Franklin boys edged by Columbus East

<p>For the Daily Journal</p><p>Columbus East used some hot first-half shooting and some near-perfect free throw shooting to topple host Franklin, 52-49, on Saturday night.</p><p>It was two free throws by senior guard Drew Johnson with 3.3 seconds left that sealed the deal for the Olympians (8-9).</p><p>“We’ve been playing really well, I think,” said East coach Brent Chitty. “We sure didn’t make easy, but we hit some big free throws and I’m really pleased.”</p><p>Franklin, winners of four straight entering the game, was hoping the momentum would continue, but East didn’t play like a team with a losing record.</p><p>“I just know we didn’t execute as well as we wanted to,” Franklin coach Brad Dickey said. “We had some good moments, but we couldn’t build on it. (Columbus East) played pretty well.”</p><p>The pace of the game was set immediately as both the Grizzly Cubs and Olympians tried running each other off the court.</p><p>The trouble for the Cubs was shooting. Sure, they shot more than Columbus East, but their shots weren’t falling as often.</p><p>The Olympians hit on 11 of 17 first-half shots for an impressive 65 percent. Franklin could only manage a paltry 38 percent, but thanks to a few late turnovers from the visitors, the Cubs were only down by five points at the break.</p><p>Franklin’s anemic shooting didn’t last long as the Cubs hit six of their first seven shots in the third, but East was matching them and still led by four going into the final frame.</p><p>Patience was the key, at least during the first part of the fourth, as each team worked to get a decent shot at the basket.</p><p>The Grizzly Cubs had three key 3-pointers go in, but they could only manage a single basket inside as East stifled any second or third attempts.</p><p>The game was still anybody’s with a minute to go, but a three-point play by senior Matthew Frost gave the Olympians a 48-45 lead that held the rest of the way.</p><p>Frost led East and all scorers with 21 points. Johnson added 13.</p><p>Franklin (13-7), which only had four players score in the game, was led by Drew Byerly’s 15 points. Reece Thomson added 14 and Blaine Wentzell had 11.</p><p>Despite the loss, the Grizzly Cubs still have something to play for. Their next game, at home against Plainfield on Friday, is perhaps their most important. Both teams are still alive for a share of the Mid-State Conference championship.</p>