Photo - Kassity Boor
A tough season came to a tough end for the Todd County Central Lady Rebels Thursday night in the 13th District semifinals. Franklin-Simpson got control early and kept rolling on the way to an 80-29 win at Logan County High School.
It had been a season that started off with the Lady Rebels losing their starting point guard to transfer. Starters JaMya Kay and Kathryn Ballard both missed several games over the course of the season. Leaving the Lady Rebels with an extemely young group to battle through the season. Ballard was not available Monday night.
Eight players, freshman or younger, played in double-digit games for Todd County Central this season.
Monday night, the Lady Rebels found out that the light at the other end of the tunnel was actually the train. Led by junior Allye Pennington, Franklin-Simpson scored the first 17 points of the game and the Lady Wildcats were off and running.
JaMya Kay finally stopped the game opening run with a three midway through the quarter to cut the lead to 17-3. It was a temporary respite for Todd County Central as Franklin-Simpson finished the opening quarter outscoring the Lady Rebels 10-5 to take a 27-8 lead after the first eight minutes.
The Lady Wildcats knocked down five threes in the quarter and got 13 points from Allye Pennington.
Things got no better for the Lady Rebels as the second quarter got going. An 18-3 run to begin the second blew the lead out to 45-11. Franklin-Simpson’s hot shooting from behind the arc and some Todd Central miscues that led to easy baskets played big roles in the big run. The Lady Wildcats would be leading 51-12 going into the break, meaning the running clock would be in play as the second half got started.
JaMya Kay had 6 points at the break to lead Todd County Central.
Allye Pennington led Franklin-Simpson at the break with 21 points, including five made 3-pointers.
Franklin-Simpson was deadly from the outside, knocking down seven first-half three point shots.
The Lady Wildcats dropped the hammer one more time, opening the second half with a 9-0 run to make it 60-12. The third quarter ended with Franklin-Simpson up 69-18 and making plans for Thursday night’s championship game.
Franklin-Simpson reserves saw all of the action over the final eight minutes of the game.
Daymea Garrett, playing in her final game, scored 9 points to lead the Lady Rebels. JaMya Kay, who missed more than half of the season with a knee injury, finished her career with 8 points. Freshman Maliyah Merriweather ended up with 5 points, while Chloe Collins added 4 points.
Franklin-Simpson’s Allye Pennington led all scorers in the game with 26 points, including 6 of the Lady Wildcats’ ten three-pointers. Tiffany Harrigan ended the game with 16 points. Kloie Smith also hit double figures with 10.
The Lady Wildcats also won the battle of the boards over the Lady Rebels by a margin of 31-15.
Franklin-Simpson ends Todd County Central’s season at 4-22. The Lady Rebels dropped their last seven games of the season.
The Lady Wildcats win for the 16th straight time in the series and improve to 20-7 for the season. Franklin-Simpson moves on to the 13th District championship game to face off against the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Russellville and Logan County.
Photos – Kassity Boor
