INDIANAPOLIS
Playing without two starting guards was tough enough.
Add in foul trouble for a third starter and a revved-up Perry Meridian team playing on its senior night, and the outcome turned bleak for Franklin’s boys basketball team in a hurry Tuesday night.
Missing starting backcourt mates Cory Richards and Reece Thomson, who did not dress, the Grizzly Cubs were further saddled when center Hunter Gross was forced to sit long stretches of the first half with foul trouble. The Falcons took full advantage while shooting a blistering 10 of 13 from 3-point range en route to an 84-53 nonconference victory.
The loss dropped Franklin to 13-8 and improved Perry Meridian to 8-12, but the circumstances under which the Grizzly Cubs played removed any drama early. The host Falcons built a 25-11 first-quarter lead, including a 9-0 run that began shortly after Gross went to the bench with his second foul.
He returned in the second quarter only to pick up his third foul with 6:23 to play in the half and finished with six points, all in the first quarter. He only played briefly in the third quarter and sat out the fourth period.
Franklin shot a respectable 46.8 percent from the floor (22 of 47), but couldn’t keep pace with Perry Meridian’s 29-of-47 effort (61.7 percent). The Cubs struggled from the free throw line, hitting just 4 of 11 (36.4 percent), while the Falcons connected on 16 of 21 (76.2 percent), earning more trips to the stripe with repeated slashes to the basket.
The final score would have been closer, but Franklin coach Brad Dickey opted to play almost exclusively reserves throughout the fourth quarter. Perry Meridian took advantage, outscoring the Cubs 20-9 in the period, including 9-0 and 7-0 runs.
Tyler Craft led Franklin with 12 points, while Drew Byerly added five points and a team-best seven rebounds for the Cubs.
Perry Meridian posted five double-figure scorers, led by Gabe Patterson’s 19 and Nate Mills’ 18. Mills also matched Byerly’s seven rebounds.
The Cubs conclude regular-season play Friday at Jennings County.
