Franklin Co. keeps 13-year district win streak alive despite injuries, illness
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- Franklin County extended its 95-game district win streak despite thin roster.
- Coach Sandford manages injuries and inexperience while preserving expectations.
- Junior Makiyah Wheeler paced team with 15 pts amid ankle issue in key victory.
With only eight players dressed and five of them still in middle school, Franklin County managed to extend its incredible 41st District girls basketball win streak to 95 games Tuesday night with a gritty 57-52 home victory over Great Crossing.
First-year coach Madisen W. Sandford’s Flyers had more players in street clothes than subs available on her bench. Two were on crutches. Two more were home with the flu.
“It’s one day at a time. Right foot. Left foot. Breathe,” Sandford said of her team’s injury woes and its uncharacteristic 4-7 start to the season. “We’re constantly reminded not only how young and inexperienced we are, but we have a lot to learn. … They’re working on it. And that’s what I’m proud of.”
A longtime assistant coach for no-doubt future hall-of-famer Joey Thacker, who retired at the end of last season, Sandford inherited a squad with only one player back with significant varsity experience. But expectations remain high. Thacker led the Flyers to two Girls’ Sweet 16 finals, seven 11th Region crowns and 16 41st District titles (the past 12 in a row).
The 95-game district win streak dates to Feb. 22, 2013 when Frankfort defeated Franklin County in the district championship game.
Sandford acknowledged the streak is on her players’ minds whenever they play Great Crossing, Western Hills or Frankfort.
“Yes, it’s some pressure, but at the same time we want to continue that streak,” Sandford said. “They know the expectations of the navy and gold. They understand it. … They know what they signed up for playing Franklin County Flyers basketball.”
Adding to Franklin County’s worries, its lone returning starter, junior point guard Makiyia Wheeler, has been dealing with an ankle injury that kept her out for four games this season.
Despite aggravating that injury during the first half Tuesday, Wheeler led four Flyers in double figures with 15 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists.
“We just persevered,” Wheeler said. “Our team realizes the potential that we have, and we kept pushing through it.”
Great Crossing had to like its chances coming into the game. The Warhawks (9-4) throttled Scott County 62-40 on Dec. 13. Five days later, the Flyers eked out a 42-39 road win over those same Cardinals.
But the Warhawks could not find a rhythm against the Flyers, shooting just 30.8% from the field and missing 18 of their 22 3-point attempts. Although Franklin County committed 26 turnovers to Great Crossing’s 16, the Flyers won the rebounding battle 44-37 and shot 41.3% from the field.
Great Crossing outscored the Flyers 21-8 in the fourth quarter, but the Flyers straddled halftime with a 16-1 run that put them up 45-25 with 1:35 to play in the third, essentially sealing the game. The run was capped by a wide-open layup by Haylee Hazelett for two of her 10 points. Addilyn Taylor added 13 and La’Kyiah Taylor 11.
La’Kyiah Taylor, an eighth grader who is one of Franklin County’s six varsity middle schoolers, leads the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game.
The loss dropped Great Crossing’s record against Franklin County to 0-18. Maya Custard and Samantha Brown led the Warhawks with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
After Thursday’s Class 2A Championships sectional game at Mercer County, the Flyers will host district rival Western Hills (11-3) at 6 p.m. Friday. The Wolverines haven’t beaten Franklin County since 2008, a span of 44 games. They feature three double-digit scorers, including 6-foot sophomore center Malia Campbell.
The Flyers know keeping their streak alive will be a challenge.
“We’re just taking it one day at a time, one possession at a time and that’s what you’ve got to do,” Sandford said.
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 1:29 AM.
