in District 7-3A play during the 2021-2022 season, and Friday’s championship contest between the two programs was no different.

The intensity of the game seemingly overshadowed the fact that Franklin County pretty much controlled the scoring with runs of 18-12 in the first quarter, 12-9 in the second, 12-11 in the third and 14-11 in the fourth.

Five Bulldogs scored in the game and all of them finished in double figures as Thomas led the way with 14 points while Marshall and McDonald contributed 11 each and Covington and Derrick Wilson scored 10 apiece.

McDonald had nine points in the opening frame with a single three pointer while Covington hit from outside the arch once in the quarter and Thomas sank three field goals to start the game.

Derrick Wilson hit twice from three-point range in the second quarter while getting a field goal and Marshall and Thomas both drained buckets before the mid-game break.

In the third stanza, Marshall had a pair of two-pointers and a successful free throw while Thomas gained a bucket and was 3-of-4 from the stripe. McDonald also hit a bucket in the period.

Covington finished with the hot hand with two two-pointers in the fourth while also hitting 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Marshall picked up a pair of buckets late while Thomas was 1-of-2 from the line shooting and Derrick Wilson was 2-of-2 on late penalty shots.

From the team perspective, FC was 12-of-16 in the free throws department.

The tourney wins boosted Franklin County’s season record to 21-5 overall and 11-1 in District 7-3A play this season.

DISTRICT HONORS

Five Franklin County players were named to the All-District squad for the 2021-2022 season – Marshall, McDonald, Thomas, Covington and Amarion Wilson — at the close of Friday’s tourney play.

Head Coach Rickey Van O’Quinn was selected as the District 7-3A boys “Coach of the Year.”