Prep Hoops KY 5 Best: Franklin-Simpson (56) vs. Russell County (33) – 2/28/17
Franklin-Simpson and Russell County squared off in the second quarterfinal game of the 4th Region Tournament on Tuesday night at Western Kentucky University’s E.A. Diddle Arena. The Wildcats struggled on the offensive end, but used their strong defensive game to limit the Lakers and keep them from getting into a rhythm.
Thanks to a stellar performance from available senior guard Tavin Lovan, Franklin (26-6) beat Russell County, 56-33, to advance to next Monday’s semifinal round, where it’ll face Bowling Green.
- Most Valuable Player: Tavin Lovan, Franklin-Simpson — The veteran ahtlete was one of the key leaders for the Wildcats on Tuesday. The senior guard/forward scored 20 points to carry Franklin-Simpson to a season-extending victory. Lovan only had tallied 4 points at halftime, but exploded in the third quarter for 12 points – a period in which the Wildcats closed it on a 17-2 run to take control and seal the deal.
- Best Offensive Performance: Trey Radcliffe, Franklin-Simpson — Radcliffe put on an impressive offensive performance on Tuesday night. Radcliffe, a senior, was virtually unstoppable knocking down big-time shots on Tuesday. He scored 12 points to be one of Franklin’s leading scorers. Radcliffe’s scoring came in a variety of ways, including layups and mid-range pull-up jumpers.
- Best Defensive Performance: Tavin Lovan, Franklin-Simpson — As he is also known for his offensive game, Lovan also made his defensive presence felt all night long. The strong forward played tenacious defense and made many crucial steals.
- Best Rebounder: Tavin Lovan, Franklin-Simpson — Lovan grabbed 5 rebounds in the game. He made a handful of crucial rebounds Tuesday that set up scoring opportunities on the opposite end of the court, as well as offensive boards that gave his team second chances.
- Best Coaching Decision/Strategy: Spencer’s playcalling, Franklin-Simpson — The best coaching decision or strategy of the game was Coach Dee Spencer’s playcalling. Spencer called the proper plays and used his jam-packed basketball mind to guide his talented team to a season-extending victory.