NCHSAA Playoffs: Southern Durham/Franklinton Recap/Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton and Southern Durham battled it out on Saturday in a game that came down to the wire on Saturday night. Take a look at the recap/standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton Rams showed why they were still in the NCHSAA State Playoffs right away as they jumped out to a 19-6 lead with 2:57 left in the first quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1722116' first='Mikel' last='Alston'] got off to a hot start and [player_tooltip player_id='1821313' first='Da'Kari' last='Jones'] and Cam Taylor. After 1, Franklinton led by 27-12 behind nine points from Alston and six points apiece from Jones and Taylor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second quarter, Southern Durham would come battling back, utilizing a 7-0 run to trail 34-31 with 2:28 remaining in the first half. The Spartans would battle through some free-throw shooting woes that plagued them all game long. By halftime, the Spartans had missed eight free throws and trailed 41-34. Alston and Taylor combined for 23 points while [player_tooltip player_id='1225444' first='Jackson' last='Keith'] had just eight points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton would come out in complete control, starting the half on a 6-0 run and extending their lead to 47-34. By the end of three, they were leading 59-46 and it looked like Southern Durham was out of juice, but basketball is a game of runs. Southern Durham began the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run and the home crowd instantly woke up as it was 61-53 with 5:35 remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton would hold onto the lead but Southern Durham would continue to apply pressure. With 3:50 left, it was 63-62. A layup plus the foul from [player_tooltip player_id='1277984' first='Jaelen' last='McKee'] would tie things up at 66 with 1:06 left but the ensuing free-throw to put them would not go. Franklinton had the ball on the final possession with 9.8 seconds left and a tip-pass from Taylor to Travon Sharps at the buzzer would give Franklinton a 70-68 victory. In the end, Southern Durham missed 16 free throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Final - Franklinton 70 - Southern Durham 68</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1722116"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Alston had himself a big first half in leading Franklinton victory. He finished with 12 points, all in the first half, while showing off an ability to knock down shots on the perimeter. He knocked down three 3-pointers to lead the way and will look to lead them again against Northwood on Tuesday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1821154"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":1821306,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Taylor led the way for the Rams with 17 points but his biggest moment was his mid-air last-minute assist that saved the day for them. He stepped up big with 3 made 3-pointers and gritty defense to lead Franklinton to victory.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1821313"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":1821319,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Jones was impressive in the Franklinton backcourt, stepping up and hitting key shots in key moments. He finished with 16 points on the night, picking things up tremendously in the third quarter when offense was needed. He's been an impressive face in the backcourt given his efforts on both ends of the floor.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1454624"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Daniels finished with 17 points with nine coming during the second quarter and six coming during their big fourth quarter run but [player_tooltip player_id='1225444' first='Jackson' last='Keith'] following out in regulation slowed down their offensive attack. He's a solid backcourt mate on the wing but was limited in a few clutch moments.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1225444"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Keith struggled a bit shooting the ball but still managed to finish with 21 points on the night. He had a tough go at the free-throw line, missing eight free throws, and in the end, fouled out with less than two minutes left in the game. He still managed to step up and lead when needed up until his moment of fouling out.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fcfcee59bb4"} /-->