Miley McClellan
In its first game of the new girls basketball season, a young and inexperienced Columbus North team faced the unenvieable task of facing a team of 10 seniors.
Franklin started five seniors, including three four-year starters that were sophomores when the Grizzly Cubs were Class 4A state runner-up two years ago. They used that to their advantage in handing the Bull Dogs a 67-36 defeat.
“We knew coming in this was an example of a very experienced team we were going against, and we don’t have that experience right now,” North coach Brett White said. “So we talked about in the locker room, the positive that we have is, now we do have one game under our belt, and eventually we’ll have a second and a third game under our belt. So it’s about gaining that experience, it’s about learning from what we did and build on that for the next time out.”
While the Bull Dogs held Franklin’s three four-year starters to a combined six points in the first half, a fourth returning starter, senior Brooklyn York took over. York scored 10 in the first half, then put up 16 in the third quarter, including 11 consecutive points in a span of 33 seconds, on her way to a career-high 28-point performance.
“They’re all nice players,” White said. “Most of them have been playing for four years and a lot of them at least three. When they have that many options, you try to take away what you feel are their their top options, and sometimes that third or fourth option steps up and she did today.”
After North led 4-2 three minutes into the game, the Grizzly Cubs (2-0) scored the next 18 points to take a 20-4 lead. Franklin led 28-10 in the closing seconds of the first half before the Bull Dogs scored the final two points of the first half and the first seven of the second half to cut the lead to 28-19.
The Grizzly Cubs then outscored North 25-4 in a span of 3 1/2 minutes to put it away.
“We got back in the game, and unfortunately, we still played at a frantic pace, even though we were back in the game,” White said. “We took a couple quick shots when we didn’t need to and turned the basketball over, and they hit some shots and it got away from us.”
Freshman Kaylie Harmon led the Bull Dogs with 11 points, while Miley McClellan scored nine and freshman Ava Wilson added eight. Kaitlin White grabbed seven rebounds for North, which was outrebounded 30-29.
The Bull Dogs, who were plagued by 27 turnovers, are in a sectional where Franklin is the defending champion and favorite to repeat.
“It’s a long season,” White said. “Today didn’t define what our season is going to be like. We could possibly see them again, and when we do, I think we’ll be a different team.”
Franklin 67, Columbus North 36
Franklin;12;16;26;13;—;67
Columbus North;4;8;16;8;—;36
Franklin (2-0): Aubrey Runyon 0 0-0 0, Kennedy Urban 2 0-0 5, Addie Morris 0 0-0 0, Lauren Klem 4 0-0 11, Sophie Rinehold 1 0-0 2, Scarlett Kimbrell 3 0-0 8, Erica Buening 2 4-4 8, Emma Sappenfield 2 1-2 5, Emily Fuqua 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn York 11 3-5 28. Totals: 25 8-11 67.
Columbus North (0-1): Kenna Conrad 0 0-2 0, Ava Wilson 0 8-8 8, Olivia Johnson 0 0-0 0, Kaylie Harmon 4 3-3 11, Paige Terry 0 0-0 0, Kaitlin WHite 0 0-0 0, Miley McClellan 3 3-3 9, Avery Johnson 0 2-2 2, Sydney Johnson 0 0-0 0, Hadassah Hurt 2 1-2 6. Totals: 9 17-18 36.
3-point goals: Franklin 9 (Klem 3, York 3, Kimbrell 2, Urban); Columbus North 1 (Hurt).
