Franklin remains undefeated

Wildcats cruise past Valley View 81-50 in hostile arena.

Franklin's Jacob Rossi (center) takes a shot over Valley View's Patrick Boyle (left) and Josh Haeseker during the fourth quarter of a Southwestern Buckeye League game Friday. Rossi had 17 points in the Wildcats' victory. Contributed photo by David A. Moodie

Moodie Franklin's Jacob Rossi (center) takes a shot over Valley View's Patrick Boyle (left) and Josh Haeseker during the fourth quarter of a Southwestern Buckeye League game Friday. Rossi had 17 points in the Wildcats' victory. Contributed photo by David A. Moodie

ENLARGE PHOTO

Frazier’s home run lifts Reds to 5th straight win
10:20 a.m.
Spartans head to regional final
5/24/12
Fenwick’s tourney run ends in regional semis
5/24/12
2 Middie jumpers qualify for state
5/24/12
College baseball: Miami tops Toledo in MAC tourney
5/23/12
> More sports headlines

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 2:00 AM Saturday, January 7, 2012

GERMAN TWP. — The beast rumbled into town and dished out another rough dose of reality Friday night.

That’s the way this season has gone for Franklin High School’s unbeaten boys basketball team, and the Wildcats aren’t showing any signs of weakening.

Luke Kennard (19), Travis Lakins (18), Jacob Rossi (17) and Eli Staton (15) handled most of the scoreboard production in Franklin’s latest conquest, an 81-50 whipping of Valley View in the jam-packed VVHS gym.

“We pull in and there’s police everywhere, the place is sold out by 3:30, and our guys just played,” Wildcats coach Brian Bales said. “I’m just so proud of our kids the way they kept their composure. Their focus was unreal tonight.”

Franklin led wire to wire, forcing the hosts into five turnovers in the first 95 seconds. The Wildcats’ pressure was strong, and their length only added more misery to the Spartans’ night.

“They are as advertised, I would say that,” Valley View coach Ben Buehner said. “We’ve seen them a couple times, but when you’re actually playing them, you get to see how good they really are.”

The Wildcats buried eight 3-pointers, four by Kennard, and pushed their record to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division. The Spartans are 8-2, 4-1.

Lakins paced Franklin’s 45-23 first half with 14 points.

“We’re playing good ball right now, and when we play good, we’re hard to handle,” said Lakins, a junior guard. “Our biggest one is the next one. That’s how we’re looking at it.”

Bales praised his inside trio of Staton and the Rossi brothers, Jacob and Justin, for dominating the boards. Jacob Rossi’s 12 caroms led the way, and Kennard chipped in nine.

Zack Denny fired in 30 points for Valley View, which finished with 23 turnovers. His teammates combined for eight field goals.

“We were hoping to embrace the moment a little more than we did,” Buehner said. “We needed to handle the ball better, but they forced a lot of those turnovers. Give them credit.”

Lakins totaled six assists for the Wildcats. Kennard added five assists and four steals, and Staton also had four steals.

Valley View was within nine (30-21) midway through the second quarter. Franklin tallied 27 of the next 31 points.

“Our length and our energy will present problems for people,” Bales said. “We know we’re wearing a bull’s-eye. We’ve got to get used to getting everybody’s No. 1 game. We’ve got a saying — stay humble, stay hungry. The kids really have a team-first mentality, and our fan support has been unbelievable.”

Both teams play again tonight. The Wildcats are at home against Little Miami, while the Spartans travel to Waynesville.

Share this article