Franklin wins back to back D10 titles

Well now we know how the Franklin boys basketball team will handle the pressure of being challenged, something they haven't had much experience with this season.
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Other than their two losses to top-notch teams Bishop Canevin and North Catholic, Franklin has had only one game they didn't win by more than ten. That was against Aliquippa. Only three teams have managed to lose by less than twenty, Erie, Slippery Rock and Hickory. In fact the running clock has been used routinely  this season who simply just devoured their opponents.

To say Franklin steamrolled through this season is an understatement. 

On Friday with the District 10 championship on the line Seneca proved to be quite the challenge for the Knights. They stayed within striking distance deep into the fourth quarter. They too ended up losing by ten, 62-52, but the game was much closer than that

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Franklin, and in particular senior Easton Fulmer showed mental toughness down the stretch. Fulmer started the game fast launching a long three that missed. In fact he struggled a little in the first quarter. "Yeah they weren't falling, but I'm still gonna shoot them," he said after the game. His first points came after he challenged Seneca's 6-8 center and was fouled. Free throws are almost a given for the keen shooting point guard.

Sophomore Damon Curry kept Franklin in the game early unconsciously draining four three pointers in the first quarter and added a nice drive into the lane for a short jumper. "Damon is fire,"  Fulmer said acknowledging how Curry really stepped up in the beginning of the game.

​Luke Guth added another three. At the end of the half only three Knights scored and it was tied at 33.

For most of the third quarter the Knights and Bobcats traded baskets. Then around the 2:30  mark in the third Fulmer was set to inbound the ball under the basket with the score still tied. A Seneca player had his back to Fulmer who took note and passed the ball off the player's backside. He then grabbed the ball and putting in while also drawing a foul.

"I think I pump faked and got it and one," he said. "I don't think we were tie again after that.

He is right and that seemed to ignite his team. A few seconds later Guth got the ball on a break and slam dunked the ball igniting the fans. Then Fulmer just lit it up. Suddenly his shots were falling. He scored 18 points in the last ten and a half minutes. He was perfect from the free throw line.

At the end of the night still only three Knights scored which is uncharacteristic for the well rounded deep team. Fulmer ended with 33, 20 in second half and most of those in the fourth. Curry ended up with 19 and Guth poured in 11.

Franklin will host Ellwood City who was the WPIAL top seed before being upset in the playoffs. Tough first round opponent for the Knights.

The other Venango teams had rougher nights. Fairview jumped out early on Oil City in Erie and held on to defeat the Oilers 61-38. Oil City will head to Montour on Tuesday to start their bid for a state championship. It is the school's first trip since 1972.

A couple of action shots from Oil City's loss to Fairview thanks to Brian Hagberg and our friends at D9and10Sports.com.

Down south a bit in Slippery Rock, Kennedy Catholic proved too much for the Rocky Grove Orioles beating them by fourteen 52-38. The Orioles will also play Wednesday night against Carlynton.

​NOTE: We'll share some photos from Rocky Grove when we get them.
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Just one more

The future!