Boys hoops split early region decisions

Franklin County’s varsity boys basketball team saw its season mark settle at 12-4 after splitting a pair of decisions to start the new year.

The Bulldogs upended Mississippi High School Activities Association 7-3A rival Wilkinson County, 73-35, at home, but fell to Port Gibson, 51-39, on the road to see their district record stand at 1-1 overall.

Prior to the end of 2022, FC took to the road for a showdown against Amite County and earned a 54-35 win, and fell to South Pike, 41-39, in the Lions Club Classic tournament played at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

FC 73, WILKINSON COUNTY 35

The Bulldogs outscored the visiting Wildcats in all four quarters of the game played on Friday, Jan. 6 in Meadville.

FC opened with a 20-12 first-quarter run followed by an 18-6 tear through the second frame to hold a 20-point bulge — 38-18 — at intermission.

The Dawgs outscored Wilkinson County in the third quarter by a 19-15 margin and continued with a 16-2 pace through the final eight minutes of regulation.

Two FC players finished in double figures as Michael Covington and Kentrez Bonds wound up with 14 points apiece against the Wildcats while Jamie Green and Jailen Hunt finished with nine each and Derrick Wilson chipped in eight.

In addition, Daylen Thomas scored seven for Franklin County, Ja’Quavious Norman added six, Quez Rancifer tacked on four and Jay Malone recorded two.

The Bulldogs were 8-of-14 from the free throw line against the Wildcats with Rancifer and Bonds going 2-of-2 and 1-of-1, respectively.

Also, Covington finished 4-of-5, Thomas went 1-of-2 and Hunt was 0-of-2.

PORT GIBSON 51, FC 39

The Tuesday, Jan. 3 contest played in Claiborne County saw the Blue Waves outpace the Bulldogs in three of the four quarters of action with Franklin County making a late charge that came up a little short when the final horn sounded.

Port Gibson overwashed FC 17-13 in the first quarter, 8-3 in the second and 14-4 in the third, but the Dawgs went on a 19-12 run in the fourth frame.

Wilson led the Franklin County effort with a team-high 15 points, which included seven points before intermission and eight that included a pair of three pointers after the break.

Covington also finished in double figures with 10 points – nine of those coming off a trio of treys in the fourth quarter.

Thomas scored seven points for the Bulldogs while Kepatrick Nimox added four and Bonds added three.

As a whole, FC was 8-of-17 from the charity stripe with Thomas sinking 3-of-5 and Nimox draining 2-of-3. Covington finished 1-of-5 in free throws while both Bonds and Wilson were 1-of-2.

FC 54, AMITE COUNTY 35

The Bulldogs closed out the calendar year with a hard-fought road win over the Trojans on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

After initially trailing 11-5 after the first quarter, Franklin County rallied for a 16-8 run in the second eight minutes of the game to hold a 24-19 lead at the mid-game break.

After intermission, FC outscored Amite, 23-6, in the third quarter to effectively put the game away as the squads battled to a 10-all stalemate in the fourth frame.

Covington paced the Dawgs’ winning effort with a team-high 15 points and Thomas contributed 11.

In addition, Bonds, Wilson and Hunt each finished with five points while Nimox and Green added three apiece and Rancifer, Reshon Baker and Devin Coleman were credited with two each.

Malone rounded out the FC scoring effort with one point.

The Bulldogs finished with a 6-of-14 free throw performance with Thomas having a 3-of-3 showing from the line while Wilson was 1-of-1.

Malone went 1-of-2 from the stripe as Nimox was 1-of-3.

Also, Hunt was 0-of-2 and Bonds was 0-of-3.

SOUTH PIKE 41, FC 39

This game was a story of halves as Franklin County’s offense played strong prior to intermission and South Pike rallied after the mid-game break to claim a two-point win on Saturday, Dec. 17.

FC opened with a 12-7 scoring pace through the first quarter and outlasted South Pike 18-11 in the second frame for a 30-18 lead at the break.

South Pike went on a 15-2 tear in the third and overran FC 8-7 in the fourth to earn the victory.

Wilson led the Bulldogs with 14 points, which included a pair of first-half three pointers, while Thomas ended up with 12. Hunt wound up with four points.

Nimox contributed three and Covington, Bonds and Coleman finished with two apiece.

Franklin County sank 9-of-12 of its free throws with Rancifer hitting 2-of-2 and Thomas finishing with a 6-of-8 effort.

Nimox also went 1-of-2.