One school ranks third in Section V with 14 titles and aims to end a 23-year drought. Another is looking for its second title in four years. Franklin and UPrep clash for the third time this season with the Class AAA title on the line. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 3 seed FRANKLIN BULLDOGS (15-6 / RCAC Upper)
vs.
No. 4 seed UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY CHARTER GRIFFINS (13-9 / Private Parochial)
Friday, Blue Cross Arena, 9 p.m.
How they arrived here: Franklin opened up the postseason with a 111-56 win over Edison Tech. The Bulldogs then downed Fairport (72-68) to reach the Class AAA final. UPrep defeated Rush-Henrietta (58-56) before knocking off top-seeded Aquinas (58-55).
Scoring offense: Franklin (77.4), UPrep (66.3)
Scoring defense: Franklin (68.5), UPrep (62.8)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
Tempo and trends: Franklin enters the championship having won six straight games. UPrep is riding a four-game win streak and five of the last six. The Griffins have had 18 contests decided by 10 points or less and seven games decided by a single possession.
Last time they met: Franklin took a 74-70 decision in early December. UPrep avenged that loss with a 94-86 victory in late January.
Players to watch for Franklin: Terence Thompson Sr. G/F/C 22 PPG, 14 RPG, four BPG, three APG; Shawn Goins Sr. 18 PPG, four SPG, three APG; Clarence Thompson Sr. G/F 18 PPG, five RPG, three SPG, four APG; Kollin McCullough Sr. G 13 PPG, nine RPG, four APG
UPrep: Jermelle Cotton Jr. G 16 PPG, three RPG, three APG, two SPG; Alex Webb Sr. F 12 PPG, eight RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG; Gavin White Fr. G 12 PPG, seven RPG, seven APG, three SPG; Gregory Bodine So. G 10 PPG, four RPG, four APG, 2.3 SPG; Keone Manigault Sr. F eight PPG, six RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG; Ja’yvion Sampson So. G seven PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.5 APG, three SPG
Coaches: Joseph Jackson (Franklin), Jerice Crouch (UPrep)
History 101: Franklin is looking for its 15th sectional title in program history. The Bulldogs last won in 2001 but fell to the Section VI champion Niagara Falls in the Far West Regional. Franklin has a 2-4 record in the Far West Regional and reached the state championship in 1996. UPrep won its second title in program history in 2020, defeating McQuaid 81-76. Prior to 2020, UPrep last won in 2013 and appeared in the NYS semifinal, but fell to Martin Luther King (I). This is the third time these two squads have met this year. Franklin took the first meeting at home 74-70, while UPrep downed the Bulldogs the second time around 94-86.
What’s at stake: Winner advances to the Far West Regional and will face either Niagara Falls or Lancaster.
Leave a Reply