EDINBORO, Pa. – Loss avenged, ticket to the state title game punched.
An 18-2 run in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Franklin Knights beat Girard, 64-55 in a D10 title game rematch, and most importantly advanced to the PIAA Class 3A state championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2006.
“It’s kind of history repeating itself,” said Franklin’s Damon Curry. “The ‘06 team lost to McLane and came back and beat them in the Western final to go play in that state final.”
See Curry’s full interview:
Franklin (24-5) trailed by as many as 12, 22-10 in the first half, but rallied to get within four, 33-29 at halftime.
Trailing 37-31 after a bucket from Girard’s (26-3) Kenny Godoy one minute into the third quarter, the Knights proceeded to go on that 18-2 run to take a 49-39 lead after a pair of free throws from Will Findlan.
“We did the little things,” said Franklin’s Cole Buckley. “Last time it was turnovers, not getting rebounds. You win games by getting rebounds. They were controlling the game. This time we made sure it was our game and it worked out for us.”
See Buckley’s full interview:
Girard got back within two, 53-51 on back-to-back 3-pointers from Godoy and Nate Edwards with 5:30 to play, but Franklin followed with a 9-0 run to close the deal as Buckley, Dreyden Payne and Curry all knocked down free throws to help put the game away.
“There’s only two of them up there,” said Franklin coach Jason Fulmer, referring to the state titles won in 2001 and 2006 by Franklin. “Most gyms don’t have two banners like that. We had our eyes set on it for a while. COVID year, elite eight. The next year, we have a catastrophe at home against Ellwood City. Thought we had a good enough team that year. Next year, we forgot to get off the bus at Penn Cambria, and then this one. Bang, bang, get over the hump and get to the western finals.
“I told the guys today, we’re not talking about tomorrow until we enjoy it. I feel like our world today is always what’s next. It’s a permanent memory for them to soak this in and creates a special bond, especially with those eight seniors.”
Franklin players celebrate with Hershey bars following their PIAA Class 3A semifinal win against Girard that punched their ticket to Hershey and the state championship game. Photo by Richard Sayer/Eight & 322.
Dreyden Payne started the third quarter surge for the Knights with a drive to the basket, and scored six points during the run, with Damarco Payne and Jalen Wood also knocking down 3-pointers as Franklin surged.
“We didn’t have a whole lot of answers at that point in time,” Fulmer said. “We were throwing the ball around again, making bad decisions, getting caught up in playing slow instead of fast. Girard did a really good job in that first quarter of getting to the rim. We sat down at the end of the first quarter and I told them I expected it to be worse. I told them they would be okay. Midway through the second quarter we started to figure some things out.”
Geremia Dell’omo and Goody hit 3-pointers late in the third to help Girard pull back within six, 51-45 at the end of three quarters.
Fulmer also pointed out the strong play of the Paynes that allowed them to take control of the game in the third quarter.
“I’ve said it from day one, what separates us is that we have five guys that can go score it, and most 3A teams have three,” Fulmer said. “Damarco had some big shots to really get us rocking and rolling. The Paynes get so excited. I love ‘em. The Paynes will run through this wall, the next wall and the third wall and say which one do you want me to run through next. All these guys, the bottom line is I’m proud of them and I love them to death.”
Franklin students celebrate in the closing moments of the PIAA Class 3A semifinal against Girard. Photo by Richard Sayer/Eight & 322.
The first half was all Girard early, as Ryan Carr, Goody and Ryan Pratt all knocked down 3’s to help Girard jump out to a 25-14 lead. A drive by Nate Edwards gave Girard its biggest lead of the game, 27-14, before Franklin closed the half on a 15-6 run, with Curry and Damarco Payne knocking down 3’s and capped by a drive from Jalen Wood.
“We didn’t come out and play our best basketball game,” Fulmer said of the D10 title game loss. “I thought it showed up again in the first quarter, the same team you saw in D10 (title game). I thought we came in a little confident in the D10 title game, but the crazy thing is it fueled the fire and the hunger.”
Franklin had a very balanced scoring attack, as Curry had 15, Buckley 14, Wood 13, Dreyden Payne 10 and Damarco Payne eight
Girard was led by 21 points from Godoy, while Edwards had 13 and Dell’omo nine
“What a great atmosphere,” Fulmer said. “The PIAA needs to take a look at it and say hey look, you put two public schools in a gymnasium, a place gets packed. There’s not 140 tickets sold, there are over 2,000.”
With the win, Franklin moves on to play Devon Prep (District 12 champion), a 69-50 winner over Math, Civics and Science in the other semifinal, in the state title game on Saturday at 2 p.m.
There aren’t many connections between the two teams. The closest may be a 69-68 Devon Prep win over North Catholic back in early December. North Catholic beat D10 4A champion Warren, 67-58 in the first round of states. Franklin beat Warren 56-54 (jumper by Wood with 5 seconds to play) and 61-58 (buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Buckley) in the regular season.
“They’re a nice team,” Fulmer said. “I watched them play North Catholic. Watched them play Lincoln Park. Watched them play Ursuline. They play like Girard. Third game in a row, I like it. I felt like Deer Lakes got us better prepared for Girard, so maybe it’s another hidden gem kind of deal.”
FRANKLIN 64, GIRARD 55
By Quarters
Franklin 10 19 22 13 – 64
Girard 16 18 12 10 – 55
Franklin – 64
Damarco Payne 3 0-0 8, Cole Buckley 7 0-0 14, Jalen Wood 4 4-4 13, Will Findlan 1 2-2 4, Dreyden Payne 2 6-6 10, Damon Curry 4 4-7 15. Totals 21 16-19 64
Girard – 55
Ryan Pratt 2 0-0 5, Ryan Carr 3 0-0 7, Nate Edwards 6 0-1 13, James Kibbe 0 0-0 0, Kenny Goody 9 0-0 21, Zach Kelley 0 0-0 0, Zac Balogh 0 0-0 0, Geremia Dell’omo 4 0-0 9. Totals 23 0-1 55
Three-pointers: Franklin 6 (Curry 3, Da. Payne 2, Wood); Girard 7 (Godoy 3, Pratt, Carr, Edwards, Dell’omo).
