FC boys blow past Jeff Davis, 73-53, in 3A playoff opener

Franklin County's varsity boys basketball team scored early and often en route to a 73-53 win over Jefferson Davis County on Tuesday, Feb. 15 in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association's Class 3A post-season playoffs.

The visiting Jaguars scored the initial two-point bucket of the contest and held their only lead for roughly one minute before two Bulldogs — namely Kobe Marshall and Daylen Thomas — scored 11 of their 17 first-quarter points in a two-and-a-half minutes span that ultimately set the tempo for the remainder of the game.

FC outpaced Jeff Davis 17-7 in the first eight minutes of the affair and kept things rolling with a 22-5 offensive onslaught in the second quarter.

Bulldog Michael Covington spurred the first-half effort with a trio of treys — one in the first quarter and two more before intermission — along with a field goal and a 2-of-2 effort from the charity stripe for 13 total points

Thomas also made his presence felt in the first 16 minutes of the contest with 12 points, including three field goals and by going 6-of-7 from the line for the Dawgs on bonus opportunities.

Franklin immediately picked up where it left off to start the second half — thanks in large part to a 23-11 scoring run — that saw Covington, Marshall, Thomas and Kentrez Bonds all drain two field goals each with Amarion Wilson and Derrick Wilson both hitting one two-pointer apiece. Bonds also finished the third quarter with a 3-of-4 performance at the free throw line.

FC Head Basketball Coach began substituting liberally throughout the second half with pretty much the entire Bulldogs' lineup getting some playing time in the cage match.

The Jaguars attempted a late rally in the fourth quarter and outscored Franklin 24-11 in the final eight minutes of the game, with Jeff Davis cutting the Dawgs' lead to 20 when the final horn sounded.

In the fourth frame, Derrick Wilson connected on a shot from outside the arch along with a two-pointer while Marshall and Bonds both had a field goal each and sank one bonus shot each.

Four FC players finished in double figures — Covington led with 17, Thomas contributed 16, Marshall chipped in 14 and Bonds added 10. Amarion Wilson wound up with nine and Derrick Wilson was credited with seven.

Bulldog Caleibria McDonald, who did not score in the game, led the way with 10 defensive rebounds against the Jaguars while also being credited with an assist, two blocks and a steal.

Covington collected three steals and an assist for Franklin while Marshall had an assist and an offensive rebound. Thomas recorded nine key rebounds — six of those coming on offense — and three blocks in the game.

Bond and Bradley Washington were each credited with three rebounds — two on offense and one on defense — while Derrick Wilson had two rebounds on defense plus a steal and Iverson Hughes had two boards with those being one each on offense and defense. Jay Malone also finished with a steal for the Bulldogs.

Franklin County was 17-of-27 in terms of free throws during the game.

The Bulldogs now advance to the Sweet 16 round on Saturday, Feb. 19 with Franklin County hosting the Magee Trojans at 6 p.m. in the FCHS gymnasium.