Jeremiah Askew and Reggie Asoluka knew it was important for their Franklin Indians to get off to a good start after some sluggish beginnings early in the season. Friday night at home, they made sure Franklin did just that.
The Indians used a pressure defense that generated turnovers and scored the game’s first 17 points before eventually beating Lansdowne, 57-31, in a Baltimore County Division I game.
Franklin (8-0, 4-0) was led by Asoluka’s 12 points, while Askew pitched in 11. Lansdowne was led by Josh Rogers’ eight points.
“We just executed the game plan and played good defense,” Asoluka said. “Coach [Keith] Brown, he’s working us on the defensive end of the floor. It’s basically about our defensive intensity.”
And intense it was.
The Vikings ran a slower, set offense. That wasn’t what Franklin likes to do, so the Indians made the Vikings play their way. Whether it was traps or steals, Franklin continually sped Lansdowne up and scored many of their points in transition. The Vikings (5-5, 3-2), who came in on a four-game win streak, simply had no answer.
Lansdowne got its first basket of the game on a Topaz Norris layup with 1:38 left in the first quarter, but the damage had been done by that point.
“We came out lazy and with a lack of energy, and it showed,” Lansdowne coach Stephen Coursey said. “We came out and just went through the motions and we got down early. They played way harder than we did and it showed.”
“I feel like we made a statement,” Askew said. “We had a team speech about starting fast, and that built our energy. I felt like us coming together as a team really showed tonight.”
Franklin’s offense went into a bit of a funk in the second quarter, but the Indians still turned the intensity up on the defensive end, holding Lansdowne to only four points. Franklin led 28-10 at the half.
“We’ve been trying to get off to a good start the last couple of games, and we finally did it tonight,” Brown said. “We’re starting to come together [as a team], which is a great sign.”
For the most part, Brown emptied his bench in the second half, and the Indians were never threatened.
Now things will get a little tougher for Franklin.
“We have a couple of games that we have to make up because of the snow, and we have to play two back-to-back games against two tough opponents in Towson and Randallstown. I’m sure they’ll be ready for us.”
For Askew and Asoluka, this is their last chance to make their mark as seniors. The pair compliment each other well on the court.
“If I know he’s tired, I have to pick up the slack for him, and he does the same for me,” Askew said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time and he’s like a brother to me. This is our chance to make a mark and leave our legacy. We just have to keep going.”
Franklin 57, Lansdowne 31
LANS 6 4 12 9 – 31
FRA 17 11 23 6 – 57
LANS – Rogers 8, Norris 7, T. Jackson 2, Babou 6, Kehoe 6, D. Jackson 2.
FRA – Asoluka 12, Askew 11, Gregg 10, Richardson 7, Luria 7, D, Parker 4, Young 3, Truehart 2, Welborn 1.
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