Franklinton hung in against Varnado then outscored the home team 22-16 in the fourth quarter to get a 56-48 victory Thursday.

The Lady Demons (10-3) trailed most of the game but were always within striking distance. Varnado’s biggest advantage was seven at 21-14 in the second quarter.

The Lady Demons got it to 25-20 then moved closer when Chelsea Armand, who scored a game-high 17 points, beat the halftime buzzer, hitting a shot from just in front of half court. Varnado led 25-23 at the break.

“I prayed while I was running down,” Armand said. “I said, ‘Dear Lord, just let it go in.’ I blinked once, I opened, and it went in.”

Armand also came through in a big way at the end of the third quarter.

Varnado led 32-28 after Sequoya Kemp, who tallied six, hit a free throw with 50.3 seconds remaining.

Armand gave Franklinton the lead by hitting two from long range with two seconds showing. It was 34-32 after three.

The game was even at 46-46 with 2:31 left when Varnado’s Errielle Stewart, who totaled eight, got inside for two.

FHS then went to work with six straight points. Amber Carter, who had 10, drained two free throws with 2:21 on the clock. Tyeishia Anders was good for two 19 seconds later, and Haley Sellers capped the run with an inside shot with 54 seconds left to make it 52-46. Anders recorded six with Sellers putting up 16.

Varnado’s Bianca Holmes, who had 11 pulled her team closer with a field goal with 45 seconds left.

Sellers knocked down four free throws in the final 18.7 seconds, as the Lady Demons were victorious.

FHS coach Paul Meyerchick said it wasn’t pretty, but he added that’s the way all of their games have been this season.

“We just kind of keep people in the game, then when we want to turn it on, we can turn it on,” Meyerchick said. “But they’re going to come across teams that are going to get so far ahead, we’re not going to be able to come back from it. You’ve got to be able to take the lead, control the game, not have to keep fighting from behind to play. We’ve got to get there, get in front and learn how to play.”

FHS’ Denetra Rayford added six points, while Shakeria Fabré contributed a point.

Varnado’s Tarralyn Moses led her team with 14 points. Yienna Kemp put up seven, and Ke’arria Green posted three.