FRANKLIN — Franklin’s dream season is alive and effectively.
Locked in a four-point sport with BC High, No. 3 Franklin closed on a 24-10 run highlighted by six factors from Sean O’Leary to defeat the No. 6 Eagles, 66-49, within the Div. 1 boys basketball state quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon at Franklin High School.
Franklin will tackle Catholic Memorial within the Div. 1 state semifinals. It would be the third time throughout CJ Neely’s tenure at Franklin the Panthers seem within the Div. 1 state semifinals, the final time coming in 2018.
“This is super special. I mean all of these guys have been together since sophomore year,” O’Leary mentioned. “All of these guys want it. We’re hungry. We’ve been playing loose and have all the confidence right now.”
Franklin (24-1) held a 28-24 lead on the break, however a 7-0 run by BC High capped off by a James Jones three-point play gave the Eagles a 31-28 lead. Eagles’ 6-foot-9 heart Dan Civello was mired in foul hassle for many of the evening, selecting up his fourth foul with 5:30 left within the second quarter. The Panthers started attacking the paint as the sport went on with Justice Samuels connecting on consecutive layups to place Franklin up 37-34.
Franklin’s edge was 4, 51-47, with 5:20 left when its premier participant rose to the event. O’Leary, the Hockomock League MVP, buried a triple. Then, after Caden Sullivan had a layup, O’Leary related on a three-point play to present Franklin a 60-49 lead with 1:40 left.
“We knew Dan (Civello) had four fouls so we wanted to attack him knowing he wouldn’t be as aggressive of a shot blocker,” Neely mentioned. “I thought Justice a few times in a row in the biggest part of the game did that for us, especially when Sean (O’Leary) was out in foul trouble.”
Hansy Jacques obtained the hosts off to a quick begin as he scored 5 factors to present Franklin a 15-9 lead. Franklin’s lead obtained as much as eight, 24-16, halfway via the second quarter however Civello scored 5 straight round an Ivan Yhomby steal and slam to trim the deficit to 28-24 on the break.
Source: www.bostonherald.com