With a Fourth Quarter Surge, Franklin Boys Top Mountlake Terrace

With a Fourth Quarter Surge, Franklin Boys Top Mountlake Terrace
By Colin Caruso

Talk about a very evenly matched game with playoff implications, both of these teams will have a legitimate shot at playing late into February. With Highline Community College as the destination, the Franklin Quakers took on the Mountlake Terrace Hawks for out of conference bragging rights. Both teams returned strong players from last season, making this a great matchup.

The game was close throughout, with neither team taking more than a seven point lead. The matchup held 7 ties and 12 lead changes, with back and forth action from tip off to the final whistle. After a strong third quarter from the Hawks, Mountlake Terrace took a four point lead into the fourth quarter.

On the back of Eugene Artison Jr. and Keith Smith Jr., the Quakers started the fourth quarter with a bang and took a two point lead with just under two minutes to play. A couple of plays later, senior star Greg Bowman for the Hawks ran coast to coast for a game tying layup and he was fouled for an and one. Unfortunately, he missed the free-throw and the game was tied at 52. After the Quakers failed to convert on their next possession, they fouled Yonnas Tewolde of the Hawks who hit one of two from the line for a 1 point Hawk lead. The remaining 36 seconds in the game all belonged to Franklin.

A layup by Quaker Jamari Lewis and four free-throws for Smith Jr. after two costly Hawk turnovers gave the final six points to Franklin. This proved to be the difference in the game, as Franklin won 58-53.

Top Performers:
Franklin
Keith Smith Jr. – 29 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Eugene Artison Jr. – 14 points, 9 rebounds

Mountlake Terrace
Greg Bowman – 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals