Franklin Road Academy Overtakes Zion Christian Academy
Erratic guard play existed all night, but the virus hopped bodies at halftime. A bumbling first half by the Franklin Road Academy (FRA) made way for a fumbling Zion Christian Academy (ZCA) fourth quarter. FRA capitalized late and made their free throws to grab their 10th win, 54-46.
Demandrez McClain defended by Watson Tansil.The win marks FRA’s first win over a double-digit winner. ZCA falls to 12-6, 4-5. No other vanquished foe reached 10 wins before the Panthers knocked them out.
Watson Tansil lead the Panthers with 23 points, 13 in the second half. A couple of times Tansil was the recipient of a calculated Tyrus Baynham Jr. pass.
Baynham Jr. helped the Panthers create separation from the 40-40 tie with 6:33 left.
With 4:52 remaining, Tyrus handled out high. The refs rightly whistled his defender for a hand-check. ZCA threw two guys, sometimes three at Tyrus in the fourth quarter. The visiting Eagles obviously expected Baynham Jr. to create on his own. Using this added pressure to his advantage, Baynham Jr. collected defenders and repeatedly found a block-residing Tansil.
After the Panthers wrangled another offensive rebound, Baynham Jr. scored a nifty baseline reverse, giving FRA a 45-42 lead.
For the Eagles Briggs Rutter made stumblers of defenders early. The crafty guard crossed and lofted jumpers. With 20 points in the first three quarters, Rutter appeared to be the game’s MVP. He did not score in the fourth quarter. In fact, Rutter barely shot the basketball.
The proven scorer looked a little winded.
The power vacuum did not get filled by any other Eagles. The best alternative, Demandrez McClain, could not maintain his typically assured handle.
Late Fumble
McClain bounced the pill, checked his driving lane, and took that initial step. The ball sputtered free. Worse, McClain tried to cut off his pilfer, only to incite a whistle.
The foul was McClain’s fifth foul. Even though Baynham Jr. fought foul trouble most of the game he finished with four fouls and McClain sat, watching the loss from the sideline.
ZCA gave up a long rebound after a key free throw miss. Down 47-44, ZCA needed a front-end free throw miss. They got it from FRA’s Whit Hagan, but when the rebound clanged hard ZCA only tipped it to a desperately diving Hagan. Though ZCA guard Rutter tied him up, this showed how uninvested the ZCA Eagles were in the final stages.
It cost them the game.
Zion Christian clashes with C.P.A. tomorrow night. Franklin Road Academy (10-10, 6-4) won three of their last four games. They are in the middle of their most profitable stretch since Thanksgiving. FRA gets Nashville Central Christian tomorrow night.
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