Toots McCall would blame it on gremlins. The long gone, self-proclaimed psychic great-aunt of the Eight & 322 photographer would explain that the only explanation for both Franklin and Cranberry girls basketball teams inability to score would be these mystical furry creatures sitting on the basketball rim swatting away their shots.

How else do explain Franklin's Camdon Bashor, who the night before dropped down 19 points not scoring until just over two minutes left in the half? And those were the first points for the entire team that only scored five the entire half - all by Bashor.

Bashor only ended up with 10 and it took the rest of the team to double that total. Harbor Creek dominated the first half and ended up winning by 25 points 45-20

Or how do you explain Cranberry only scoring nine points total in the game? Only three in the first half. The tournament host lost to Keystone 35-9.

​The night before Cranberry scored 28 points but  lost to Franklin 51-28

Gremlins can only be the explanation, nothing else really makes sense at all.

Below are more photos and even more can be viewed at ​https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p151533137

Rocky Grove seemed content to hold onto a small lead in the fourth quarter and it nearly bit them in the buttocks. They gave up the ball late twice but managed to hold on the 45-42 win in the end..

Below are several action photos from their visit up 322 a spell to Cochranton. And you can visit even more photos at t https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p1005909500

Regulation ended tied at 57 in a game that saw the lead change frequently and no one really pulled out to take command. It was a solid evenly matched game.

A lot of fouls were called on Meadville and if Oil City converted more of their free throws, the game could've been a bit different. Coach Bundy Fulmer might consider a two-hour practice of nothing more than working on shots from the line.

​MASH coach Mark McElhinny will be working on how his kids can avoid cheap fouls so when bad calls are made late in the game, less of his top players will foul out.

And there were some questionable calls and a few more questionable no-calls.

But this was a solid game and exciting to watch.

See more photos here https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p312381157.

An interesting gathering happened when cross town school's competed at different times of the day, the fans went to both Rocky Grove and Franklin to show combined support for their neighbors.

Below is a slideshow with over 100 photos from the two days worth of basketball games. If you like those photos more can be found and even purchased at https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p656006323 where there is almost 300 photos saved.

In the meantime enjoy the slideshow.

Special thank you to our longest running sponsor The Buffalo Street Lanes. Bring in the New Year by booking a party. Pretend the pins are 2020 and 2021 and get out your frustration by smashing them and bringing in 2022 with a clean slate.

Someday I'll learn, go a half an hour to photograph swimming, take a towel, don't wear a sweatshirt and use anti-fog lens cleaner on my glasses right before going into the pool area.

​Oh and just relax that the color is going to be funky and that most of my pics will just look cooler in Black and White.

​Farrell only had a handful of swimmers so it was a easy win for Franklin, but they swan and worked on their form and gave the Farrell swimmers who did participate a chance to get in their reps as well.

So next time I decide to check out a swim meet I'll be a little better prepared I hope, or I'll do what I did tonight, shake my head and stumble around blindly as I pull out the bottom of my t-shirt and do the best I can to get the condensation wiped off the equipment and pray the lens clears.

The Lady Oriole's have had some rough years in recent memory struggling to win any games at all. And here they start out winning a couple from local rivals Cranberry and Oil City.

And a survey of school officials, principal Kelly Hart, athletic director Curt Bindas and coach Ken Brannon, yielded no definitive answer as to whether or not the girl's program has ever won this tournament. Even a call to longtime local sports writers couldn't answer the question without digging into the archives.

​Suffice to say, if this isn't the first time they have won their home tip-off tourney, it has certainly been a long time.

"God bless these kids, they worked so hard and they listen to us," said Brannon, who was walking around the gymnasium with a smile on his face. 

To view more photos scroll down, but there are even more at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p71727075

Oil City girls defeated Titusville 32-18 at the Roy Sanner tournament. They will face host Rocky Grove Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Venango Catholic Lady Vikings defeated Iroqois 38-16 in the Franklin tournament. They will take on host Franklin at 1:30 p.m.

Redbank Valley came to Franklin and took down the Lady Knights 46-34. They will take on Iraqouis at 4:30 p.m.

Rocky Grove Girls out dueled Cranberry 35-25 to reach their tournament finals. Something assistant coach Mike Stevenson said they haven't done in years.

Maplewood came from behind to defeat Titusville in Overtime 45-42. They will take on Rocky Grove in the championship game at 5:30 p.m.

Rocky Grove crushed Cranberry 69-29.

Cambridge Springs took care of Girard 65-53. They will play Franklin at 7:30 p.m. at the castle.

Franklin dominated Route rival Oil City 68-36. Oil City will play Girard at 6 p.m and Franklin will take on Cambridge at 7:30 p.m.