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Franklin hands Springboro first loss

Wildcats freshman Kennard scores 22 in win over rival Panthers.

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12:53 AM Wednesday, January 4, 2012

By Greg Billing

Staff Writer

SPRINGBORO — With a pair of Division I college recruits and one of the top freshmen in the state, expectations are high for Franklin’s boys basketball team.

They went up a notch Tuesday.

Franklin’s hustle on both ends of the court — and an impressive display of eight 3-pointers — helped deliver a surprisingly decisive 69-47 win over previously undefeated and host Springboro (8-1).

Fans without tickets were being turned away at 6:30 p.m. — an hour and 15 minutes before the varsity tipoff — and those among the 2,700 who made it in saw the Wildcats (6-0) roar to a 24-9 lead early in the second quarter.

“We wanted to push the ball ... and I thought we were really good in the first half,” Franklin coach Brian Bales said. “That’s what we do best is defend and run.”

Franklin freshman Luke Kennard missed his first two shots, one an air ball that Boro’s student section wouldn’t let him forget, but rebounded with 22 points. He also controlled the Wildcats’ fast break that sprinted to a 44-25 lead at halftime.

“Maybe,” Kennard said of the final score surprising basketball fans, “but we thought we had a good chance, and it happened. It was a good win for us.”

Springboro’s Maverick Morgan, a 6-foot-10 center, picked up two quick fouls and sat most of the first quarter. He finished with 14 points and four rebounds.

Senior Jack Mapes scored 23 points to lead Springboro.

Franklin’s Jacob and Justin Rossi — a pair of 6-8 seniors — combined for 24 points and helped the Wildcats unofficially outrebound the Panthers 32-21.

Franklin certainly wanted this rivalry win, but Bales said the team philosophy is to not buy into those expectations too much, especially with a Southwestern Buckeye League clash against Valley View on Friday.

“I told them we’re going to enjoy this,” Bales said, “but our only goal this year is to win the next one.”

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