By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Foul trouble played a role when the Franklin boys’ basketball team fell at home to Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) foe East last month.
Any such limitations were capped Monday night.
And Franklin made a statement in the final week before the opening of sectionals.
Shawn Goins led four in double figures with 24 points while Terence Thompson finished with 23 points and 25 rebounds as Franklin clinched the RCAC Division I championship with an 86-72 victory over host East.
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“I can’t remember the last time we beat East,” said Franklin head coach Joe Jackson. “We haven’t since I’ve been here. I can’t even put a date on it. It just feels so good for us to come in here and beat these guys, convincingly. To do it on their home floor was a big accomplishment for us. It shows a lot of character in these guys.”
A four-win team a year ago, Monday’s victory was the eighth straight for Franklin (14-5).
Shawn Goins grabs the long rebound and finishes. Zion Parson answers with a 3. Heading to the 2nd: Franklin 18 East 11. pic.twitter.com/kCevDh7C04
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 14, 2023
“This team has been through a lot from the beginning of the season until now,” Jackson said. “We’ve seen the maturity of these young men coming out as the season goes on.”
Staked to a nine-point lead at halftime, Thompson converted a rebound and putback on the first possession of the third quarter for a 44-33 lead. Sha’mere Freeman’s corner three next trip down the floor made it a 47-35 game, and Franklin did not allow East within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
“I kept looking at the scoreboard,” Jackson said. “We were up double figures. It was around a 10, 12-point lead. I was like, man I know they’re going to give us a run, but every time they made a run, we answered it every time.”
Goins scored seven straight late in the third. The junior guard got ahead of the defense for a layup in the open court and Franklin’s largest lead of the night at 60-41.
“It just showed the maturity of these guys and they’re character. We were willing to fight through any adversity and overcome any obstacles in our way.”
Tap in Terence Thompson. Franklin 7-5 pic.twitter.com/9QJLUg52Zs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 14, 2023
Last month, the two teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 52. Both Thompson and Freeman watched the last four-plus minutes of the game after having fouled out. East took advantage of turnovers for a 73-62 victory.
Thompson picked up his second foul on Monday less than six minutes into the game. Jackson was able to keep the 6-foot-7 junior center on the bench for the remainder of the half.
“We’ve been given guys opportunities to produce, and they are responding,” Jackson said. “Our last few games, we’ve been playing the foul trouble game. They’re kinda getting into the flow of the game. Our last game, JaRell Boone came off the bench and hit two big threes against UPrep. We’re calling guys numbers, and they’re answering the phone. That’s what we want.”
Thompson’s twin brother, Clarence, carried the scoring load in the second quarter connecting on three straight treys and four overall in the stanza as part of a 17-point effort on the night.
Clarence Thompson gives Franklin a 28-24 lead. pic.twitter.com/Yw1GuIsK0E
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 14, 2023
“I’m very proud of these guys. This group is phenomenal, resilient.”
The win came after Franklin played three games last week including a back-to-back runs against Edison Tech and UPrep on Thursday and Friday.
“We came in a little banged up,” Jackson acknowledged. “With us not having a practice Saturday or Sunday, I think it kinda helped them rest up a little bit and get our legs back up under us. We really wanted to show what we could against East. We felt like the first time we played them, we weren’t really who we are. Today, I think we left no doubt that we are best in the city.”
Freeman had 19 points with four rebounds in the win. Danny Williams added three points.
Franklin only trailed once in the game at 2-0.
Kollin McCullough connects for 3. pic.twitter.com/fVvDVl2jn2
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 14, 2023
East’s Kollin McCullough connected on a four threes and led the Eagles (15-3) with 19 points. Kesean Leonard had 16 while Quentin Gordon-Smith scored 13. Zion Parson (9), Zymier Jackson (8), Nigel Copeland (5) and Micah Johnson (2) also scored East. The Eagles had won 11 straight entering Monday’s contest.
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