Maclay puts an end to Seahawks' tourney hopes

The Seahawks took it on the chin last week, falling 76-40 to Maclay in the opening game of the regionals Feb. 18 on the Marauders’ home court.

“We hadn’t seen any film of them all year and we learned Maclay was better than advertised,” said Franklin County High School coach Fred Drake. “They were physical, fundamentally sound and had talent to go with it.

“Normally somebody lacks something but that Maclay team had all the intangibles. I take my hat off to them,” he said.

Drake’s squad, which finished the year at 18-10 and made the state playoffs for the third consecutive year, managed to hold its own in the opening quarter against Mike McGrotha’s Marauders (21-4).

“We played a perfect quarter and two minutes into the second quarter, but then we had a few defensive breakdowns in our zone box-and-one,” said Drake.

The breakdown led to an 8-0 Maclay run, forcing the Seahawks out of their zone. “Once you get down you can’t sit in a zone defense,” said Drake. “We just go exposed. Some mental lapses and it went from there.”

Drake decided to play all his seniors, in their last game. “We emptied the bench and everybody played and everybody had some fun,” he said.

Despite the loss, Drake said he was pleased with the team’s showing throughout the year, especially in overcoming adversity. “How many schools can say they went to the state three years in a row and come off a Final Four appearance?” he said. “We lost four of our top six guys from last year and we still made a run. That says a lot about how the kids responded well to adversity, that’s says a lot.

“We had some growing pains along the season, but they got the experience that’s going to be helpful for the next year and in the long run,” said Drake. “I feel we had a great season despite what we went through.”

Seahawks’ leading scorer Austin O’Neal led with 16 points, while senior Arron Prince added 12.

Feb. 18 @ Maclay

Franklin County 13     9     2    16  – 40

Maclay             15   22    15   24  – 76

SEAHAWKS: Arron Prince 2/5 2s, 2/7 3s, 2/4 FTs, 12 pts.; Dalin Modican 2/3 2s, 4 pts.; Tydron Wynn 0/1 2s, 2/5 3s, 6 pts.; Adam Joseph 1/4 2s, 2 pts.; Austin O’Neal 7/18 2s, 0/5 3s, 2/4 FTs, 16 pts.

Totals: 12/33 2s, 4/18 3s, 4/10 (40%) FTs

Rebounds: Joseph 9; O’Neal, Modican 7, Winfield 4; Prince 3, Zach Jones 2, Michael Turner 2

Steals: Prince, Modican, O’Neal 2; Joseph, Winfield

Assists: O’Neal, Winfield, Joseph, Prince 2; Wynn, Modican

Blocks: Joseph 2, O’Neal