Sports

Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Doug Plemmons feels good about where Franklin’s boys basketball team sits heading into conference play. That might not come as a huge surprise, however, based on the Panthers’ 10-1 record and what they’ve achieved so far this season. “I know our conference will bring a lot of challenges,” said Plemmons, who’s in his 19th year coaching the Panthers. “We started off young. We had to learn how to play together. We had a lot of first-time varsity players. We’re basic

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - Franklin junior Nevaeh Tran prepares to make an inbounds pass, looking for Makayla Brewer (40) and Sierra Wade (23) while being defended by Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta during action Friday, Jan. 3.

top 10 sports moments 2019

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Franklin sophomore Trey Penland rises high above a Rabun County player for a rebound. Penland scored 14 points in the road win, which saw the Panthers shoot above 50 percent for the second straight game.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler - A dozen swimmers make up each of Franklin’s swim teams: Front row, from left: Taylor Harrell, Nya Canzone, Callie Roper, Claire Holland, Roselyn Sanchez, Ocean Anderson, Ilah Williams, Deaven Lombard. Middle row: Olivia Stahl, Isaiah Stockton, Blake Cassada, Hunter Cabe, Joseph Vernelson, Taylor Lawrence, Teri Martin, Lauryn Basham. Back row: Landon Shaw, Jacob Cabe, Clayton Guynn, Caden Tyler, Luke Borgmann, Michael Frazier, Traveler Shaw, Kyler Cochran.

Photo submitted Franklin’s cheerleading team took third at the NCHSAA competition. Front row, from left: Madison Phillips, Kaitlyn Henry, Christa Perry, Katy Nettles, Kassidy Mixer, Kaylan Foutty, Lexi Hoyt. Back row, from left: Rex Baker, Alivia Gibbs, Mackenzie Hughes, Sierra Kreis, Michelle Perez, Brielle Perry, Belle Reale, Abbie Passmore, Madison Lowe, Lylian Foutty, Zoe Berkstresser, coach Lynn Baker.

Press photo/Andy Scheidler Chad Wilson (30), Trey Woodard (10) and Franklin players and coaches celebrate moments after surviving to hold off Hayesville in Monday’s home game. The Panthers improved to 2-1 on the season.

Press photo/Tom Pantaleo Franklin senior Chela Green goes to the floor after teammate Taylor Carlton and a Cherokee player collide. Green scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in the road victory.

Andy Scheidler sports@thefranklinpress.com Two relay teams nailed regional-qualifying times in Franklin’s first swim meet of the season. The girls 200-yard medley relay kicked things off Nov. 23 at Franklin Health & Fitness. Ilah Williams, Claire Holland, Deaven Lombard and Callie Roper combined to win the event with a time of 2 minutes, 11 seconds. It was 1.99 seconds under the threshold to qualify for regional. Later in the meet, the boys 200 freestyle relay won their event and landed a regional berth.