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Franklin surges late to earn victory

Franklin uses 18-4 run to hold off Valley View and take control of SWBL.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 12:37 AM Saturday, January 28, 2012

FRANKLIN — Early in the fourth quarter, Valley View threatened to make another run at the foul-troubled Franklin Wildcats.

But just as they have all season, the ’Cats responded with — as Franklin coach Brian Bales described it — “the mark of a champion.”

Scott Dwyer and Trevor Shelton came off the bench to connect on 3-pointers 25 seconds apart in the fourth quarter, capping an 18-4 run in Franklin’s not-as-easy-as-it-looked 74-54 victory Friday.

The win gave Franklin (14-0, 8-0 SWBL) a three-game lead over Eaton in the Southwestern Buckeye League’s Southwestern Division with four league games to play. The loss dropped Valley View (9-6, 5-4) into a tie for third with Bellbrook.

The Spartans, who led briefly in the opening minutes, trailed by as many as 15 in a physical first half before cutting it to seven at halftime.

They worked it down to 45-42 with 3:16 left in the third on two of Zack Denny’s game-high 28 points.

Franklin ballooned it back to double digits, but with post players Justin and Jacob Rossi in foul trouble, the Spartans were looking at making that last-gasp run.

That threat ended quickly when Dwyer hit his second 3-pointer with 6:05 to play and Shelton followed at 5:40 with his only basket. The ’Cats then closed it out at the line by hitting 9-of-13 free throws.

“All we asked of the guys was to give us a chance; we got those chances and we didn’t convert,” Valley View coach Ben Buehner said. “When you don’t convert chances to win games, good teams are going to capitalize, and that’s what they did.”

Luke Kennard (22 points) and Travis Lakins (21 points) combined to go 20-of-26 from the free-throw line. Overall, the ’Cats enjoyed a 26-for-44 advantage to the Spartans’ 11-of-20 effort.

“We’re very fortunate to have guards like Travis and Luke. When you have to foul those guys, it’s two points usually,” Bales said. “I thought our bench came up huge tonight. ... This is a special group all the way around.”

Franklin — ranked No. 2 in the DDN’s Division II ratings behind undefeated Dunbar — swept the season series after beating Valley View 81-50 on Jan. 6.

“Our guys, when we play our game, we can compete with the best in the area,” Buehner said. “That’s all we ask our guys to do. Give everything they have.”

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