Franklin Central is 8-0 against Sharon Springs Central since February of 2016 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Franklin Central Purple Devils will head out on the road to challenge the Sharon Springs Central Spartans at 6:30 p.m. Franklin Central will be strutting in after a victory while Sharon Springs Central will be coming in after a defeat.
Franklin Central took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They strolled past Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton with points to spare, taking the game 45-29. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Purple Devils as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Shannon Kingsbury
| 01/21/25 vs Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton | 6 |
| 01/17/25 @ Schenevus Central | 3 |
| 01/15/25 @ Morris Central | 3 |
| 01/09/25 @ Cherry Valley-Springfield | 10 |
| 01/07/25 vs Worcester | 17 |
Franklin Central got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Shannon Kingsbury out in front who dropped a double-double on 12 points and ten boards. Kingsbury 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 rebounds.
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 games dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, Sharon Springs Central was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fifth straight loss. 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.
Franklin Central's win bumped their record up to 6-7. As for Sharon Springs Central, their loss dropped their record down to 2-7.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Franklin Central has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 38.7 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Sharon Springs Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging 26.1 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Everything came up roses for Franklin Central against Sharon Springs Central when the teams last played back in February of 2024, as the squad secured a 69-30 victory. In that match, Franklin Central amassed a halftime lead of 42-15, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Thursday.
