Grizzlies approach tourney on 6-game skid

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By Matt Muncy, February 23, 2010

Franklin led 2-0 to start the game but could not string together enough possessions to push their lead.

 

“We struggled scoring,” said Franklin coach Kerry Prather. “We struggled on the inside and we struggled badly from behind the arch.”

 

They went almost three minutes before hitting their second bucket of the game then another three minutes before their third basket.

 

The games stayed remotely close as the Grizzlies offense and defense started to click but with 11:22 left in the half, Defiance took control of the game. With the game tied 13-13, Defiance’s Nate Conley made a layup and from there the lead grew to six.

 

Franklin fought hard, but Defiance led 37-26 at halftime.

 

The lead was cut to 10 with 19:11 left in the game, but it was the closest the Grizzlies would get the rest of the way.

 

Defiance led by 20 with 10:52 left and eventually by 31 with 6:01 left.

 

Down 72-41 Franklin put together a 19-1 run, but it was not enough to overcome the huge deficit.

 

Franklin shot just a good as Defiance with a 47.5% to 48.1% field goal percentage, but free throws doomed the team as it has in the past.

 

Franklin shot 21 of 31 from the line while Defiance was 21 of 26.

 

“It is one of the only individual skills in the game and there should be enough pride at this level to perfect it,” said Prather. “

 

Turnovers also played a major role as the Grizzlies left with 17 and the Yellow Jackets had 13.

 

Freshman Gunner Erwin led the Grizzlies with 11 points followed by sophomores Zach Merschbrock and Will Conoley each with 10.

 

Sophomore Clay Starrett played 34 minutes despite having a severely sprained wrist which he suffered in the Mount St Joseph game.

 

Prather said Starrett could not physically attempt a shot, but being pressured and basically playing with one hand he only had a single turnover.

 

The Yellow Jackets were led by Anthony Brown with 19 points and Nick Sales with 16.

Franklin has bounced the Yellow Jackets from the tournament the past two seasons and has a chance to make it three in a row when they play next Tuesday at Defiance in the HCAC Quarterfinal game at 8 p.m.