Rolling into the 13th District tournament after three wins to close the regular season, the Todd County Central Rebels fell victim to an early flurry of 3-pointers from hosts Franklin-Simpson on the way to a 77-61 defeat.
The Rebels end the season at 7-12 overall, with no seniors and nine juniors returning for what appears to be a promising 2021/22 season. Franklin-Simpson earns its eighth win in nine tries to move to 13-3.
Four different players knocked down 3-pointers in the first quarter for Franklin-Simpson, including 8 points and a pair of 3s for Kyjuan Stutzman, to send the Wildcats to a 25-16 advantage after eight minutes. Mareke Johnson and Amari Andrews combined for 12 points in the first quarter for the Rebels.
Stutzman stayed hot with 7 more in the second, with DeMarcus Hogan getting in on the act with 8 points. Mareke Johnson doubled his total with 6 more points, but the Rebels trailed 44-34 at the halftime break.
Miller erupted for 11 third-quarter points for the Wildcats, with Jalen Briscoe adding 8 to account for all Franklin-Simpson’s scoring in the frame. Andrews scored 4 for the Rebels, but they were outscored by 6 for a 63-47 score.
Miller and Hogan made sure there would be no Rebel comeback with a combined 14 points in the fourth to put an end to Todd Central’s season.
Miller led all scorers with 24, joined in double figures for the Wildcats by Hogan with 21, Stutzman with 15, and Jalen Briscoe with 12.
Andrew’s 16 led the Rebels, followed by Mareke Johnson with 12.
Todd County Central 16 18 13 14 — 61
Franklin-Simpson 25 19 19 14 — 77
Todd County Central (7-12) — Andrews 16, M. Johnson 12, Glass 8, Rager 5, Strader 4, Brandon 3, A. Johnson 2, Kearns 2, Smith 2
Franklin-Simpson (13-3) — Miller 24, Hogan 21, Stutzman 15, Briscoe 12, Jones 5
