Franklin @ Center Grove
It was the coaching debuts for Center Grove's Zach Hahn and Franklin's Brad Dickey at their respective schools. Dickey came to Franklin from Tipton. Hahn escaped with a 58-51 overtime win during his first game in charge.
Michael Benkert and Cameron Smith each scored the first five points of the game for their respective teams. Those two players would continue to be workhorses throughout the game. Center Grove led by three points after the first and second quarters behind strong play by Benkert and senior guard Anderson McCoy. McCoy had eight points in the the first half while Benkert contributed seven.
Smith and Franklin changed the momentum of the game in the third quarter. The junior shooter poured in nine points in the period for Franklin. Classmate Cameron Rigley also stepped up his game in the second half. Franklin took a five point lead to the final quarter.
Benkert regained the lead for Center Grove with back to back steals midway through the fourth quarter. The Belmont-bound wing scored 14 of his 21 points in crunch time. It was Cameron Smith who made the biggest play of regulation when he scored going to the basket around Benkert. The bucket tied the game with under a minute to play. Franklin did a good job of taking the driving lanes away from Benkert on the final play of regulation and Center Grove settled for a desperation heave, which did not go.
In overtime, it was all Center Grove. The Trojans scored the first ten points of the extra period. The Center Grove run gave Zach Hahn his first head coaching victory.
Updated player profiles with scouting notes and observations.
Franklin 8 10 18 10 5 ---51
Center Grove 11 10 10 15 12 ---58
Franklin - Cameron Smith - 27 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), Brandon Hardesty 3, Bryce Wentzell 3, Cameron Rigley 12, Andrew Hartkorn 4, Nik Welch 2
Center Grove - Michael Benkert 21 points (8 -13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-5 FT), Anderson McCoy 13, Carson Lee 1, Joey Lenkey 2, Sam Hedershott 8, Matt Hawk 2, Alec Leiter 2, Trevor Harrell 5, Bryce Brown 4