'It's hard for teams to figure us out': Depth carries Franklin boys basketball to Final 4

FRANKLIN – A second foul sent Sean O'Leary to the Franklin bench late in the first quarter of Saturday's Division 1 quarterfinal.

In most cases, that would be a good sign for visiting BC High. The Panthers' best player, leading scorer and two-time Hockomock League MVP was sidelined for most of the first half after picking up a third foul.

But Franklin is more than Sean O'Leary, and the Panthers showed it in a 66-49 victory to reach their first Final Final Foursince 2018. They'll face No. 2 Catholic Memorial (19-4) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Taunton for a trip to the state final.

The Panthers wouldn't be there without their other guys, the role players, the bench players. Hansy Jacques proved Franklin was in good hands early after not playing much in the Sweet 16 against Putnam. He rose up for a jump shot after a step back with 7 minutes, 7 seconds to halftime. The ball dropped through the net smoothly.

"I saw that first shot go in and was like 'it's up from here,'" the senior said.

Literally.

Jacques sprinted up the floor after a Franklin steal with 3:03 on the second-quarter clock. He dribbled once near the 3-point line then soared for a one-handed dunk. The senior had never dunked in a varsity game before. He turned and flexed toward Andrew Benoit as Franklin's student section, Rattle City, surged forward flexing and holding itself back.

"We've had a few dunks like that this year, and I mean, the crowd, the whole community really was here. And for a dunk like that, it's real momentum change," Franklin senior Bradley Herndon said. "They are going on a little bit of run, getting up in our stuff and defensively and Hansy getting that dunk going into half up for that was a massive play for us."

"It's hard for teams to figure us out"

Herndon and Jacques each scored 14 points. Caden Sullivan added 11. Sophomore Justice Samuels poured in all six of his points in quick succession in the third quarter on three straight rim attacks against foul-ridden Eagles center Dan Civello, who couldn't offer much resistance for fear of disqualification. His layup with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter put Franklin a head 35-34 for good.

"It's hard for teams to figure us out," Samuels said. "It could be anyone's night on any night."

Saturday didn't start out as Herndon's night. He only hit one shot in the first half, but his teammates encouraged him to keep shooting. The senior cashed two 3s in the fourth quarter to help put BC High away.

"We noticed pretty early they were sagging off Bradley. most people don't realize Bradley has the highest percentage for us form 3. He just doesn't take them a lot because he's too busy creating for everybody else," Franklin coach CJ Neely said. "He's the most underrated player in the Hockomock league by far. He's one of the best point guards around."

Franklin is filled with those guys. Sullivan dropped 26 points in the Sweet 16. Henry Digiorgio can go off for 25 or more.

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"I won't lie, we have a lot of good players. I'm excited about the group that we have. We knew this was going to be a special team," Neely said. "A lot of those guys that don't play a ton for us would be some other team in our league's best player or second best player playing a ton of minutes. Keeping all of those mouths happy is difficult, but in moments like this they stepped up."

Exceeding expectations

Knowing a team should be special and actually becoming that team are two separate exercises. Franklin was excellent last year, too. The Panthers were the No. 3 seed a season ago, too, and entered the Sweet 16 on a 10-game winning streak. No. 14 Brockton bullied the marksmen off the 3-point line and out of their own gym.

Franklin learned from that experience and embraced the physicality it's capable of. The Panthers can still shoot from deep and like to, but they can play in other ways. That combination of depth and rugged, physical defense has powered them to an undefeated record against in-state competition and 20 wins in a row.

"It's great to have everyone tell you how good you're gonna be and how good the guys are and how great the team will be, but putting it together and getting them to meld and be a group that cohesively works well together and doesn't get any of this 'me first' ball stuff has been one of our best strengths," Neely said.

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That strength allowed them to raise the Final Four trophy in front of a sold-out crowd. Jacques accepted it from Franklin athletic director Karrah Ellis then held it low, walking to center court surrounded by his teammates. He held it aloft to a rousing cheer.

"It's a moment I'm never going to for get. You get to win a trophy in front of your fans, in front of the town," Jacques said. "It's just so special."

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Role players deliver for Franklin boys basketball against BC High