The Franklin-Simpson Wildcats’ Middle School Basketball team finished their 2022-2023 season as the 13th District Middle School Boys’ Basketball Tournament runner-up on Saturday at Panther Gym on Jim Young Court that was hosted by Russellville High School.
13th District Semifinal
Wildcats 54 Panthers 40
Franklin-Simpson got off to a fast start and never looked back as they defeated Russellville to advance to the district tournament’s championship game.
The Wildcats were energized after watching the Lady Cats advance to the championship game. Out of the gates, D’Shawn Fugate scored seven straight points, 10 overall for the 1st Half, along with four points each from: Jahmir Brooks, Zay Hampton, Brody McAlister and J’Quise Smith each scored four points with three points from Kason Himshoot as Franklin-Simpson led 29-22 at halftime.
Easton Kelly and McAlister each knocked down a 3-pointer in the 3rd Quarter. T.J. Camron along with Hampton, Himshoot and Smith each scored a basket as the Wildcats extended their halftime lead to 16, 43-27. They were able to close out the game as McAlister scored four points with a couple of nice and with a free throw from Smith, they held their biggest lead of the game at 19 points and went on to advance to the championship game with their 54-40 victory over the Russellville Panthers.
D’Shawn Fugate led the Wildcats with 12 points with 11 points from Brody McAlister.
13th District Championship
Rebels 58 Wildcats 47
Franklin-Simpson had to deal with adversity with foul trouble and could not make shots down the stretch as they lost to Todd County Central in the tournament’s championship game.
Brody McAlister kick started the game with a 3-pointer and J’Quise Smith’s basket gave the Wildcats a 5-0 lead. Later in the 1st Quarter, Jahmir Brooks drained a 3-pointer with McAlister burying his second one of the game for a 13-8 lead but the Rebels scored six straight points that ended the 1st quarter and bookended it by scoring six straight to start the 2nd Quarter as now Franklin-Simpson trailed by seven, 20-13. Zay Hampton and Kason Himshoot each scored four points with Smith adding three as the Wildcats trailed 30-24 at halftime.
Smith scored six points in the 3rd Quarter along with a pair of 3-pointers from Brooks and Hampton as the Wildcats cut their deficit down to as low as four but could not get any closer in the 3rd Quarter. Fugate scored four points with McAlister making his third 3-pointer of the game as Franklin-Simpson battled but Todd County Central answered every run with one of their own as the Wildcats fell in the championship game 58-47 to the Rebels.
J’Quise Smith led the team with 13 points as he was the only Wildcat that scored in double figures.
Franklin-Simpson is coached by head coach Cailyn Hogan with assistant coaches Rayco Bryant and DeMarco Chatman.
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