Sectional 29 girls basketball preview Batesville vs Franklin County
Franklin County (15-6) takes on Batesville (12-10) 6pm at Memorial Gym in Rushville in the first round of the 2023 sectionals. The teams played on Dec 13. with FC coming out on top by one point in that matchup, 35-34. The last sectional meeting between the two squads was in 2018, Batesville won 47-38. The Lady Cats last sectional win over Batesville was in 2016. Last year’s sectional saw a first round exit for both teams with FC falling to eventual champ Rushville and the Lady Dogs losing to Greensburg.
The Coaches
Batesville is led by Mitchell Taylor who is in his first season with the Lady Dogs. Kyle VanMeter is in his second season with Franklin County and has compiled a 26-19 record.
The Players
Franklin County is led by a talented pair of sisters, seniors Kassidy and Kiersten Schell. Kassidy is a top five scorer in the EIAC this season averaging 14.1 ppg, she also leads the team in assists. Kierstin averages 7.0 ppg and leads the Lady Cats on defense with 38 steals. FC also has a dominate post player with sophomore Nicole Mears who averages a double double with 11.9 ppg and 10.3 rebounds a game, Mears also has 23 of the Wildcats 54 blocks making her a tough opponent under the rim.
Batesville is a young squad with Alyson Peters leading the team in scoring with 12.8 ppg. Senior Emma Weiler has manned the point position for BHS for the past two seasons and frustrated opponents on the defensive side averaging 1.2 steals per game over her career as a Lady Dog. The return of Makayla Granger-Young is a factor in the game tonight. She is averaging 5.0 ppg in her limited action in five games this season and is shooting 38% from three-point land.
The last outing for Batesville resulted in a 48-34 win over South Decatur and FC lost a tough matchup to an undefeated 19-0 Talawanda (Oxford,OH)
The teams over the last 20 years are neck and neck when playing each other. With Franklin County winning 22 games and Batesville 21.
JH Prediction – Franklin County 49-42