Girls Basketball: Ben Franklin downs Mount Carmel to reach quarterfinals

Rematch games are never easy, particularly when the rematch occurs just 12 days later.

Ben Franklin was prepared for and equal to the challenge.

Senior Petra Trumbach scored 13 points and had seven rebounds to help overcome a slow start as the fifth-seeded Falcons downed No. 12 Mount Carmel Academy 35-27 at McDonogh 35 Monday afternoon in the Select Division I regional round.

“It was not easy,” Trumbach said. “Whenever you play a team again, they make adjustments and you have to make adjustments and I think we worked on what we needed to do and that’s why we won. We started off slow but we picked it up, started making shots and handled the press better. We work well together and this season has meant a lot since we are mostly all seniors.”

Mount Carmel came out with a 1-2-2 zone defense and stymied the Falcons in the opening period as the Cubs went on an 8-0 run and took a 10-6 lead by the end of the quarter.

The Cubs held a 14-9 lead when Ben Franklin exploded, closing the half on a 9-0 run to take a 17-14 halftime lead. The Falcons turned up the pressure defensively, forcing eight Mount Carmel turnovers in the second quarter. Petra Trumbach finished the half with six points and four rebounds. The Cubs outrebounded the Falcons 16-10 in the half.

The run continued in the third quarter as Ben Franklin opened the period on a 5-0 run to extend the overall run to 14-0 and built a 31-20 lead by the end of the quarter.

The Cubs opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 31-25 but got no closer. Trumbach scored on a driving layup and Cyd Gauff converted a pair of free throws to seal the deal for the Falcons.

Gauff finished with eight points and three steals while Allison Honeywood had seven points and eight rebounds for Ben Franklin.

“We knew it would be more difficult this time around,” Ben Franklin coach Chrissa Hailey said. “They are very well coached, very disciplined, methodical on offense, waiting for you to make a mistake. We prepared for that but it was certainly much harder this time. It’s hard to beat someone twice. We’re senior-loaded. We lost just one player from last year’s team. We’re definitely dialed in.”

Mount Carmel (18-14) was led by Jessica Runnels with nine points and six rebounds while Alexis Brassette had six points and six rebounds.

“We’re kind of like in a gray space with Mount Carmel basketball,” Cubs coach Jamie Thomatis said. “We had some highs and lows. This is a special group. They are kind of in the middle of creating a new identity for themselves. I am very proud of them. We just could not score enough. That has been our issue all season. When you only score 27 points, it will be tough to win. Turnovers and just finishing were a problem.”

A year after reaching the state semifinals, Ben Franklin (28-5) is playing its best at the right time, having won 11 straight games.

The Falcons advance to the quarterfinals to take on the winner of No. 4 Scotlandville and 20th seed Karr.

FINAL
BF 6 11 14 4 — 35
MCA 10 4 6 7 — 27

Scoring:
Ben Franklin: Petra Trumbach 13, Cyd Gauff 8, Allison Honeywood 7, Alivia Benetrix 4, Katelyn Jackson 2, Jaelyn Mitchell 1
Mount Carmel: Jessica Runnels 9, Alexis Brassette 6, Jordyn Hanley 4, Lauren Fowler 3, Avery Killian 3, Gianna Hingle 2

Rebounds: MCA 34, BF 25

Turnovers: MCA 17, BF 16

Assists: MCA 3, BF 6

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL BRACKETS

Area Girls LHSAA Prep Basketball Results from Monday, Feb. 20

Non-Select Division I
No. 8 Chalmette 52, No. 9 Mandeville 41
No. 5 Ponchatoula 68, No. 12 Thibodaux 33
No. 4 Zachary 80, No. 13 Destrehan 57
No. 11 East St. John 82, No. 27 Slidell 44

Non-Select Division II
No. 2 Albany 70, No. 15 Ellender 38

Non-Select Division III
No. 8 West St. Mary 66, No. 9 Pine 56
No. 5 Union Parish 44, No. 12 St. Helena 31
No. 13 Westlake 53, No. 4 French Settlement 48 (OT)
No. 3 Springfield 49, No. 14 Port Allen 30
No. 10 Bogalusa 56, No. 7 Avoyelles 55
No. 2 Amite 59, No. 15 Doyle 39

Non-Select Division IV
No. 4 Arcadia 55, No. 13 South Plaquemines 20

Non-Select Division V
No. 3 Gibsland-Coleman 44, No. 14 Holden 40
No. 6 Florien 54, No. 11 Phoenix 40

Select Division I
No. 1 John Curtis Christian 79, No. 17 Byrd 41
No. 9 Liberty 54, No. 8 Dominican 39
No. 5 Ben Franklin 35, No. 12 Mount Carmel Academy 27
No. 6 Warren Easton 48, No. 11 Woodlawn (BR) 46

Select Division II
No. 8 Archbishop Hannan 65, No. 25 David Thibodaux25
No. 6 De La Salle 46, No. 11 Kenner Discovery 31
No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic 54, No. 18 Cabrini 20

Select Division III
No. 1 Newman 44, No. 15 St. Charles Catholic 30
No. 5 Parkview Baptist 58, No. 12 Country Day 30
No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas 51, No. 13 St. Mary’s Academy 30
No. 7 Glen Oaks 40, No. 10 Academy of Sacred Heart (NO) 27

Select Division IV
No. 5 Central Catholic 67, No. 12 McGehee 23
No. 2 Northwood-Lena 80, No. 15 Riverside Academy 19