Logan teams sweep Franklin in district matchup
Logan County’s basketball teams had a productive night Friday on the way to a sweep of homestanding Franklin-Simpson. The Lady Cougars won 75-54 and the Cougars 59-45.
With the wins, Coach Finley Baird’s Lady Cougars clinched the top seed in the 13th District Tournament, and Coach Lonnie Mason’s Cougars remained undefeated in the district with only one game that counts remaining.
Junior Torrie Pollard had 14 points for the Ladies, in addition to 5 deflections and 4 steals. She was perfect in shooting, hitting all five shots she attempted from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers. She also hit her only free throw.
Senior Kapreshia Powell scored 11 points and led the team in rebounding with six (Logan only had 14 rebounds as a team). Powell also had two steals.
Junior Taleia Mason contributed in a variety of ways with eight points, seven assists, five steals, four deflections and only one turnover. Her defense on F-S freshman star Keeley Morrow was just as important.
Junior Brooke Barnes scored 10 points, blocked five shots and added five deflections. All of the blocks came in the first half as the Lady Cougars held on to a 22-20 lead at the intermission.
Senior Maegann Hardison scored 12 points, highlighted by 3 of 4 accuracy from three-point range, and she had two each of deflections and steals plus a blocked shot.
Also scoring were Cierra Johnson and Ann-Meguiar Bouldin.
This win was in sharp contrast to Logan’s first two games at Franklin-Simpson. The Lady Cougars won at home 45-42 in early December, and Coach David Clark’s Lady Cats won 42-28 over LCHS in the Lady Storm United Mine Workers of America Classic at Hopkins County Central. Tournament games don’t count on district standings.
The Cougars won every quarter on the way to their lopsided win. They were ahead 33-21 at halftime, and 54-39 entering the final period.
Senior Ben Wright led the way with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and two each of steals and assists. He hit all six of his two-point shots and 8 of 12 free throw attempts.
Junior guard Noah Whittinghill contributed 15 points. He hit six of nine shots, including a three-pointer.
Senior Taylor Blakemore scored 10 points and had six rebounds. He hit five of seven shots and added three assists and a steal. Tahmir Graham, Kaleb Coursey and Jose Garcia each scored six points, and Graham pulled won six rebounds.
Tony Lockhart led Coach Dee Spencer’s Wildcats with 18 points, but it was a big dropoff to Daelon Payne’s seven points. Jackson Caudill, Josiah Robey and William Moody added six points each.
If the Cougars beat Russellville again on Feb. 6, they will be the top seed in the district tournament. If the Panthers win, however, it’s possible they would tie their crosstown rivals with 5-1 records each, Then a tiebreaker would be needed. It’s important to be number one in the district to get to play the number four seed, which most likely will be Todd Central. Russellville is improving each game, and Franklin should have the region’s top player, the injured Tavin Lovan, back in action by tournament time.