By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Last night, the Franklin Lady Quakers hosted the Holy Names Academy Cougars in the final game of the regular season. Both teams came in with plenty to play for, as they looked to build momentum ahead of postseason play.
Holy Names won the opening tip but quickly turned the ball over on their first possession. Franklin’s Akeelah Sanh made the Cougars pay right away, hitting a three-point shot to give the Lady Quakers a 3–0 lead. Franklin stayed aggressive on both ends of the ball, and after another Holy Names turnover, Franklin’s Khamille Chappell attacked the basket, drew a foul, and converted both free throws to make the score 5–0.
Holy Names responded with two free throws from Fiona Helms to cut the lead to 5–2. Holy Names’ Angelina Zarate forced a steal, and Franklin answered back when Jillian Rosewarne grabbed a steal of her own and pushed the ball ahead to Chappell, who was fouled again and knocked down two more free throws to extend Franklin’s lead to 7–2.
Holy Names kept pace early as Lexi Rac scored, bringing the Cougars within three points, 7-4. After a brief scoring drought, Chappell returned to the line and hit four straight free throws across two possessions, giving Franklin an 11–4 advantage. A turnover by the Quakers gave Holy Names a spark, and Zarate finished in transition to cut the lead to 11–6.
In the final minute of the first quarter, both teams missed opportunities at the line before Rosewarne collected an airball under the basket and finished with a putback, to give the Lady Quakers led 13–6 at the end of the first quarter.
Holy Names opened the second quarter with the ball and got on the board right away as Jae Williams hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 11–8. Franklin answered quickly when Rosewarne added a basket and drew a foul. Although she missed the free throw was missed, Franklin maintained their lead at 15–8.
After a short lull, Chappell returned to the line and made one of two free throws to extend the Quakers’ lead to 16–8. Franklin would then force a shot-clock violation right, which led to a basket by Mbayam Ndiaye to give Franklin a ten-point lead, at 18–8.
The Cougars responded with a basket inside from Madeline Jones to make the score 18–10, but Franklin responded with a mini-run. After a steal attempt by Zarate led to the ball going out of bounds, the Lady Quakers capitalized with a corner three-point shot from Sienna Banate, then Rae’anna Carrington entered the game off the bench and immediately scored to stretch the lead to 22–10.
Late in the quarter, Holy Names added two more free throws from Williams to narrow the gap to 22–12. In the final minute, Rosewarne added a free throw, and Chappell scored off an offensive rebound to make it 25–12. The Cougars’ Madeline Jones would close out the first half scoring with a free throw, as the teams went into the break with leading 25–13.
Franklin opened the second half with a quick basket from Carrington, stretching the lead to 27–13. Although Holy Names turned it over, they bounced back with a three-point shot from Allie Herdener, trimming the margin to 27–16. But Franklin quickly regained control. Sanh hit a three-point shot, and Chappell added two more free throws to push the lead to 32–16.
The Quaker defense took over from there, as Shukri Hassan recorded back-to-back steals, finishing one herself and then setting up Chappell for a trip to the line, where she made one of two free throw attempts to make the score 35–16. On their next possession, Franklin continued to dominate the boards, earning multiple offensive rebounds before Sanh ended the possession with three-point shot to push the lead to 38–16.
Holy Names managed to get a basket from M.E. Bachhuber, forcing Franklin head coach Will McClain to call a full timeout. Coming out of the break, Rosewarne hit two free throws and Carrington added another steal. After another brief scoreless stretch, Sanh knocked down her third three-point shot of the quarter, as Franklin led 43–18.
With a minute left in the period, Holy Names’ Sofia Stordahl drained a three-point shot, but Franklin responded to close the quarter strong. Chappell scored off a steal in the final seconds, as the Lady Quakers took a 45–23 lead into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter began with a back-and-forth stretch of possessions with no scoring. Helms was sent to the line, where she made one of two shots and to cut their deficit to 20 points, 45-25.
Zarate followed with another three-point shot that brought the Cougars within 17. After a Franklin timeout, Holy Names kept the momentum. Stordahl made two free throws to cut the lead to 45–30, and Franklin was called for traveling, giving Holy Names another opportunity.
Helms then added one more free throw before fouling out with four minutes left to play. Holy Names inched closer when Bachhuber sank two more free throws to make it 45–35.
Franklin called a full timeout in the final minute as the Cougars had pulled within 10. Chappell fouled Stordahl, who made one of two at the line. On the next possession, Chappell missed a free throw with 21.7 seconds remaining but grabbed her own rebound, only to lose the ball out of bounds.
As the final seconds ticked away, Bachhuber added a late layup for Holy Names, but it was too little too late. The Franklin Lady Quakers closed out a 45–38 victory, capping their regular season on a strong note.
After the game Franklin head coach Will McClain said that he was very proud of the way his team competed from start to finish.
“It was a hard-fought, physical game, and out players rose to the challenge. We played very well defensively, with a lot of toughness and intensity,” said McClain. “Khamille Chappelle led us with 16 points and 14 rebounds, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Akeelah Sanh also gave us a big lift, scoring 12 points and knocking down four three-point shots.”
“Overall, it was a strong team effort and a great way to close out the regular season,” he continued.
Photos/Aaron Allen
