The Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats’ Middle School Basketball team finished their 2022-2023 season as the 13th District Middle School Girls’ Basketball Tournament runner-up on Saturday at Russellville High School’s Panther Gym on Jim Young Court.
13th District Semifinal
Lady Cats 49 Lady Rebels 36
Franklin-Simpson did not pick up a regular season 13th District win against Todd County Central. But the third time was the charm as they won the most important game of the three as they led wire to wire for the victory to advance to the championship game.
Rebecca Luttrell, who made the team;s first 3-pointer of the game, and Addy McKinney provided all the scoring for Franklin-Simpson in the 1st Quarter as they combined to score 11 points. MaJayla Butler and McKinney each scored four points early in the 2nd Quarter. Zoei Bonner buried the team’s second 3-pointer of the game and Madelyn Dean added a basket for a 24-19 lead at halftime.
Butler and McKinney, who knocked down a 3-pointer to start the 3rd Quarter, each scored five points in the period. The Lady Rebels rallied in the 4th Quarter but McKinney scored nine points with two points each from: Butler, Dean and Luttrell as the Lady Cats advanced to the tournament’s championship game with a 49-36 victory.
Addy McKinney scored 23 points with MaJayla Butler adding 11 points for the Lady Cats.
13th District Championship
Lady Cougars 43 Lady Cats 34
Franklin-Simpson got off to a slow start in the 1st half and it led to their undoing as they fell to Logan County in the 13th District Tournament’s Middle School championship game.
MaJayla Butler scored the first five points of the game for Franklin-Simpson with Rebecca Luttrell dropping a 3-pointer in the 1st Quarter as they trailed 11-8. Luttrell buried her second 3-pointer of the game early in the 2nd Quarter with Addy McKinney scoring a basket. The Lady Cats scored two field goals in the quarter as they were outscored 15-6 by the Lady Cougars as they trailed 26-14 at halftime.
Luttrell made three field goals in the 3rd Quarter with Butler making three of her four free throws but Franklin-Simpson could not cut into their double digit deficit. Butler added four points in the 4th Quarter and in the closing moments of the game: Harley Crafton, Ayshia Cosby and Jayden Kough each scored a basket as the Lady Cats came up short with their 43-34 loss to Logan County in the championship game.
Rebecca Luttrell scored a team high of 14 points with MaJayla Butler adding 12 points for the Lady Cats.
Franklin-Simpson is coached by head coach DerFra Holt with assistant coaches Constance Luttrell and Christy Richmond.
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