Warriors on target in semifinal win over Franklin

It took four games, but Whiteland located its perimeter shooting touch and will play in the title game of the Johnson County girls basketball tournament.

The Warriors knocked down eight 3-pointers, including three apiece from senior guards Natalie Stuck and Megan Harlow, to down Franklin, 51-40, in Thursday night’s first semifinal at Greenwood.

Coach Kyle Shipp’s squad entered the game a brisk 6 of 48 from behind the 3-point stripe; against the Grizzly Cubs they were on target with five triples in the first half alone.

“This team is loaded with shooters. We can shoot the ball from anywhere, honestly,” said Stuck, the game’s leading scorer with 20 points. “One of our strongest points on offense is driving in the paint and kicking the ball out for a 3.

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“We just played really strong on offense and moved the ball well.”

Franklin’s lone lead came on the game’s first basket by junior forward Hailee Robbins. From the 3:15 mark of the first quarter to early in the second, Whiteland outscored Franklin, 14-4, with eight of the Warriors’ points coming on Harlow’s two triples and drive to the basket.

The Grizzly Cubs were again bogged down by turnovers, committing seven in each of the first two quarters and 26 for the game. By early in the fourth, Whiteland had built its largest lead at 19 points, 46-27.

“You never rise to the occasion. You sink to the level of your habits,” Franklin coach Josh Sabol said. “We need to continue to improve. We’ve got a new backcourt, and we’re trying to ease them into it. At this level it’s trial under fire.”

Harlow wound up with 17 points for the Warriors (3-1), while sophomore Gracie McCullars added 10 with two 3-pointers of her own. Freshman guard Kuryn Brunson led the way for the Cubs (1-4) with 16 points, with Robbins scoring 10.

“We had shot the ball not great coming into this game. It’s just a matter of time until we get comfortable with each other, and we looked more comfortable tonight,” Shipp said. “I thought our girls’ mindset was really good to come out and start fast.”

With 2:39 left in the third quarter, Robbins crashed to the floor after a strong drive to the basket and was eventually taken to the locker room. She hurt her back, but returned to start the fourth quarter.

Franklin didn’t attempt a free throw.

Whiteland is in the county championship game for a third time in four years. Shipp knows the challenges Center Grove presents and knows his team must again be at the top of its game.

“We’ve got much respect for them. They’ll come out and play great defense. They’re well coached and they’ll bring it right to us,” he said. “We’ve got to be up for the challenge.”