LAPEL, Ind. —
Ever wonder what it would be like to read a fairy tale when the hero arrives too late to save the damsel in distress?
There are over a thousand Frankton boys basketball fans who can tell you exactly how that experience feels.
The Eagles stormed back from eight points behind midway through the fourth quarter to force not one, but two overtimes. Then they were defeated 52-50 on a Wapahani tip-in that came so close to the buzzer that the margin might be less than a tenth of a second.
The end result is that Frankton finishes its season at 18-6 — half of those losses coming in overtime. Wapahani moves on to the Tipton Regional.
“We deserved to win it more than they did,” said Frankton coach Brent Brobston. “Our effort was so much better than theirs. That’s what is the most disappointing.”
In the first overtime, Frankton had to come back from a five-point deficit as Wapahani’s Grant Evans hit two field goals. But the Eagles accomplished it and another four minutes was put on the scoreboard.
This time the beginning of the extra period started much better for Frankton. The Eagles took the lead and maintained it, still holding a 50-47 advantage — and the ball — with 1:40 to go. That’s when the dream finish began to unravel. Frankton had three turnovers in those final 100 seconds, enabling the Raiders to tie the game.
But Frankton had a last chance to win, or so it seemed. The Eagles misfired and then knocked a potential offensive rebound out of bounds with just over five seconds left.
For much of the fourth quarter and the extra periods, Wapahani had trouble getting the ball across halfcourt in 10 seconds as Frankton sophomores Conner and Cameron Bates made the Raiders looked bewildered and befuddled.
But this time Wapahani had no such problem. Tanner Davis got the ball into his hands and headed toward the goal. He put up a runner from the right corner, but it was too strong. Unfortunately for Frankton, too many Eagles had provided defense on that shot and nobody was on the weak side to defend Brandon Williams.
Williams tapped the ball in for the game-winner just before the horn that would have brought a third overtime.
Wapahani won on Friday night with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to eliminate Lapel.
In the second half, the officials called a technical on the Frankton bench and Evans hit both free throws. Those two points would be telling at the end.
“It was interesting that (the official) called a technical for a coach waving his hand,” said Brobston. “But the officiating was bad all night. That’s just something you have to play through.”
Trevor Hughes, the only senior who played for Frankton in the game, finished his career with a five-point outing, but he was second on his team with eight rebounds.
Aaron Korn led the Eagles with 21 points, 17 of those coming in the second half. He scored seven of the 12 points the Eagles tallied in the extra periods. He also topped his team with 10 rebounds. Sophomore Austin Compton was next with 13 points. No other Eagle had more than four.
Evans had a game-high 24 for the Raiders and was followed in scoring by teammates Davis and Jacob Foster, with 12 each.
“I am very proud of our kids,” said Brobston. “I can’t fault anything they did. They played hard all night. We just didn’t finish it off.”
Wapahani’s tip-in did that.
Sports
Related Photos
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Frankton's Austin Compton fights for an offensive rebound during Saturday's sectional championship game against Wapahani. David Humphrey
Discussion
Frankton falls on late tip in double OT
Wapahani wins sectional title
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