The New Franklin girls led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter at Slater on Thursday, but that lead was down to one when Addy Salmon stepped to the free-throw line with 30 seconds left.

Salmon made both. And after a Slater turnover, she made two more to finish with 16 points in the Lady Bulldogs’ 42-35 win.

“I was nervous,” Salmon said. “I didn’t want to miss and give them a chance to score and get ahead.

“It felt pretty good,” she said about the clutch shots. “I was able to get the lead up a little more.”

New Franklin trailed 6-2 early in the game, but baskets from Campbell Cooper and Madelyn Chaney put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 7-6 after one quarter and they never trailed again.

Kristen Flick scored five of her eight points in the second quarter as the lead grew to 20-12 at the half.

Slater made just one field goal in the third quarter. Abby Maupin scored the first points of the fourth quarter to put New Franklin ahead 28-17, but Slater answered with a 12-3 run.

McKenzie Nelson came off the bench for the Lady Wildcats to score eight points in the fourth quarter. She led Slater with 14.

Flick found Salmon under the basket on an inbounds play for a critical bucket in a one-point game with 2:10 remaining.

“I was very happy, once again,” coach Morgan Vetter said. “The girls pushed through and found a way to win on the road.”

Maupin made the final two free throws of the game to finish with nine points.

New Franklin 50, Brunswick 33

Madelyn Chaney

After a tight first half, the New Franklin girls dominated the third quarter offensively and the fourth quarter defensively, in a 50-33 win over Brunswick on Friday, Feb 7.

New Franklin led 17-16 at the half and increased the lead to eight with a 20-point third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs allowed just three points over the final quarter as the lead grew.

Carly Dorson scored 12 of her team-high 17 points over the second half. Abby Maupin scored eight in the second half and finished with 11.

Madelyn Chaney made a 3-pointer in each quarter to finish with 12. Addy Salmon added five.

“This was another great win for us,” New Franklin coach Morgan Vetter said. “We’re happy to have a couple days rest and then get back to work next week with two games on Tuesday and Friday.”

New Franklin 53, Jamestown 41

The Lady Bulldogs set the tone with defense and finished with offense in a 53-41 win over Jamestown on Feb. 3.

New Franklin held the Lady Eagles to just seven points in the first quarter and led 22-18 at the half. Carly Dorson scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half as the Lady Bulldogs pulled away for a double-digit win.

“I’m proud of the heart and fight tonight in a tough road game,” New Franklin coach Morgan Vetter said. “We improve to 10-8 and look to forward this momentum as we are on our way toward the downward slope of the season.”

Abby Maupin had 10 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 17 points.

Kristen Flick scored eight points and Madelyn Chaney added six. Faith Painter made a 3-pointer during the fourth quarter.