Franklin Academy is 0-9 against North Johnston since January of 2019 but things could change on Tuesday. The Franklin Academy Patriots will welcome the North Johnston Panthers at 6:00 p.m.
Franklin Academy is likely headed into the contest with a focus on the second half, which is when things went downhill against East Wake Academy on Tuesday. Franklin Academy took a 45-40 hit to the loss column at the hands of East Wake Academy. The Patriots have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Addison Soles, who posted eight points and seven rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Erin Collins, who earned ten points and five rebounds.
Even though they lost, Franklin Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards in 12 consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, North Johnston put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Spring Creek 57-28. The Panthers have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won seven games by 25 points or more this season.
North Johnston found their leader in sophomore Amiyah Grimes, who went 10 of 17 on her way to 23 points and three steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Samantha Boswell, who went 5 of 8 on her way to 10 points.
North Johnston's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-0. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 26 points. As for Franklin Academy, their loss was their first in the conference, dropping their conference record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 7-5.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Franklin Academy has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 38.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like North Johnston struggles in that department as they've been averaging 21.5 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Franklin Academy came up short against North Johnston in their previous meeting last Friday, falling 32-25. Will Franklin Academy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
