Brooke Nichelson (X Photo)
Veteran Franklin County coach Joey Thacker says his team has a “monumental challenge” against North Laurel tonight in the girls state tournament in Rupp Arena.
North Laurel is led by Brooke Nichelson, a 40 percent shooter from 3-point range. Thacker thinks she is as “good as any guard/wing in the state in the open floor.” She averages 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. She’s also a 78 percent shooter at the foul line.
North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan calls her a “great shooter, especially when she hits her first one because we know it will be a great night for our team.” He agrees with Thacker about her open court play, too.
“She is great in transition and with her athleticism is hard to guard. When she is shooting (making) the 3 it is almost impossible to guard her,” Mahan said. “We knew going into this season we would have to do some adjustments. Brooke has done a great job with her leadership. She has taken on a lot of scoring when it was needed in crunch time.”
Center Chloe McKnight adds 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. She shoots 60 percent from the field.
“McKnight is a lot more consistent this year and one of the better post players in the state,” Mahan said.
Sophomore Haley Combs, a 47 percent shooter, averages 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
“She is the ultimate point guard. The last one to leave the gym. She is always getting in shots. She has been a tremendous asset to us and is just an overall great kid and player,” Mahan said.
North Laurel and Franklin met in a preseason scrimmage and Mahan saw film of Franklin during the season.
“They have good post play. That is what we feel we have the advantage on most teams but this is going to be a great matchup in the paint and you don’t see that often in high school any more,” Mahan said.
Thacker said his players worked hard to get back to the state after not making the trip last season.
“Our two point guards are a freshman (Makiyia Wheeler) and a sophomore (Logan ) Kennedy and they have got better,” Thacker said. “They are better at taking care of the ball and that helped us. We have shot way better the second half of the year.
“We played a tough schedule and that competition makes you tougher. You learn to answer the bell or you get embarrassed. Our kids have grown up a lot.”
Franklin, which has won 16 straight games, has seven players averaging between 6.2 and 11.2 points per game. They also have seven players averaging between 2.6 and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Tonight’s game is also special to Thacker for an even more important reason. His wife is scheduled to have surgery April 4.
“This is her second cancer battle. She is the mother hen to a lot of these kids,” Thacker said.
He cried after his team’s 11th Region championship win knowing what his wife faced but also knowing how much his players wanted to win for her.
“She wouldn’t miss it (tonight’s game). She made that clear,” Franklin said.
