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01/11/07

Franklin's key shot sparks late R-H surge

3-pointer starts 9-0 run as two state-ranked teams faceoff

James Johnson
Staff writer

(January 11, 2007) — HENRIETTA — Ozell Franklin should thank his father, since it was advice from his dad that helped the Royal Comets earn a highly desired win over basketball rival Fairport on Wednesday.

Franklin's night was not going so well, at least when it came to shooting from 3-point range.

"I took about six shots and none of them fell," Franklin, a senior guard, said. "It was tough, my head was hanging down."

Franklin later kept his chin up long enough to hit a 3-pointer that sparked Rush-Henrietta's winning run during a 60-55 victory over the Red Raiders.

"My dad says to shoot your way out of slumps so I still kept putting them up," Franklin said. "Hey, you have to shoot them if they are there.

"After coming off three losses (to Fairport) I'm going to sleep well tonight."

Fairport led 52-51 in front of another sell-out crowd at Rush-Henrietta, when Franklin swished his final 3-point attempt from a wing with 1:23 remaining.

The Royal Comets (8-1 overall, 5-0 league) had the lead and the makings of a 9-0 run that clinched the Monroe County league Division I matchup.

Franklin's shot might be remembered when people relive this game. So will the play of 6-foot-6 sophomore Dane Miller.

It was Miller's first varsity Rush-Henrietta/Fairport game and he finished with 26 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 dunks.

Four of Miller's points came during Rush-Henrietta's winning run, including his second dunk.

"After the Edison game, I heard people say I stayed outside too much and I didn't like banging with the big people," Miller said. "So I said all right.

"I had four dunks against (Syracuse) Henninger, so I felt like no one could stop me inside.

"The JVs won and that really pumped me up. We came out and did the game plan. If we get a rebound, go. If we couldn't, I would go down low and post up."

Ricky Reed added 13 points for Rush-Henrietta.

Kevin Borden gave Miller a little trouble on defense and led Fairport (8-2, 4-1) with 21 points, including four 3-pointers.

Kyle Downey failed to make a 3-pointer during a 12-point game for him, none of which came during the fourth quarter.

"They always had a hand in my face," Downey said. "Mostly, it was because my shots weren't falling.

"It was just good solid defense."

No surprise. One of these two Monroe County powers — R-H is 14th-ranked in the state and Fairport 15th — usually wins the division, and both regularly advance deep into the Section V tournament's top class.

Last season Fairport ended a seven-game losing streak to Rush-Henrietta, swept the regular season-series and then beat the Royal Comets 52-50 in the Class AAA final.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com