SLIDELL — Franklinton’s Demons suffered a 61-51 loss to Salmen in the final regular season game of 2018-19.
The District 8-4A contest was close throughout, as neither team led by double digits until late in the fourth quarter — when Salmen led, 59-49.
Franklinton trailed 29-27 at halftime and tied the game 56 seconds into the third quarter when Kian Conerly hit a fastbreak layup to even the score at 29-29.
Rashad Gallaspy put Salmen back in front with a shot inside and the Demons took the lead when T.Y. Pope grabbed an offensive rebound, hit the put back, got fouled and converted the 3-point play to make it 32-31.
Salmen then scored six in a row. After the 3-point play, Devon Lizana made a 3-pointer on the following possession. Donald White hit 1-of-2 from the line and White made a layup after taking a pass from Lizana. Salmen led 37-32 with 5:03 left in the third quarter.
Franklinton trimmed the lead to two when Conerly hit a 3-pointer, but Salmen scored six straight.
Tahj Jackson made a free throw before Lizana hit a 3-pointer and White hit for two for a 43-35 lead with 2:53 on the clock.
It was 47-40 through three quarters.
Salmen made it a nine-point game a minute into the final quarter on Lizana’s put back from an offensive rebound.
Conerly pulled the Demons within two possessions with a 3-pointer on the next possession.
Franklinton closed the gap to 51-47 with 4:31 to go, but Salmen chipped away and won by 10.
“We didn’t get enough ball movement offensively and we just didn’t make the scrappy plays that we usually make and that was the difference,” Franklinton coach Brad Oestriecher said.
Pope scored a game-high 27 points for the Demons. Pope hit a 3-pointer.
Conerly posted 12 points that included a trio of 3-pointers.
Lorenzo Hart tallied six points while Duke Bell had four and Albert Browhaw added two. Hart made a pair of 3-pointers.
Franklinton reached the Class 4A state playoffs and will face Huntington on the road.
Gallaspy led Salmen with 20 points.
Jackson posted 18 points, which included three 3-pointers.
Lizana had 14 points and he made a pair of 3-pointers.
White had seven points while Kendrick Demourelle added two.