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Franklin shuts down SM in third quarter
Franklin held Smoky Mountain to three points in the third quarter Friday as the Panthers overcame a 10-point halftime deficit for a 52-42 non-conference basketball win in Franklin.
The Mustangs also had a strong defensive effort by limiting the Panthers to four points in the second period.
The difference is Franklin scored 22 points in the third stanza while SM managed just seven in the second.
Dayne Bowers takes the ball to the basket for Smoky Mountain in Friday’s 52-42 loss at Franklin. – Herald photo by Carey Phillips
Ward Collins led the Panthers with 16 points, and Aaron Garrett had 13.
Tyson Crawford paced the Mustangs with 17 points, and Dillon Dunford had 11.
“We had a really good first half defensively,” Coach Scott Hartbarger said. “They missed a lot of shots that we knew would eventually fall, but I think our defense had something to do with those misses. After halftime, we didn’t pressure the ball like we should. I don’t know if we were tired or not.”
The Mustangs went scoreless the final six minutes of the third quarter allowing Franklin to score 16 unanswered points. Collins had nine in that span.
The Panthers led 38-26 on a driving basket by Collins at the 5:02 mark.
SM stayed close and trailed just 46-42 on Cory Siler’s layup with 1:09 to play.
Franklin scored the game’s final six points from the foul line.
The Mustangs led 14-7 after the first quarter as Dunford hit a three-pointer at the 1:13 mark and Crawford added two baskets in the last minute.
Crawford’s 18-footer made it 19-9 with 3:37 to go in the half, and it was 21-11 at intermission.
“They picked up the intensity and started trapping us in the second half,” Hartbarger said. “We missed a lot of shots in the paint.”
Crawford, Siler and Matt Hawkins were cited for their interior defense.
“It seemed like we got every rebound in the first half,” the coach said.
Crawford’s points came on seven field goals and three free throws. Dunford made four field goals, including a three-pointer, and two foul shots.
Siler finished with seven points, Martin Davis scored four, Hawkins had two and Josh Jones hit a free throw.
Franklin won the JV game 48-41. Trey Shular scored 12 points, and David Cheatham had 11.
SM led 7-6 after the first quarter, but Franklin was up 19-13 at halftime and 34-25 through three periods.
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