Bobby Franks fulcrum for Newark Catholic’s attack against New Hope

On Jan 27, 2023

NEWARK — It was not a 1-on-1 matchup Thursday night, but senior Bobby Franks knew he had to be at his best for the Newark Catholic boys basketball to get a much-needed win.

Franks went to toe-to-toe with New Hope star Lane Bruning, matching him with 19 points, and Franks’ teammates contributed plenty, too. NC had three double-digit scorers in a 64-53 victory.

“I took that as a challenge, and we really went right after him. That was our game plan,” Franks said. “We got him into foul trouble, which made them sub in smaller guys. That really got the in-and-out game going, getting some (3-pointers) but also some post touches.”

Bruning had 14 of New Hope’s 22 points in the first quarter, hitting two 3s outside but also drawing two fouls in the post. The tide, however, turned when he went to bench with his second foul midway through the second quarter.

A Franks 3-point play came early in a 15-3 surge as NC (3-13) took a 35-30 halftime lead. Franks, who had nine points in the second quarter, scored six more in the third as the Green Wave, playing without senior leading scorer Eli Morris because of injury, opened a 52-42 lead.

“The last two games we have had two of our bigger-bodied guys step up. The other night it was Ian Morehead, and tonight it was Bobby Franks,” NC coach Travis Schwab said. “Bobby was a man down there on the block. I’m proud of him. These guys work hard in practice, and when their number’s called, they have to be ready.”

NC’s defense locked down on Bruning, allowing him just one point after halftime. The Statesmen (9-5), an annual contender for the Ohio Christian Schools Athletic Association state championship, have scored 67 points or more six times this season, but that defensive effort spearheaded by senior Joe Stanley and junior Owen Helms on the perimeter held them to just seven field goals during the final three quarters.

The NC offense was just as diverse. While Franks dominated in the post, senior Braylon Bates hit a trio of 3s, finishing with 15 points, and Stanley scored seven of his 11 points in the third quarter, including a drive straight down the lane in the final seconds.

Sophomore Griffin Urdarovski added nine points as seven Green Wave reached the scoring column. NC had four double-figure scorers in Tuesday’s 59-57 loss to Zanesville.

“We are starting to move the ball around a lot better,” Stanley said. “We have scored over 50 points the last two games, which we’ve rarely done all season. It’s good to see everyone getting a little bit of scoring.”

It is a busy week for the Green Wave. They visit Lakewood on Friday, going for the season sweep in Licking County League-Cardinal Division play.

“Coming into Zanesville, we knew it was a very winnable game, and we just didn’t get it done,” Stanley said. “The goal for the rest of the week was to go 2-1. It’s next man up. … Everyone is doing their job, and we need to keep stringing it together.”