High school basketball: Frankfort gets revenge over Franklin County in front of packed gym
Friday night’s high school basketball tripleheader at the William Exum Center on the campus of Kentucky State University began with a pair of rivalry matchups.
Crosstown rivals Frankfort and Franklin County played a girls’ and boys’ varsity doubleheader before the showcase event of the night — an out-of-state boys’ basketball showdown between Camden High School (New Jersey) and Combine Academy (North Carolina) featuring top college basketball recruits — took to the hardwood.
The local rivalry games also represented the second time in as many weeks that the two schools faced off: Both the boys’ and girls’ varsity squads from Frankfort and Franklin County played each other on Jan. 20.
One of those results held true again Friday night in front of a lively and sizable crowd at the Exum Center, while the other was flipped on its head.
Frankfort boys’ get revenge with close win
Frankfort senior guard Jordan Blythe scored six points in the closing minutes of the game — all via free throws — to swing a close game in favor of the Panthers and give Frankfort a 54-48 win over Franklin County.
The game was tied at 42 with 3:11 to go, before Frankfort (12-11) outscored Franklin County (9-12) by a 2-1 margin the rest of the way.
On Jan. 20, Franklin County recorded a resounding 70-37 win over its city rivals.
After sealing the victory from the foul line — and with the Frankfort student section cheering him on — Blythe also pulled off a cartwheel and backflip on the Exum Center court.
Impressive stuff.
Frankfort is now 5-8 in 11th Region games. Franklin County is 2-9 in the 11th Region.
Franklin County girls keep rolling with rivalry win
Franklin County’s girls’ team has now won six of its last seven games as it eyes another appearance at Rupp Arena for the Sweet 16.
Franklin County beat Frankfort, 63-19, on Jan. 20, and did that result one better Friday night, as Franklin County won 64-19.
The game was decided early on after Franklin County raced to a 40-10 halftime lead.
Freshman guard Logan Kennedy and senior guard Jazmin Chambers each had 13 points in the win for Franklin County. Seventh-grader Taylin Wade led Frankfort with 11 points.
Head coach Joey Thacker’s Franklin County team reached the state quarterfinals last season before losing to Southwestern, and figure to have a strong chance to make another postseason run this season.
Franklin County is now 19-5 overall and a perfect 6-0 in 11th Region games, while Frankfort is 10-15 overall and 3-7 in the 11th Region.
This story was originally published February 4, 2023 at 1:04 PM.
