JACKSON BOUND: FC Lady Dawgs thump Tylertown to make Final Four

TYLERTOWN – Franklin County’s varsity girls basketball team pummeled Tylertown, 52-37, on the road Friday, Feb. 25 in the Class 3A Elite Eight round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association playoffs to advance to Final Four competition in Jackson this week.

“We knew we were facing a good team in Tylertown and relied heavily on our defense to keep their scoring potential in check,” FCHS Head Basketball Coach Rickey Van O’Quinn said following the contest.

“Specifically, we knew we had to do several things to give ourselves the chance to win – take away Tylertown’s three-point potential, do a good job in getting rebounds and taking care of the basketball on offense to limit turnovers.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way our girls came ready to play, and, in the process, got their 18th-straight win. Their goal from the start has been to see where their hard work and determination take them, and they’ve taken another big step by getting to the Final Four.”

The Lady Dawgs dominated the first eight minutes of Friday’s contest with Franklin County outscoring the Lady Indians by a 16-2 margin – thanks to single three-pointers by both Ja’Sharreah Hunt and JaKya Brown, who also had a pair of field goals to their credits during the frame.

Niyla Wright also drained a two-pointer in the first period.

The second quarter saw Tylertown battle its way back with a 15-14 offensive run, which included a trio of three pointers, that cut Franklin County’s lead to 30-17 at the mid-game break.

The frame saw Hunt sink three two-pointers and a free throw bucket while Brown scored two field goals, Rylei Turner collected a two-pointer and De’Asia Buie connected on 1-of-2 from the free throw line.

The Lady Dawgs outscored Tylertown 11-9 in the third quarter with both team scoring 11 apiece in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Brown accounted for 12 of her team’s 22 second-half points thanks to four field goals and a 4-of-6 performance from the line.

Hunt had seven points in the second half while Wright added two and Harmoni Porter went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Brown and Hunt finished the game with 23 and 21 points, respectively, meaning the duo — for the second contest in a row — combined to outscore their opponent.

Others contributing to the win included Wright with four, Turner with two, and Porter and Buie had one point apiece.

Turner paced Franklin County with nine rebounds – six of those defensively -- against the Lady Indians while Wright accounted for eight, including seven of those on offense.

Additionally, Hunt had four defensive rebounds with three for Brown and two for Buie. Porter also had two rebounds – one on offense and the other on defense.

Brown and Wright collected a pair of assists apiece with one for Hunt.

Brown also led the team with three steals with Wright and Hunt adding two each and Turner recording one.

Last week’s victory lifted the Lady Dawgs to a 24-4 record on the basketball season and the win was the team’s 18th straight — a streak that dates back to Dec. 14.

Franklin County also ran the table through district competition with a 10-0 regular season mark and swept the district tournament at Wilkinson County to leave regional competition as the No. 1 seed in 7-3A play.
The Lady Dawgs were slated to face Booneville to open Final Four competition at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 2 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.