Revenge was not the main factor for the Franklin girls basketball team entering its game at Greenwood Friday night.
Still, it may have been in their thoughts just a bit.
Mindful of last month’s drubbing at the hands of the Woodmen, Franklin made sure it wasn’t going to happen again and cruised to a 66-53 win.
“There’s no question about it,” Franklin coach Josh Sabol said. “They were motivated, they wanted this one and they wanted it really bad.”
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Franklin was able to force several turnovers in the first half which led to some quick, uncontested shots from beyond the arc. When the Cubs started hitting them — they were 6-for-15 in the half — Greenwood got a little more aggressive, which ultimately gave Franklin some chances at the free throw line.
As a result, the Woodmen couldn’t make any sustained runs against Franklin, but they still managed to keep it close, only down 31-29 at halftime.
Trouble appeared to develop early in the third quarter for the Woodmen when their leading scorer, junior Brooklyn Stubblefield picked up her third and fourth fouls in a 22-second span, forcing Greenwood coach Justin Bennett to sit her out the rest of the quarter.
But the Woodmen didn’t fold, and thanks to a pair of Anna Pritchett baskets, they found themselves with a two-point lead entering the fourth.
But Franklin took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points and holding Greenwood without a point for more than four minutes.
Senior Abby DeArmitt scored eight of her 10 points in the final quarter for Franklin, while Kyra Baker hit a key 3 to put the game away.
Good defense did the rest.
“We wanted to change defenses a bit and maybe force some quick shots on their part and the being able to convert on the other end,” Sabol said.
Franklin was led by senior Kiki Crabtree, who scored a game-high 24 points. Baker added 19.
Greenwood also had three players in double figures, with Stubblefield hitting 19 before fouling out late in the game. Pritchett had 12 points while Jenna Sawyer had 10.
Franklin (5-6) ended a two-game skid and improved to 2-2 in the Mid-State Conference. Greenwood (1-11) dropped its seventh straight, but unlike its past three games, this one was winnable.
“The girls worked hard and I think we showed we can be a really good team,” Bennett said. “Some things don’t happen immediately. Give credit to Franklin. They played well.”
Both teams are back in action tonight. The Grizzly Cubs host a nonconference game against Shelbyville, while the Woodmen try to get that elusive second win of the year against Johnson County rival Indian Creek.
Game time for both is set for 7:30 p.m.
