Gators find way to outlast Franklin-Simpson

Published 10:47 am Wednesday, January 22, 2025

by Micheal Compton

FRANKLIN — The Greenwood boys’ basketball team didn’t have its best shooting night of the season, but it was good enough to escape with a 52-45 win at Franklin-Simpson on Tuesday.

Greenwood (14-6) shot 32%, but used a 36-25 advantage in rebounding to take advantage of second chances and find enough offense to earn the win.

“This is a tough place to play,” Greenwood coach Will McCoy said. “I’ve been here, year six, and we’ve never came over here and just took care of business. They are always prepared and they always play you tough. They did it again tonight. They were ready to go for us.

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“ … Valuable moments in this one because as February approaches you need to be able to win games in different ways. This game felt like a game we lost earlier in the year against Graves County — very similar defensive game plan by them and long offensive possessions. It was good to work our way through it.”

Franklin-Simpson (4-11) controlled the tempo in the first half, forcing the Gators into a slower paced halfcourt game where no one led by more than three points. The first half featured six ties and five lead chances with Greenwood leading 20-18 at the break, despite shooting 7-for-21 in the half.

“Coming into halftime we talked about we weren’t hitting the shots, but we were getting good shots,” Greenwood senior guard Nick Simpson said. “We knew we were going to hit them and they were gonna fall. We just kept shooting them and they ended up going in.”

Franklin was able to slip in front twice early in the third quarter before Greenwood finally found its stride. Asher Pettus started a 9-2 spurt with a shot in the paint that allowed Greenwood to build a 37-30 advantage late in the third.

Greenwood continued to expand the lead with a 3-pointer from Simpson making the score 44-31 with 5:30 remaining.

The Wildcats tried to rally, getting within 47-42 with the ball with two minutes left. Franklin-Simpson was unable to convert on the possession, missing a 3-point attempt, and Greenwood was able to close it out going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 32 seconds.

”Our best defensive lineup is not our best offensive lineup, so we are trying right now to find a good balance of both,” McCoy said. “We’ve got kids that are being super patient and open to whatever they are needed to do. I am just grateful for that locker room having trust and us having trust in them. We are going to get that thing figured out.”

Simpson led Gators with 17 points, while Pettus added 14 points and eight rebounds. Greenwood finished with 14 offensive rebounds.

“I feel like their offensive rebounding and their defensive rebounding was the difference,” Franklin-Simpson coach Dee Spencer said. “I feel like they got some second opportunities that ended up costing us. We have to do a better job of cleaning up the glass. That’s the difference in the game. If they don’t get those second opportunities, we’ve probably got a win.”

Kamryn Ray led Franklin-Simpson with 11 points, while Alan Johnson added nine points.

Both teams return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Greenwood plays at Bowling Green, while Franklin-Simpson travels to Logan County.

GHS 13 7 17 15 — 52

FSHS 11 7 13 14 — 45

GHS — Simpson 17, Pettus 14, York 6, Tuttle 4, Hatcher 3, Sampson 2, Murrell 2, Reiter 2, Troutman 2.

FS — Ray 11, Johnson 9, Sharer 8, Partinger 6, Morris 5, McAlister 4, Brooks 2.

GIRLS

Franklin-Simpson 61, Greenwood 36

The Lady Cats forced 25 turnovers and held Greenwood to 34% shooting to pull away and bounce back from a loss to Franklin County in the 2A state semifinals.

“We knew that when they are comfortable in their offense that they can really light it up,” Franklin-Simpson coach Ashley Taylor said. “They all can shoot it and they can shoot it from deep, so we didn’t want them to get too comfortable offensively tonight.”

Franklin-Simpson (15-2) never trailed, jumping out to an 8-0 lead. Greenwood (8-8) scored the next seven to get within a point, but the Lady Cats responded with an 11-0 run to push the margin to 12 early in the second quarter.

Trailing 27-15 at halftime, Greenwood was able to get within 32-23 after a three-point play from Anzlee Hendrix, but Franklin-Simpson scored 10 straight to break it open late in the third quarter.

“We just brought the pressure up higher,” Taylor said. “Made them bring it 94 feet instead of halfcourt in. I thought we did a good job of guarding in the first half, but the second half we were able to turn them over and get out more in transition.”

LaReesha Cawthorn led Franklin-Simpson with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

“She is so versatile in her game,” Taylor said. “We are just using the many different weapons that she has.”

Lyniah Brown added 14 points for the Lady Cats.

Hendrix and Molly Spidel had 10 points each to lead the Lady Gators.

Greenwood will play at Bowling Green at 6 p.m. on Friday. Franklin-Simpson plays at Logan County at 6 p.m. on Friday.

GHS 7 8 10 11 — 36

FSHS 15 12 19 15 — 61

GHS — Hendrix 10, Spidel 10, White 6, Nealon 4, Morrison 4, Morgan 2.

FS — Cawthorn 18, Brown 14, Savage 9, Ray 7, Butler 6, Smith 4, Luttrell 2, Riggsbee 1.

About Micheal Compton

I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.

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