By Karrington Kincaid, The Seattle Medium
The Franklin Quakers hosted the Chief Sealth Seahawks Friday night in a Metro League Sound Division matchup, with both teams looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. With postseason play just around the corner, both coaching staffs are energized by their teams’ potential and eager to build consistency heading into February.
Franklin’s Christian Fisher set the tone early, igniting the home crowd with an explosive drive to the basket for the game’s opening points. Chief Sealth’s James Perkins answered right back, knocking down a deep three-point shot that momentarily silenced the gym. But Fisher responded immediately with another hard-earned layup through contact, converting the free throw for a three-point play and shifting momentum back in Franklin’s favor.
The energy was high in the opening minutes, but both teams quickly settled into a scrappy, foul-heavy stretch that disrupted the rhythm of play. Chief Sealth found themselves in early foul trouble, which led to multiple trips to the line for Franklin and forced adjustments to their rotation. Turnovers and missed free throws became a theme, but Franklin handled the chaos better. They converted more of their opportunities and were quicker to capitalize on Sealth’s mistakes. Franklin seized control late in the quarter and took a 22-12 lead into the second.
The second quarter began in similar fashion to how the first ended, with both teams struggling to take care of the ball. Turnovers continued on both ends in the first 90 seconds until Franklin’s Jay Wheeler-Burns changed the tone with a strong finish through contact and a made free throw. That and-one seemed to open the floodgates for the Quakers, who began attacking in transition and finding high-percentage looks. Amelie Neyens and Kyli Meyer helped keep the ball moving, while Fisher and Alijah Jackson finished around the rim.
Franklin’s defensive intensity began to wear on Chief Sealth. The Seahawks missed open looks, committed unforced errors, and had trouble handling Franklin’s ball pressure. Layups and transition points piled up for the Quakers, and even a few well-timed three-point shots gave them a well-rounded offensive attack during the quarter. Despite the struggles, Chief Sealth’s Jabril Cortez and Calvin Washington kept competing, combining for 12 points to help their team finish the half with 24. However, it wasn’t enough as Franklin scored 22 second quarter points, as they built a commanding 44-24 lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter began with Cortez converting two free throws awarded from a late foul at the end of the first half, briefly cutting into the deficit. But Franklin wasted no time responding. Over the next few minutes, the Quakers launched into a 22-8 scoring run, breaking the game wide open. Jackson, Wheeler-Burns, and Jow Traore led the charge with aggressive drives, clean finishes, and active defense. Their effort on the glass also helped eliminate second-chance opportunities for the Seahawks.
Chief Sealth struggled to keep up. Franklin’s full-court pressure and help-side defense forced rushed possessions and poor shot selection. Even when Franklin turned to its bench, the energy remained high. Bench players like Josie Marion and Allie Chipps provided a spark, with Marion notching a key steal and Chipps adding a smooth drive and finish. The Quaker crowd fed off the team’s energy, growing louder with each score, and by the end of the third quarter, the Quakers had extended their lead to 66-34.
Despite the lopsided score, Chief Sealth showed resilience in the fourth quarter. They continued to battle, showing flashes of rhythm on offense that had eluded them earlier. Silas Lee knocked down two mid-range jumpers and a three-point shot, while Cortez connected on another three-point shot late in the game. The Seahawks outscored Franklin 26-22 in the final frame, their most productive quarter of the game.
Franklin, meanwhile, eased off the gas slightly, rotating through the bench and focusing on clean possessions. Still, the Quakers continued to share the ball and get scoring contributions from across the rotation. Franklin closed out the game with a convincing 88-60 win, earning another important league victory as the postseason approaches.
One of the key takeaways from the game was Franklin’s on-court chemistry. Whether running in transition or moving the ball in the half court, the Quakers played with cohesion and clarity, something head coach Jamaal Thomas said has developed over time.
“They’re just learning how to play together. I’m just trying to put the same starting five players up there each game,” Thomas said. “Like you mentioned with the cohesiveness, we’ve been kind of inconsistent all season. So now that we have a consistent rotation along with a consistent lineup, I’m just trying to keep that going.”
The win keeps Franklin near the top of the Metro Sound Division standings, improving to 10-3 overall and 9-3 in league play, as they continue to push for a high seed entering the postseason. With just a few games remaining on the schedule, the Quakers are aiming to fine-tune their rhythm and carry this momentum into the playoffs. Chief Sealth, meanwhile, fell to 4-11 overall and 3-9 in Metro League play.
Franklin will travel to face Ballard on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m., while Chief Sealth returns home to host Lakeside at the same time.
Photos/Aaron Allen
