FINAL - SURRY 58, FRANKLIN 57
Photo Courtesy of Bob Lanum/BobLimages.com
The Surry Cougars built a 15-point second half lead on the host Franklin Broncos at the Peggy H. Wilkins Gymnasium on Wednesday night, but had to hold on for dear life in the end for a 58-57 victory over their Tri-Rivers District rival.
It proved to be a much different battle than the one Surry won over Franklin back on December 14th by a count of 85-54. Though the Cougars led by a margin of 29-20 at the half, Franklin out-rebounded Surry 17-16 through two quarters of play and stayed within striking distance largely due to senior Darien Duck scoring nine points in the first half.
Furthermore, the Franklin defense contained Surry star guard Justin Williams - a 2nd Team All-State performer a season ago - for much of the evening. Williams scored just two points in the first half, but found the touch late with six of his 11 points coming in the fourth quarter.
Even without scoring much, Williams found a way to impact the game and remained a significant factor.
"He makes everybody around him so much better," Franklin Head Coach Rob Cutchins said of Williams in his postgame interview on 101.7 FM Real Country. "He's fast, extremely strong and his basketball IQ is tremendously high."
In the third quarter, Surry seized control. They switched to a 2-3 zone defense in the half-court while also using some three-quarter court 2-1-2 pressure to speed up the Broncos. Freshman guard Monte Pope sparked the Surry offense with a pair of deep three-pointers and ended up leading the Cougars with 17 points on the night, eight coming in that period.
Surry grabbed 15 rebounds in the third quarter alone and took a 31-23 advantage on the glass into the game's final stanza while leading by a count of 43-32 on the scoreboard. But turnovers kept Franklin alive.
During the second half, Surry turned it over 15 times, including two late steals by Kalil Thomas that helped Franklin pull within two - 54-52 - with a minute to play.
Deuntae Jefferson, a sophomore, and his older brother - senior forward Quayshaun Jefferson - were instrumental in the comeback effort for Franklin. Deuntae scored a game-high 18 points, while Quayshaun - playing under the weather - scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter.
Although Franklin hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to close the final margin to a single point, the Broncos had trouble connecting from long distance. They went 2-of-18 from three-point land and were out-rebounded by the Cougars, 40-33.
Improving to 7-6 overall, Surry also got 11 points from Dreheim Davis - all coming in the first half - and 10 from sophomore small forward Darius Savedge.
Now 7-8 overall, Franklin got 16 points in defeat from Duck.
