Looking to end a six-game losing run to 13th-District rival Franklin-Simpson on Friday, the host Todd County Central Lady Rebels nearly erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit before falling 47-45 to the two-time defending district champion Lady Wildcats.
The loss is the third straight for the Lady Rebels, leaving them at 11-9 ahead of a trip to Hopkins County Central on Tuesday. Franklin-Simpson improved to 4-0 in district play, and Todd Central slipped to 1-2.
The Lady Rebels twice took a five-point edge early on, but after a technical foul on the Todd Central bench in the final seconds, Franklin-Simpson hit one of two free throws to end the first quarter with a 10-10 tie.
Alexis Taylor’s second three-point play of the second quarter pushed Todd Central in front 17-16. The Lady Wildcats led by four after the Lady Rebels’ Jordyn Shemwell and Franklin’s Jasmine Savage traded three-pointers. Lee Lee Partinger capped an eight-point frame with a bucket in the lane, sending the Lady Wildcats to a 26-22 halftime advantage.
Taylor picked up her fourth foul with only two minutes played in the second half and the Lady Rebels trailing by three. Franklin-Simpson responded with a 12-4 spurt to lead 42-31 when Taylor returned early in the final quarter.
The margin was 12 with 4:37 to play when the Lady Rebels made their charge. Jamaia Burks scored on either side of an Abby Williams three-pointer to cut it to 46-42, and Franklin twice missed the front end of a one-and-one to leave the door open.
Taylor put back her miss to pull the Lady Rebels to within a point with :35 left. Katelyn McAlister hit one of two free throws for Franklin before Williams’ corner three to win it bounced off at the buzzer.
Williams and Taylor both finished with a game-high 17 points. Partinger had 13 for Franklin, and Kloie Smith scored ten.
Franklin-Simpson 10 16 16 5 — 47
Todd Central 10 12 9 14 — 45
Franklin-Simpson (12-8) — Partinger 13, Smith 10, Savage 9, McAlister 7, Johnson 6, Brown 2
Todd Central (11-9) — Taylor 17, Williams 17, Burks 4, Kay 4, Shemwell 3
