That’s because Franklin senior Luke Kennard would eventually be in the house. This is the fourth and final season Wildcats fans have been celebrating that. Area basketball fans also have been following Kennard’s orbital streak toward hoop fame. The rest of the nation will catch up next season.
It’s hard to say if Kennard was the main reason for a capacity crowd packing Trent Arena three games before Franklin met Montrose Christian (Md.).
Here’s what we do know: the reigning Mr. Basketball and Duke University signee put 55 points on Brookville on Friday night. He had 40 points by halftime. Need a trey? He hit his first 11 bombs. He was even better Saturday.
That’s why a line 15-20 people deep hijacked Kennard as he tried to watch an early Flyin’ game with teammates. Most wanted him to sign programs or T-shirts. One entrepreneur had Kennard sign his iPhone with a marker.
Kennard draws an autograph line everywhere he plays now. Usually it’s kids; sometimes it’s opponents. Girls want selfies with him. Guys who don’t know better do, too. He obliges all.
He eventually moved toward Trent’s upper walkway; the line was obstructing spectators’ view.
The show was even better.
As if he wasn’t before, he is now officially in rarified air after surpassing Dante Jackson, Larry Huggins and finally Middletown great Jerry Lucas with a free throw with 37.1 ticks left as the No. 10 all-time scorer in Ohio boys hoop history.
He’ll enter Franklin’s next game against visiting Bellbrook with 2,462 points.
His numbers were again staggering: 47 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists.
Not wanting Kennard to go off like he did at Brookville, Montrose repeatedly fouled him. That didn’t work, either. He converted a state record 34 free throws in 40 attempts.
The most impressive number? Franklin 77, Montrose Christian — otherwise known as the school that produced Kevin Durant — 75.
That boosts Franklin to 13-1. It’s a given Franklin will win another Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division title. It’s anyone’s guess if Franklin has the stuff to get out of the Southwest District tough D-II bracket.
With Kennard on your side, anything is possible. Get in line.
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