Panther men’s hoops is closing in on a conference title.
After routing Andrews Jan. 21, the team prepared for the home stretch of their regular season, ending their campaign with six straight Mountain Eight games. With three more blowout wins, they maintained their hold on first place.
On Jan. 23, the team traveled to Brevard to rehash a blowout Panther home win Dec. 16. There Franklin’s defense stonewalled Brevard in the first, racking up a block and nine steals including four from Jack Teesteskie. On the other end, he and Will Rauers combined for 19 points and five assists to finish the quarter up 25-4.
Rauers stayed hot with eight more points in the second, to go along with seven points, an assist and a steal from Gunner McConnell. Brevard finally woke up on the other end, but finished the half down 49-25.
Rauers and McConnell kept rolling in the third, scoring 11 of Franklin’s 13 points. Despite a brief run from Brevard, they ended the quarter up 25. McConnell added seven more points and a steal in the fourth en route to a 77-46 win.
On Jan. 28, the team returned to Tom Raby Court to rehash an 11-point win at Pisgah Dec. 19. McConnell was everywhere for Franklin in the first, racking up eight points, four steals and two assists. Rauers added six points and two assists to end the quarter up 24-11.
Rauers stayed hot in the second, scoring 11 more points including three 3-pointers. Teesateskie added 10 and one assist to end the half up 45-26.
McConnell heated back up in the third, posting 11 points, three assists and a steal. Franklin’s second unit took the court in the fourth to cement an 89-53 rout.
The win improved Franklin’s record to 16-4 overall and 8-2 in the Mountain eight, just ahead of 7-2 East Henderson for first.