FC boys seek to advance in tourney after 7-3 area run

Franklin County High School’s varsity boys basketball team wound up splitting decisions in the last two games of the 2022-2023 regular season — defeating Jefferson County, 57-43, at home on Friday, Feb. 3 and falling on the road to Hazlehurst, 68-59, Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The Bulldogs’ season record settled at 18-7 overall while the team saw its 7-3A regional campaign mark finish at 7-3.

Franklin County’s district losses this season included one to the Indians and two-straight against the Port Gibson Blue Waves.

The Dawgs finished as the No. 3 seed in the district headed into this week’s post-season tourney being played in Meadville behind No. 1 Port Gibson and No. 2 Hazlehurst.

Jefferson County claimed the No. 4 seed in 7-3A play while Wesson was No. 5 and Wilkinson County was No. 6.

FC 57, JEFFERSON COUNTY 43

The Bulldogs set the tempo early in the season finale against the visiting Jefferson County Tigers with a 14-6 scoring advantage through the first eight minutes of regulation.

From there, FC outscored the Tigers by margins of 13-12 in the second quarter, 14-11 in the third frame and 15-14 in the final stanza to claim the 14-point victory.

Senior Daylen Thomas paced the Bulldogs with 21 points — 12 of those after intermission.

In addition, senior Derrick Wilson wound up with 14 points, which included a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Other contributing to the win included: Michael Covington and Ken’Trez Bonds, six each; Ja’Quavious Norman, four; and Quez Rancifer and Jamie Green, three apiece.

FC’s varsity boys were 12-of-18 (66.6 percent) from the charity stripe against the Tigers with Wilson hitting 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) and Thomas sinking 3-of-4 (75 percent).

Covington was 2-of-4 (50 percent) in bonus shooting while Green and Rancifer were both 1-of-2 (50 percent).

The Bulldogs swept their two-game series against Jefferson County in also beating the team by a 50-48 margin on the road Tuesday, Jan. 17.

HAZLEHURST 68, FC 59

The Indians outscored Franklin County in every quarter of their contest last week — 14-13 in both the first and second quarters, 20-17 in the third and 20-16 in the fourth.
Thomas exploded for 25 points to lead every player on both squad in the scoring department while Wilson chipped in 18 — including four three-pointers in the second half — for the Bulldogs.

Kepatrick Nimox scored six for FC while Covington and Jailan Hunt ended up with three each and Bonds and Green tacked on two apiece in the loss.

Franklin County was 6-of-10 (60 percent) with its free throw shooting as Thomas sank 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) and Covington hit 1-of-2 (50 percent). Bonds went 0-of-2 from the stripe.

Back on Friday, Jan. 13, FC beat Hazlehurst, 32-27, in Meadville.