SLIDELL —Franklinton was dominant on the offensive boards and did a good job of turning them into second-chance points in an 84-44 victory over Covington to begin the Slidell Tournament on Thursday.
“The girls got in and blocked out a little better than what they’ve been doing and the put backs helped us out,” Franklinton coach Elicia Crain said.
Franklinton’s post players Kaniya Dillon and Danaria Magee combined for half of the Lady Demons’ 84 points. Dillon scored 22 points and Magee posted 20.
Franklinton led 26-11 after the first quarter.
The Lady Demons were up 17-11 with 3:29 left in the period, but broke the game open by scoring the final nine points of the first and the first five of the second in the
Dillon began the run by hitting a shot and getting fouled. She missed the free throw, but her bucket made it a three-possession game. Dillon made it 21-11 when she grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put back. Addison Carter, who had eight points, including two threes, knocked down her 3-pointer with 1:45 left for a 24-11 lead. A Franklinton steal led to Dillon making a layup with 14 seconds left and it was a 15-point game through one quarter of play.
Carter opened the second-quarter scoring 43 seconds in when she was good on a 3-pointer from the right corner. Jayln Bickham passed to Dillon for two more. The Lady Demons led 31-11 with 6:41 on the clock.
Covington ended the run Lyric James’ basket. Mariah Clark grabbed an offensive board and hit the put back to trim the lead to 31-15, but the Lady Demons pushed it back to 20 at 37-17 with 3:40 left and the lead never went below 20 from that point.
Franklinton led 42-17 after three en route to the 40-point win.
Thursday’s game featured just 13 combined fouls and 14 total free throws. There were just four fouls in the first half.
India Dickerson scored 12 points for the Lady Demons while Miriam Tate scored nine points Bickham had five, Shamya Hart posted four and Rajana Bickham and Cyna Hart added two each.
James led the Lady Lions with 13 points that included a 3-pointer.
Clark had 12 points.
Alyssa McIntyre posted seven while Kayleigh Sinopoli recorded six, Brooklyn Blossman put up four and Raina Meyers added two.
The tournament continues to today and features five games. Franklinton plays two games. They are scheduled to face Slidell at 3:30 p.m. and Kentwood at 6:30 p.m.