Franklin girls bounce back in 6-AAA quarterfinals

Michael Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Franklin's Holly Harris (12) advances into Hillsboro's Alia Logoleo (10) during the second half at Centennial High School in Franklin on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

But the Lady Rebels, coming off consecutive District 11-AAA tournament defeats, seemed to regained their regular-season rhythm with their 40-38 quarterfinal win over District 12-AAA champion Hillsboro.

“We came in just knowing we had to put last weekend out of our heads and just focus on the next game,” Holly Harris said. “Coach (Darrell Barnwell) even gave us the reference yesterday in practice about how we’re all holding a rope so that if any of us are slacking we’re all there to help each other.

“We can’t have just one person holding the rope, it has to be the whole team, and I think that’s what we brought tonight.”

The Lady Rebels, who beat the Lady Burros by 16 back in late November, shot close to 45 percent from the field on Friday — far better than the 15 percent they shot in last Saturday’s loss to Ravenwood — and Franklin did just enough defensively to limit Hillsboro’s 6-foot-3 center Dorie Harrison.

“The stakes were so much greater (tonight),” Barnwell said. “The first time it was an early regular-season game right after Thanksgiving when both teams were still trying to figure things out. Tonight your season’s on the line. If you win you move on and if you lose you go home.

Franklin's Sarah Harden (23) reacts after defeating Hillsboro at Centennial High School in Franklin, Tenn., Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

“With all that on the line and us coming in a little deflated after losing the last two games and being a No. 4 seed, I thought our team did a great job.”

Harris, who was held to just three points in Saturday’s loss, scored six of her team-leading 14 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory, while teammates Sarah Harden and Jilian King combined to score 15 for the Lady Rebels (20-10).

Harrison, a Kentucky signee, finished with 18 points for Hillsboro (17-10), while Lady Burros Devon Burns and Destiny Patrick each added seven in the losing effort.

“Our kids rose to the challenge, and I can’t say enough about the job they did guarding (Harrison),” Barnwell said. “We gave up some things here and there, but I just thought overall it was a great defensive effort.

"Our kids dug deep and we hit some big shots down the stretch."

Franklin will square off against Centennial in Monday’s 7:30 p.m. region semifinals. District 11-AAA champion Dickson County takes on Cane Ridge at 6.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com or 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.