Boys basketball preview: Franklin Grizzly Cubs

Basketball has become more of a perimeter-oriented game in recent years, with teams realizing that 3-pointers, layups and free throws are the most efficient shots to take.

Franklin’s boys have bought into the trend, largely out of necessity. The undersized Grizzly Cubs relied heavily on guards Cory Richards, Reece Thomson and Blaine Wentzell for offensive production last year, and expectations are similar for the three seniors this season.

“It’s mainly going to be perimeter, like Golden State (Warriors) type stuff,” said Thomson, who was second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points a game last winter.

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“We don’t have a lot of big guys,” Richards added. “I think we can work the ball in and then back out to the perimeter and get to our strong suit, which is shooting 3s and shooting jumpers.”

Thomson and Wentzell combined for 100 of Franklin’s 131 made 3-pointers last year, with Wentzell (10.0 ppg) knocking down 53 treys and hitting 45 percent of his attempts.

The Grizzly Cubs are not entirely dependent on long-range shooting, though.

Richards was also a threat from deep (18 made 3s), but he also showed the ability to get to the bucket, with the overwhelming majority of his team-high 14.9 points per game coming on drives, short pullup jumpers and foul shots.

Junior Drew Byerly adds an unorthodox post presence. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he has enough bulk to hold his own on the boards, but he also offers excellent passing ability out of the post. Byerly led the team in rebounding and assists last season while also averaging 10.0 points.

That quartet is expected to do most of the heavy lifting again for the Grizzly Cubs, but coach Brad Dickey likes the depth all the way down his veteran roster, which returns almost intact.

“We’re coming off a very good summer,” Dickey said. “We showed a lot of experience, we showed a lot of growth, and we’re hoping that carries over here to the beginning of the season and gets us off to a good start.”

Positive momentum will be a key against a difficult schedule — the addition of recent nemesis Perry Meridian puts another hurdle up on Franklin’s way to a possible fourth straight Mid-State Conference title, and the Grizzly Cubs could end up once again playing three games against Center Grove, the heavy favorite to win county and sectional titles.

None of that seems to bother this group.

“It’s going to be a tough task,” Thomson said, “but I think if we get everybody believing in that locker room, then we can accomplish what everyone else thinks we can’t.”

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Which gym is your favorite — or least favorite — to play in, and why?

“I like Indian Creek’s gym. I haven’t been able to play there since my freshman year, and we picked them up on our schedule. … My least favorite gym is probably New Pal. I don’t really like their gym.”

Which team not on your schedule would you most want to play?

“I’d go big or go home and go Warren Central. I wish we played more north side teams, because I think that certainly helps get us prepared for Center Grove.”

Which player that we might not know about is likely to have a breakout season?

“I think Blaine (Wentzell) is going to surprise a lot of people this year, more than he has, because it’s kind of been me, Corey (Richards) and Drew (Byerly). So I’d say Blaine and Drew.”

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Coach: Brad Dickey

Last season: 15-10, shared Mid-State Conference championship; lost to Center Grove in Class 4A Sectional final

Top returnees: Luke Miles, Cory Richards, Antonio Sanchez, Reece Thomson and Blaine Wentzell, seniors; Drew Byerly, Cody Mahler and Christian McClure, juniors; Damon Dickey, sophomore

Key newcomers: Thomas Crow and Jumpshot Warner, freshmen

What to expect: The Grizzly Cubs appear loaded for a run at a fourth straight conference title, even with the addition of Perry Meridian making the journey more challenging. The trio of Richards, Thomson and Wentzell should again carry much of the scoring load from outside, while Byerly remains an underrated and versatile presence inside. Franklin will face some undesirable matchups as a relatively undersized team, but this is a deep, experienced unit dangerous enough to beat almost anyone when those deep balls are dropping.

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