The nonconference record was far from pretty: 1-7.
Yet Franklin’s girls basketball team flipped that record around and went 9-1 in the Mountain Six Conference. The Panthers shared the regular season title with Smoky Mountain.
“Our motto: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” coach Bekah Brooks said. “Amazing group of girls with a no-quit attitude.”
The Panthers are set to play for the MSC tournament title. They’ll square off with Smoky Mountain for a third time when they meet at 4 p.m. Thursday at East Henderson.
Each team beat the other on their home floor, including Smoky’s four-point win Feb. 11 in the Panther Den.
FHS drew the No. 1 seed for the tournament, which began Friday, Feb. 14. The Panthers downed No. 4 seed Hendersonville 36-18.
Nine of Franklin’s 11 players scored at least two points.
Rosylnn McCollum led the way with nine points, while Andrea Terrell scored seven before leaving the game to ice her ankle.
Also scoring were Madison Gilbert (five), Mackenzie Baty (four), Abby Carpenter (three), Hannah Smith (two), Catherine Rauers (two), Bethany Jenkins (two) and Tessa Dehart (two).
Also seeing action were Maddie Brannon and Helen Martin.
Brooks, who coaches the team alongside her husband Josh, said it’s been a very fun season.
“I am so proud to coach them and I’m so proud they are coachable,” she said. “They all have grown so much over this season and coach Josh and I have loved every minute.”