Franklin routs Bryan Station. See who else survived, advanced in the 11th Region.
The Franklin County girls’ basketball team took its first step Monday night toward returning to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since it made a run to the state championship game in 2017.
Senior guard Jasmine Simpson caught fire in the first half and led the Flyers to a 72-47 rout of Bryan Station in the opening round of the 11th Region Tournament at Franklin County High School.
Simpson finished with 16 points, nearly doubling her season scoring average. She nailed back-to-back three pointers in the first quarter to put Franklin County (25-7) up 15-9. She sank two more treys in the second quarter and scored 14 first-half points before heading to the bench with her third foul. The Flyers led 38-24 at halftime.
“She’s played really well of late and she’s really turned it on defensively too, because this is her last ride,” Franklin County Coach Joey Thacker said of Simpson’s play down the stretch this season.
Simpson is hungry to make a run at a state tournament berth.
“This was my last time playing on Franklin County’s court, now we’re moving on and we just have to keep it going,” Simpson said. “We’ve just got to keep fighting and stay in our zone and leave everything on the court.”
Junior guard Brooklynn Miles ran the point masterfully for the Flyers, routinely pushing the pace and attacking the basket. She scored a game-high 18 points and hit two three-pointers.
“If she could just get to be a little more efficient against contact going to the rim I don’t know that anybody can keep her from getting there,” Thacker said of Miles’ ability to get inside. “When she wants to go she’s gonna get there. We’ve just got to get some other people on board to play that fast.”
Franklin County also got a boost from the return of two key contributors. Sophomore guard Nevaeh Carter and sophomore forward Patience Laster returned to the lineup after missing six games for undisclosed reasons. Thacker declined to comment on their absence. Both players came off the bench in the first quarter. Carter’s steal and layup early in the fourth quarter stretched Franklin County’s advantage to 57-33. Carter scored six points while Laster chipped in 10.
Franklin County finished it off with defense, holding Bryan Station (12-20) to just five points in the third quarter. Tania Woodall led the Defenders with 14 points.
Next up for the Flyers is a semifinal matchup with Paul Laurence Dunbar at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Franklin County won the only regular-season contest between the teams 54-50 at Dunbar in mid-February.
Monday’s other 11th Region games
Great Crossing 59, Madison Central 44: Braylee McMath was sensational on Monday, leading Great Crossing (16-15) to victory in the 11th Region Tournament first round at Madison Central (13-18). The junior point guard hit 10 of 20 shots from the field, including three of five three-pointers, on her way to a game-high 25 points. She also contributed five assists, six rebounds and nine steals.
Ava Schureman and Timothi Williams added 11 points each for the Warhawks, who forced 21 turnovers on the night. Taleya Todd led Madison Central with 13 points.
Great Crossing will face crosstown rival Scott County in Wednesday’s second semifinal at EKU. Scott County won both regular-season matchups between the two.
Scott County 93, Tates Creek 58: Several players put up massive numbers as Scott County (28-6) rolled over visiting Tates Creek (18-12). Malea Williams led the way for the Cardinals with 32 points and 19 rebounds. Morgan DeFoor pitched in 19 points and 12 assists while Kenady Tompkins had 17 points and eight rebounds.
Jada McDonald scored a team-high 17 for Tates Creek, which qualified for the region tournament for the first time since 2009. Scott County has won seven consecutive 11th Region Tournament games.
Paul Laurence Dunbar 57, Berea 32: Host Paul Dunbar (23-8) led by just eight at halftime but outscored Berea (17-15) 36-19 after the break to earn a spot in the 11th Region semifinals for the second time in three years.
The Bulldogs are riding a six-game winning streak since their narrow loss to Franklin County on Feb. 11.
11th Region Girls’ Basketball Tournament
(First round at district winners, remainder at EKU’s McBrayer Arena)
Monday
Franklin County 72, Bryan Station 47
Paul Dunbar 57, Berea 32
Scott County 93, Tates Creek 58
Great Crossing 59, Madison Central 44
Wednesday
6:30 p.m.: Franklin County (25-7) vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar (23-8)
8 p.m.: Scott County (27-6) vs. Great Crossing (16-15)
Friday
7 p.m.: Championship game
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 10:30 PM.
