The New Franklin boys ended Saturday’s title game with a 15-1 run to upset top-seeded Westran for the championship of their own tournament, 47-38.

Saturday’s championship matchup was the fourth in a row between the two area powerhouses. New Franklin and Westran have each won the title twice over that span, with the Hornets claiming a five-point upset a year ago.

New Franklin is now 9-3 on the year, with losses coming to area rivals Cairo, Glasgow, and Slater. None of those losses, however, was by more than four points.

New Franklin coach Jim Schlotzhauer said winning their tournament was a big deal for his relatively inexperienced players. 

“Most of these guys haven’t played. So, to be able to beat a team like Westran on your own floor is a big deal. Hopefully, that carries through because the three losses we’ve had, I feel like we hadn’t executed at the end. For us to put on a run like that at the end hopefully means we’re turning the corner. That just comes with experience.”

After three and a half action-packed quarters, it looked as if Westran might pull off the win for the second straight year. The Hornets pulled ahead 37-32 with 4:08 left to play. That’s when New Franklin’s already stingy defense tightened up, holding Westran to just one point the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ offense remained patient, breaking Westran’s pressure and scoring 15 points in the final 3:55 to pull back in front and claim the win.

Junior Caden Schlotzhauer scored seven straight points to kick off the run, putting the Bulldogs in front 39-37 with 2:13 to play. New Franklin then finished the final 91 seconds of the game by sinking eight of 12 free-throw attempts to clinch the victory.

“Westran went ahead by five. And when that happened, we took a couple of quick shots,” said Coach Schlotzhauer. “They weren’t bad shots, but they were quick. And Westran is very good at scoring on the back end of that. I think we got back into our offense which allowed us good spacing and to move the ball a little better. We’re much more confident when we’re in the offense and running what we’re supposed to run.”

A good measure of New Franklin’s success was the team’s strategy to limit opportunities by Westran’s big man, Marshall Kitchen. The senior scored just one point in the first half and left the game in the final half-minute with five fouls.

“We just doubled him,” Coach Schlotzhauer said. “We were doubling from the backside and seeing if he could read the double. Our kids really anticipated that well. Kitchen is that good. I’m really impressed we could hold him to one. Even if we held him under 10, that’s impressive.”

Drawing the assignment of guarding Kitchen in the paint were 6’2 senior Xander McGruder and 6’3 junior Landon Shaw. Coach Schlotzhauer said their performance was the most physical they’ve ever been. “I was really impressed with those two because if they didn’t do their job, nobody else could help them anyway.

“We’ve played pretty well defensively all year. Tonight was much better.”

Saturday’s title matchup was low-scoring, considering the caliber of either team. And while the points may have been at a premium, it was a master class in defensive acumen. 

“I could not be more proud of the way our guys guarded today,” Schlotzhauer said. “Giving up 38 to a team like Westran is a huge accomplishment for this group. All five guys on the floor played hard and worked together to execute our game plan.”

Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Caden Schlotzhauer with a game-high 19 points. Twelve of those points came in the final stretch. Freshman Noah Hackman added 16, with three 3-point baskets and a 3-for-4 performance from the free-throw line.

“He is one of the most coachable kids I’ve had,” Schlotzhauer said about his freshman sharpshooter. “He wants to help the team. It doesn’t matter how. We put him down in our four spot tonight and he was just leaking out to the corner to try to get some looks from the three. And he hit three of them. He’s a very complementary player.”

Lane Hackman added seven points for the Bulldogs. Rylan Hundley finished with three points, and McGruder added two.

Senior Cooper Harvey paced Westran with 13 points, followed by sophomore Cruze Haynes with 11.

New Franklin headed back out on the road for a rematch with Glasgow on Tuesday night after the Advertiser went to press. The Yellowjackets won a four-point decision for the consolation trophy in the Glasgow Tournament on December 7. The Bulldogs return home for two games on January 17 and 21 against Community and Pilot Grove. On January 22, New Franklin travels to Harrisburg, currently ranked fourth in Class 2.