On a historically foggy night throughout the Hoosier state, two of the state’s best girls teams faced off in a top-10 showdown on Jan. 25.
The host, Franklin Community, sat at a 20-2 record heading into the match up and were riding an electric 15 game win streak.
On the other side of the court was Jennings County who sat at 21-3 and were riding a five game heater of their own.
To start the game, Franklin won the jump ball and that was the best offensive play for the next three minutes. Neither team could get a shot to fall early on no matter how good of a look.
Senior forward Julian Woodard was able to remove the lid from the basket when she drained a three pointer from the top of the arc to give Jennings County the early lead.
Not long after, senior guard Emma Sappenfield got things going for hosts as that theme would be prevalent throughout the first half.
Franklin Community highlighted their impressive, free-flowing and cut heavy offense that led to open looks at all levels. At the end of the opening half, Sappenfield would work her way up to 14 points, nearly double her season average of seven.
The Lady Panther offense kept control and stayed in reach with their heavy ball screen offense. Woodard would make her way up to an even 10 at the half as the Grizzly Cubs held onto a slim 24-22 lead.
The second half of the game started with a flip of momentum. Woodard went to work down low, getting consecutive buckets in the paint as the Panthers quickly got out to a 31-26 lead midway through the third period of play.
As the game matured, Jennings County kept finding more and more success attacking the paint rather than playing around the perimeter.
Woodard specifically was able to nearly double her first half total by posting up and utilizing her impressive touch around the rim.
With the momentum swinging all the way towards the Panthers, Woodard would have a rare possession along the perimeter and nail a jumper from just inside the arc to extend to a 41-34 lead entering the final chapter.
In the final stanza, both teams would start cold from the field once again. It was not until sophomore guard Mollie Ernstes nailed corner three to give the Panthers a 10 point lead did the scoring begin.
Down the stretch, it continued to be the Woodard show as she continued to impress at all three levels of scoring. Most notably within the paint, her impressive footwork has allowed her to split double teams to score for herself or find an open teammate along the perimeter.
The Michigan State commit showed every bit of her elite skill set that will make the Panthers a team to reckon with during the state tournament.
The Grizzly Cubs would continue to fight hard, but the second half adjustment to play Woodard more inside the post was all the difference in this one as she finished the night with 28 points, with 18 in the second half alone.
The Lady Panthers would return home with a 51-44 victory and spoil the Cubs 15 game winning streak as both teams make final preparations for sectionals.
Although this Franklin Community group ended their impressive streak tonight, they have nothing but positives to take away into tournament play. They are still very much a top seven team in the state and showed they are very capable of making a run. Their fluid offense will be able to score against just about any defense they face, but it is crucial that they become more efficient.
They came up empty at the charity stripe multiple times and that was a main reason for the loss. Regardless, there is no doubt that this squad will be making a deep tournament run. Especially if Sappenfield can continue to produce in the double figures, as she finished the night with 17 points – 10 more than her season average.
As for this Jennings County squad, they will without a doubt make noise come tournament time. They have the top-end talent with Woodard and have valuable role players in Ernstes and senior guard Alivia Elmore who piled in 12 points of her own tonight.
In a crowded 4A bracket, there are a lot of teams capable of playing in Gainbridge. Could the Panthers be in that group? Potentially, but this team has regionals or semi-state written all over it. Center Grove and Lawrence Central this year appear to be in a world of their own this season, but come tournament time who knows who will appear on top.