Sharon Springs Central is 0-8 against Franklin Central since February of 2016 but things could change on Thursday. The Sharon Springs Central Spartans will look to defend their home court against the Franklin Central Purple Devils at 6:30 p.m.
Sharon Springs Central is headed into Thursday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fifth straight game on Friday. They were four points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 37-33 heartbreaker at the hands of Worcester.
Despite the defeat, Sharon Springs Central saw an underclassman step up: freshman Zarie Barbic posted 18 points and four steals.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Franklin Central, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They strolled past Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 45-29. The victory was some much needed relief for the Purple Devils as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Franklin Central's win came from a few key players Sharon Springs Central will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Shannon Kingsbury, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and ten rebounds. She is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last 31 games she's played dating back to last season. Another player making a difference was Zaeda Beadle, who dropped a double-double on 11 points and 16 boards.
Franklin Central smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 25 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 19 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
Sharon Springs Central's loss dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Franklin Central, their win bumped their record up to 6-7.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Sharon Springs Central has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 26.1 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Franklin Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging 38.7 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Sharon Springs Central was taken down by Franklin Central 69-30 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Kingsbury, who went 15 for 22 en route to 33 points and eight steals. Now that Sharon Springs Central knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? There's only one way to find out.
