Ice and Catherine Kennedy may need to stockpile a box full of videos of their son’s performance Friday night at Franklin. They could be more valuable in their son getting a college scholarship than filling out a FAFSA.
Jordan Kennedy put together a performance to relish in leading the Russellville Panthers to a 77-74 win, making them the only undefeated team in District 13 play. The senior post player scored 22 points in the first half, including 14 in the second quarter, and 28 for the game. He scored on power moves inside, mid-range jumpers, 5 of 6 free throw shooting and even a crucial 3-pointer in the final 75 seconds. He also pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked 4 Wildcat shots.
The biggest block of the game, though, came in the final second when RHS’ Josh Hampton deflected Drew Talley’s 3-point attempt that could have sent the game into overtime. Hampton finished in double figures with 10 points. The senior wing went 6 for 6 at the line, a pair of them coming in the tight fourth quarter.
Junior guard Christian Naylor had a huge game. He scored 23 points, going 7 for 7 in free throws, a pair of them coming with 39 seconds remaining and two more with 23 seconds showing on the clock. He also hit consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter after Coach Phil Todd’s team had fallen behind 19-12. His first 12 points came in segments of three points each—a trio of treys and a field goal combined with a free throw.
Another junior guard, Barrett Croslin, hit back-to-back shots with a couple of minutes left in the third quarter The first one put his team up for good at 55-54 and the second, a 3-pointer, padded the lead..
Coco Darden, a sophomore guard who didn’t start after missing Tuesday’s win at Greenwood because of illness, drew a pair of key charges. The first came in the first quarter when he picked up Franklin star Tanner Clark’s second foul. Causing Clark to have to sit for several minutes helped the Panther cause. Then in the final minute Darden worked an offensive foul on DeMaris Payne, ending that Cat’s night with five personals.
Even though Clark, who is one of the region’s top guards, was in early foul trouble, he still kept the home team in contention. The grandson of former Auburn High School coach Ronnie Clark, scored 24 points, 9 of them coming on treys. He totaled 12 of them in that closely contested second quarter, which found the teams tied 44-44 at halftime. He put together a 3-point play late in the game to pull his team within striking distance at what was to be the final score, and his 3-point attempt in the last few seconds almost tied it.
Eighth grader Tavin Lovan had another solid game for Franklin with 16 points—9 of them in the first quarter, and Talley added 12. Colton Hurt scored 11, with 8 of them coming in the first quarter, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers. He hit another one in the fourth quarter, as Coach Dee Spencer’s team canned eight long-range bombs.
The Panthers (10-7 overall, 3-0 district) won the game at the foul line, hitting 23 of 26. They also hit 6 three-pointers.
The Panthers and Lady Panthers get to showcase their improvement Monday when they play Cumberland County at Clinton County in the Class A regional tournament.
Score by quarters: 1) F-S 21-20, 2) 44-44, 3) 60-56, Final) Russellville 77, Franklin-Simpson 74
RHS (77) Jordan Kennedy 28, Christian Naylor 23, Josh Hampton 10, Barrett Croslin 7, Lee McMurray 6, Darrion Quarles 3, Coco Darden, Dequan Beard
F-S (74) Tanner Clark 24, Tavis Lovan 16, Drew Talley 12, Colton Hurt 11, DeMaris Payne 7, Joe Hawkins 2, Ross 2, Jordan Holton, Jacob Johnson, Olajuwan Flippin