Franklin-Simpson and Greenwood squared off in what would be a very intriguing high school basketball game on Tuesday night at Franklin-Simpson High School.
The Wildcats, who returned home following a 52-36 loss to Owensboro Catholic in the State Farm Shootout at South Warren High School on Saturday, welcomed in an eager Gator club that traveled to Allen County-Scottsville on Saturday and won 57-45.
Thanks to a stellar performance from Tavin Lovan, who scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Franklin-Simpson (14-4) held off Greenwood, winning 60-51 in front of an energetic crowd at Wildcat Gym.
Along with Lovan’s big outing, Dakota Thomas dropped 15 points while Ollie Eutsey added a production of 6 points. In its loss, Dawson Crump carried Greenwood (11-9) by tallying 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.
From the time the ball was thrown up for the opening tipoff and for most of the match, both teams went back and forth.
Franklin-Simpson and Greenwood traded baskets all throughout the first quarter, as the Wildcats had a slim 16-9 lead after eight minutes of action. At the time, Thomas and Crump each had five points for their respected clubs.
The Wildcats ended the second period on a 5-0 run and helped build an eight-point lead at halftime, with the scoreboard reading 30-22. In the opening two quarters, Franklin shot 11-of-27 from the floor while the Gators were 8-of-21, only taking four shots in each of the two periods.
At intermission, Lovan led all scorers with 13 points and 7 rebounds (5 offensive) as well as pair of assists. For Greenwood, Luke Littrell had 8 points powered by two three-pointers.
Trailing by eight, the Gators came out of the locker room fired up and went on to outscore Franklin-Simpson 16-14 in the third. Greenwood got within four points at the 1:39 mark of the quarter following a Crump three, but went into the final period trailing 44-38 to the Wildcats.
In the final period, Ollie Eutsey created a 6-0 run of his own by nailing back-to-back three’s and Lovan began to score at ease by driving to the lane, scoring and drawing fouls. The Gators responded by going on a 7-0 run powered by Crump and Littrell, but Lovan converted two and-ones in the final minute to help Franklin hold off Greenwood.
Franklin-Simpson hits the floor again on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in a home game against Logan County while Greenwood travels to Warren Central on Friday for a contest set to tipoff at the same time.
–Follow Sporting Times High School Insider Tyler Mansfield on Twitter @RealTMansfield—
