Women fall to tough foes
Panther women’s basketball has undergone a trial by fire.
After months of preseason work and a few days off for Thanksgiving break, on the week of Nov. 27 the team tipped off their regular season. In losses to area powers Cherokee and Rabun County, Georgia, a young Panther team gained valuable experience for the rest of the year.
“I was proud of them. They battled, they competed, and that’s what we ask of them every night,” said head coach Scott Hartbarger, now entering his 14th season at the helm. “This is probably the toughest part of our schedule right now. You go Rabun, Cherokee, Rabun, so it’s three really tough games, and we told our girls ‘We want you to battle, we want you to compete, we want you to improve on anything that you do or anything that we do as a team.’ We want to improve and try to get better each night. The first quarter of each game has been pretty good, but then constant pressure like that just can wear you down, cause you to speed up and make mistakes.”
As they do most years, the Panthers have opened their season with a tough slate of nonconference games, in order to bring a young roster up to speed ahead of the start of their Mountain Seven schedule. On Nov. 28, the team crossed the state line for one of their toughest games this season, a season-opening clash with Rabun County.
There, junior Cali Queen harassed the Wildcats throughout the first quarter, racking up six steals, 13 points and a block. Rabun ended the period up 23-15, however.
Junior Charley Seagle heated up in the second, posting an assist and two blocked shots in its opening minutes. But despite four points apiece from Queen and senior Avery Moffit, Franklin ended the half down 44-24.
Queen continued her strong game into the third, posting a steal and eight points including a deft move to the basket. Her efforts weren’t enough to reign in the Wildcats, who ended the period up 62-37.
Junior guard McKenna Plemmons provided a spark in the fourth, posting seven points off the bench and helping direct the Panther offense. Rabun went on to win 74-52.
Two nights later, the team returned to Franklin for their home opener against Cherokee. In front of a packed house on Tom Raby Court, Moffitt shot out of the gate, posting a steal and Franklin’s first four points in the opening minutes. Despite these and a pair of 3-pointers from Queen and freshman Audrey Pressley, the Braves ended the first quarter up 26-11.
Pressley stayed hot in the second, adding four early points including a deft move to the basket for two. Queen racked up two steals, two points, an assist and multiple tipped Braves passes in the quarter, but Cherokee ended the half up 46-22.
Moffitt spearheaded Franklin’s offense throughout the third, posting eight points in the period including a strong move to the basket.
Down 71-35 to start the fourth, the Panthers were forced to play catch-up, getting five points and a steal from sophomore forward Katelyn Foster. Cherokee went on to win 82-51.
After falling to two of the best teams they will likely see this year, the schedule did not lighten up immediately for Franklin, who rematched Rabun County at home after press time Dec. 5. In opening the season with three difficult games, Hartbarger says the team will be better-equipped for the rest of the year.
“The girls are positive. They’re working hard, and we’ll be just fine,” he said.