Franklin's depth key in girls basketball victory against Edgewoood

Senior guard Gebhardt nets game-high 15 points while Cougars defense focuses on leading scorer McDaniel.

Ryan Podracky/Edgewood junior guard Megan Sawtelle shoots over Franklin junior Danielle Williams.

Photos: Franklin vs. Edgewood

MU icers top seed for NCAA tourney
3/21/10
UD keen on renewing rivalry with UC
3/20/10
Miami rebounds with win, likely locks up top seed in NCAA tourney
3/20/10
Ask Hal: Gullett was Reds’ best lefty in recent memory
3/20/10
Ohio State outlasts UC Santa Barbara
3/20/10
> More sports headlines

By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 6:56 AM Tuesday, December 15, 2009

TRENTON — Usually when a team limits Franklin scoring machine Brandi McDaniel to one point in a half of basketball, there’s a good chance that team’s going to win.

Not this time.

Franklin’s Kristen Gebhardt scored 10 of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lead the Wildcats to a 40-29 win Monday, Dec. 14, at Edgewood High School.

Plagued with foul trouble and a swarming Edgewood defense, McDaniel (21.3 points per game average) managed to score 10 points.

“That was our scheme right there,” Edgewood coach Greg Brown said. “We did everything we could to stop McDaniel, but they had other kids step up for them tonight.

“And we missed too many opportunities in the second half. That didn’t help matters any.”

McDaniel was whistled for her fourth foul of the night with just over seven minutes left to go in the fourth quarter and Franklin clinging to an eight-point lead, 30-22. That forced her to spend a good amount of time on the Wildcats bench.

But freshman forward Chelsea Miller stepped in admirably to spell McDaniel for a good bit of the final quarter. She may not have scored a point, but the Franklin fans showed their appreciation when Miller finally came out midway through the final period of play.

For unknown reasons, Franklin’s locker room was placed near the school’s auxiliary gym. As a result, coach Frank Russell and his team could not be found for comments after the game.

“We were able to play some good 2-3 zone defense against them, but when they were able to get the lead up to 6-8 points, that forced our hand,” Brown said. “It was then that we had to man up against them. Either that, or they were just going to hold onto the ball until we broke our zone.”

Edgewood (2-3) led by an 11-10 margin midway through the second period, but Franklin’s Gebhardt and Danielle Williams combined for a 6-1 run to give the Wildcats a 16-12 lead at the break.

When Williams bombed a 3-pointer from the right wing to start the third quarter, Franklin suddenly had the luxury of being able to hold on to the ball, breaking Edgewood out of its stifling zone defense.

“You have to hand it to Franklin,” Brown said. “Gebhardt stepped up, and the rest of the team hit some critical 3s to keep their team in the game.

“Franklin’s a lot better than they were last season,” he added. “They’re going to win a lot of games this year.”

The Cougars return to Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division action at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Talawanda High in Oxford.

Franklin (5-1) will play host to West Carrollton on Thursday in another nonleague game.

Share this article