INDIANAPOLIS
Perry Meridian’s disappointing record coming into its game against Franklin might have been the edge the Falcons had been seeking.
Playing inspired, the host Falcons pieced together an impressive second half Tuesday night to pull a 53-44 upset.
Perry Meridian was trailing by nine points at halftime, but dominated the Grizzly Cubs, 38-20, over the final two periods. The Falcons are now 4-15 and Franklin 13-9.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Afterward, Cubs coach Brad Dickey, whose squad made 16 of 43 field goal tries (.372) and repeatedly let the Falcons burn it inside with layups the second half, wasn’t pleased with his team’s decision-making with the basketball.
“We took really bad shots. We were playing to get numbers instead of playing to get the win,” Dickey said. “We didn’t prepare for the game the way that we should have. It just goes to show, you know?
“Our success is very temperamental. We didn’t rotate or cover anything, and we didn’t run a decent play. That’s a credit to their guys. We just weren’t good. I didn’t prepare us in the way that I would have liked.”
It didn’t seem that way in the first half. Ten Perry Meridian turnovers played a big part in Franklin holding a 24-15 lead at the break.
Ahead by a single point through one quarter, 7-6, the Grizzly Cubs took off on a 15-2 scoring run in the second. Junior guard Blaine Wentzell got things started with consecutive treys from the top of the key, while Cory Richards scored the final six points.
In-between, sophomore reserve guard Cody Mahler stepped up big with three and timely steals at the other end.
Just like it did to open the game, Perry Meridian scored the first four points of the third quarter. Only this time the Falcons kept the pressure on Franklin, finally retaking the lead on a short jumper by senior swingman Gabe Patterson at 3:31 of the third.
Franklin managed to tie the contest two more times at 31-31 and 40-40, but two Patterson free throws with 5 minutes left in regulation gave the hosts the lead for good. The Cubs trailed by two at 46-44, but Perry Meridian hit 5 of 6 charities and got a layup from forward Dailen Harlan to put it away.
Richards, a junior, scored 15 points to lead Franklin. Wentzell was next with nine and sophomore center Drew Byerly added eight. Patterson led three Falcons in double-figures with a game-high 17 points.
The Grizzly Cubs’ final regular-season game is at home Friday night against Jennings County.
