Foxborough Girls' Basketball Falls To Franklin

Perhaps it was because they couldn’t capitalize on taking a 10-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Perhaps it was because they allowed a 13-3 run to start the third quarter. Or perhaps it was because they couldn’t capitalize on D.J. Quardozzi’s three consecutive three pointers to pull the Warriors within 10.

Either way, there was nothing too positive that head coach Sarah Behn could take out of Foxborough’s 59-39 loss in its game against Franklin in the Hockomock League Showcase Friday night at the Nixon Gymnasium in Easton.

“A good half doesn’t mean anything in any sport,” said Behn, who’s team only trailed 20-18 at halftime. “I can’t really take anything positive out of this game.”

Trailing by two entering the third quarter, Franklin used its conditioning to its advantage and outhustled and outplayed Foxborough for those eight minutes. Junior guard Caitie Phealan and fellow classmate Alicia Wilde led the Panthers to 10-of-17 as they outscored the Warriors, 22-6 and had a 10-2 rebounding advantage to take its 42-24 lead into the fourth.

Even with Quadrozzi shooting lights out to begin the fourth quarter, the deficit was too much for Behn’s squad to overcome.

“It was one of the worst quarters I’ve ever seen from my team,” said Behn. “All year, my team has struggled with conditioning and I think we just hit the rope and we couldn’t run at either end…and that’s been our Achilles heel all year.”

Phelan and Wilde led the Panthers with 15 points each, while Quardrozzi notched 11 points in a losing effort.

Franklin improves to 16-3 on the year while Foxborough drops to 9-8. Both teams have clinched a birth in the state tournament, which will begin in a couple of weeks.

Despite today’s loss, however, Behn was upbeat about her first experience in the Hockomock Showcase, which debuted this year after Attleboro joined the league and split the Hock into two divisions – Davenport and Kelley-Rex.

“I have to say I like the idea of the crossover,” Behn said. “I support the new league structure and I thought it was fun. “The outcome isn’t something to be proud about obviously. But I like the idea of the showcase and I think its going to be a fun thing to be a part of going forward.”

Franklin will travel to Westboro High School to take part in the Westboro tournament for its final two games of the year beginning on Sunday.

Foxborough, meanwhile, will look to bounce back beginning Monday when they host Hopkinton in the first round of the Foxborough Winter Classic. The Warriors conclude their season on Tuesday against either Duxbury or Archbishop Williams in their second game of the tournament.