Panthers’ turnovers lead to Franklin lopsided win

Charles City guard Jestin Harris squeezes between Franklin defenders Darrien Duck (12) and Quayshaun Jefferson (2).

Andre' Jones photo

Returning from the two week holiday break, Charles City’s Panthers head coach Cullen Jenkins hoped his team would be recharged and kick off 2015 on a positive note. Unfortunately, the energy displayed during Monday night’s contest against the visiting Franklin Broncos proved that the hosts may need a kick-start.

Franklin took advantage of 44 Panther turnovers as the visitors cruised to a 64-34 victory in the non-district contest.

Charles City jumped out at the start, with Jestin Harris’ lay-in and Thomas Kelly’s free throw to a 3-0 lead. That margin, however, would be the only advantage for the hosts. Franklin regained the lead courtesy of a Dominique Gainey lay-in (7-5). That basket sparked an 8-3 to give the guests a 15-8 lead after the first quarter.

A Michael Callahan trifecta at the 6:10 mark pulled the hosts within six (17-11) to keep the game relatively close. However, the Broncos employed a tactic of switching defenses when the hosts possessed the ball. The ploy worked, resulting in eight fast break points as part of a 16-3 run for the Broncos. Only a Charles Vaden field goal at the end of the second quarter kept the Panthers within reasonable striking distance at the break (33-16).

The visitors continued frustrating Charles City, resulting in multiple Panther miscues and easy buckets throughout the third quarter. After ending the frame with a 20-point lead (46-26), Franklin orchestrated a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter and never looked back on the way to the 30-point victory.

After the game, Jenkins spoke about the time off and the ongoing struggles with play on the court.

“We were tired and we were gassed,” said the frustrated head coach. “We weren’t doing the little things and we were making a lot of bad decisions.

“We got to remain focus for all 32 minutes of the game,” Jenkins continued. “When we’re not doing that, it puts us in a hole that we can’t climb out of.”

Jenkins, however, continues to remains optimistic as district play takes place in the coming weeks.

“We have the ability to play with any of the teams and have hung with them earlier this year,” he said. “I’m hoping we can find that desire to make that run down the home stretch.”

Charles City (1-9) was led by Callahan’s nine points. Kyle Jones scored six, Tyler Allen pumped in four, Kelly and Benjamin Benford’s three, two each from Vaden, Harris, Noah Ragland and Brian Hicks, and Jaquane Wyatt chipped in with one.

Franklin’s Darrien Duck scored a game-high 21 points for the victors.