Franklin County came back from a 15-point deficit to defeat Magna Vista 58-56 Saturday afternoon in boys’ basketball action in Rocky Mount.
The Warriors beat the Eagles convincingly at home the first week of December and it looked like they might sweep the series early in the contest. Magna Vista’s Landon Hall hit a three-pointer with 2:17 on the clock in the second quarter to give the Magna Vista their largest lead of the game, 32-17. However, the Eagles clawed back. Franklin County’s Kendal Mattox sank two free throws at the 1:42 mark, and Eagles forward David Kasey made a layup on a fast break just before the half to cut the lead to 11. Magna Vista led at the half, 32-21.
Franklin County freshman forward Jalontae Edmunds, who was playing in just his third varsity game after moving up from the JV squad, hit a clutch basket with 12 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter to make it a 40-39 game. However, Hall answered back with another trey just before the buzzer, to extend the Warriors lead, 43-39. Franklin County outscored Magna Vista 18-11 in the third quarter.
The Warriors led by as many as six in the fourth quarter before Franklin County shooting guard Tucker Harvey got a hot hand and tied the game 47-47 on two consecutive three-pointers with just under 6 minutes left in the game. Harvey scored a deuce at the 5:10 mark to give the Eagles their first lead of the game, 49-47. Franklin County’s Kendal Mattox hit two free throws after a technical was called on Magna Vista’s Jaken Ford to give the Eagles their biggest lead of the game, 51-47. Magna Vista’s Simeon Moore cut the lead to one on a three- point play after being fouled by Franklin County’s David Kasey, 51-50. Moore hit another big basket at the 3- minute mark to put the Warriors back on top, 52-51. Kasey tied the score again with a free throw and Kendal Mattox added another basket to put the Eagles back on top, 54-52. Ford hit a clutch jumper with 1:48 left in the game to tie the score. 54-54. With 58 seconds left on the clock, Franklin County’s Kendal Mattox answered back with a basket to put the Eagles up again, 56-54. Magna Vista center Vance Perry knotted the score again, 56-56 with a turnaround jumper at the 38 second mark. Mattox added another basket for Franklin County as time ran out to clinch the win, 58-56.
Sophomore guard Landon Hall paced Magna Vista (5-10) with 16 points including four three-pointers. Simeon Moore tallied 15 points while Vance Perry and Jaken Ford added nine points apiece for the Warriors.
Kendal Mattox and Tucker Harvey scored a team-high 14 points each to lead Franklin County (5-8), while David Kasey added 11.
Franklin County boys’ basketball coach Brandon Smith said he was happy with the win but not satisfied.
“I think we’re still a little inconsistent as times,” he said. “I have said from the beginning that the heart is there, and they fight hard. We have to limit the turnovers and continue to manage the game.”
Franklin County has now won three of their last four games after a four-game losing skid. They have home games with Blue Ridge District rival Staunton River on Fri. Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Lord Botetourt on Sat. Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. They have away games with district foe William Byrd on Mon. Jan. 30, and Halifax County on Wed. Jan. 31. Both games start at 7 p.m.
Magna Vista has home games with Piedmont District rival Bassett on Tues. Jan 23 and Morehead on Thurs. Jan 25 before hitting the road for contests with district foe Tunstall on Fri. Jan. 26 and a non-district game at Mecklenburg County on Tues. Jan 30. All games start at 7 p.m.
