<p><strong>F</strong>ranklin’s young girls basketball team showed some notable signs of progress last winter. Its 12 wins were the most in eight years, and the Grizzly Cubs won at Mooresville and Plainfield for the first time in more than a decade. The team allowed its fewest points per game in nine years and had its best point differential in seven years.</p>
<p>Now a junior-dominated outfit, Franklin hopes to continue building on all of that forward momentum — and even though there are some significant voids in terms of scoring, optimism is high.</p>
<p>“I feel like we are going to have more balance, we’re going to have better ball movement and we’re going to share the ball,” coach Josh Sabol said. “I think that’s where we’ll get our points from.”</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>Well, that and a suffocating defense. The Grizzly Cubs only gave up 46.7 points per game last season, yielding more than 57 just twice and holding four different opponents to 33 or less. Sabol expects that to carry over, largely because of the wealth of athleticism on the roster. Several of his players excel in multiple sports, and the hope is that the ability to get stops at the defensive end will lead to more baskets in transition.</p>
<p>And despite not having any instantly recognizable superstars, Franklin has a wealth of experience. Junior Kyra Baker and senior Abby DeArmitt were both in the starting lineup two years ago, and several of their teammates, especially within the seven-player junior class, have logged quality varsity minutes. So it’s not as if they’re going to get rattled by any added responsibilities.</p>
<p>“We’ve all had to take on leadership roles since we were younger,” DeArmitt said. “Not having big classes above us, we’ve all kind of had to take those roles that maybe we’d be taking now, we had to take them earlier.”</p>
<p>“We’ve been a young team since my freshman year,” Baker added. “Now we have more experience as a team, not just as individuals.”</p>
<p>The hope is that all of that experience and depth, combined with what the players call a very solid chemistry, will help give Franklin an advantage over some of the teams in its conference and sectional that dealt with large graduation losses. DeArmitt pointed out that practices thus far have been “extremely positive and upbeat.”</p>
<p>“I feel like this team is really connected,” Sabol said. “Great attitude, great work ethic and they really enjoy playing with one another.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the Grizzly Cubs" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Coach: Josh Sabol (fourth season)</p>
<p>Last season: 12-13, lost to Center Grove in Class 4A sectional final</p>
<p>Key returnees: Kiki Crabtree and Abby DeArmitt, seniors; Kyra Baker, Liv Parramore, Lauren Sandrock and Megan Thompson, juniors</p>
<p>Top newcomers: Izzy Harrison and Mariam Jones, juniors; Mollie Hill, sophomore</p>
<p>What to expect: The Grizzly Cubs will need to replace quite a bit of scoring punch, but Sabol believes they’ll benefit from an increased balance. With several players now in their third varsity seasons, Franklin makes up in experience, depth, length and athleticism what it might lack in other areas. Defense figures to be the calling card. Sabol feels like the trajectory of the program is trending sharply upward and likes this team’s chances of sustaining that momentum.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="3 points with Kyra Baker" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>1. Besides your own, what’s your favorite gym to play in?</strong></p>
<p>Martinsville, because the crowd is always loud, it’s hot and everyone’s always yelling. It’s a good atmosphere; I like it.</p>
<p><strong>2. Which nonconference opponent are you most looking forward to playing?</strong></p>
<p>Center Grove. It’s always been a rival, but this year I feel like we have a good chance of winning.</p>
<p><strong>3. If you could steal one skill from one of your teammates, what would it be?</strong></p>
<p>Does height count? Then height, because I would love to be a post player.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
