Drawing the No. 2 seed in their own tournament, the 5-4 New Franklin Lady Bulldogs took on the No. 7 seed Westran sporting a 1-11 record. As expected, the Lady Bulldogs were up to the task and defeated the Lady Hornets 57-37.

This is the 93rd annual offering of the New Franklin tournament, said to be the oldest basketball tournament in the state.

Jumping out to a 5-0 lead before Westran would put points on the board, New Franklin continued to put pressure on the Hornets and led 11-3 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime the Lady Bulldogs had extended that lead to 31-11 taking a 20-point lead into the locker room. 

Westran was able to reach double digits in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to New Franklin’s 18 to make the score 49-22 at the end of the third stanza. New Franklin coach Morgan Vetter continued to keep fresh bodies in the game during most of the third quarter and all of the fourth, leading the way for the 57-27 victory.

“It was great to be back in action,” said Vetter. “We got the win to start the New Franklin tournament. I’m proud of the girls and excited to have another opportunity to grow and improve.”

New Franklin’s win was a total team effort as 10 Lady Bulldogs put points on the scoreboard. Senior Abby Maupin led all scorers with 15 points on the night while junior Carly Dorson put up 13. Junior Addy Salmon and freshman Brynn Belstle each contributed seven while junior Emma Rice added four. Senior Kristen Flick, junior Kelsi Fair, and freshmen Kabrea Fair and Tatum Hoover each put in two. Freshman Emersyn Eads rounded out the scoring by converting a free throw.

With the win, New Franklin moves on in the winner’s bracket to play the sixth-seeded Fayette Lady Falcons. That game will be contested tonight (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. in the new gym at New Franklin. Westran’s loss earns a trip to the loser’s bracket to play the third-seeded Sweet Springs Greyhounds tonight.