CITY SECTION : BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A DIVISION : Franklin Held to 23 as Taft Ends Season With 58-54 Defeat

Kevin Franklin is no stranger to postseason disappointment. The All-City Taft senior had already experienced two first-round City playoff losses before Friday night’s game against Dorsey in the opening round of the City 4-A playoffs at Hamilton High.

Franklin’s final try at postseason success was perhaps his most frustrating, however, because his team came so close to pulling out a win.

Franklin scored 23 points, nearly eight below his average, and Taft lost to Dorsey, 58-54. Taft trailed the entire game, but Dorsey (15-5) never led by more than seven points.

“I’m really disappointed,” Taft Coach Jim Woodard said. “I thought we didn’t play as well as we could have. And those damn in-and-out shots didn’t help us either.”

Taft (15-7) almost went ahead midway through the third quarter when Franklin ended a fast break with an acrobatic 10-foot basket. That would have given Taft a 38-37 lead, but Franklin was called for an offensive foul.

Franklin had 14 points at the half, but was only 2 of 5 shooting in the third quarter when Dorsey started to double-team him.

It was the long-range shooting of senior Darren Kolinsky that kept Taft in the game as he pumped in several 20-footers.

Kolinsky, who had 14 points, said Taft had to rely on its outside shooting because Dorsey had taller players at the center position.

“We just don’t have much size at the post,” Kolinsky said. “Our offense has to go outside and shoot and, if they’re guarding Kevin, it means I’m the one that has to shoot.”

Taft cut Dorsey’s lead to 53-50 with 2:30 remaining on two free throws by Vernon Middleton, but Dorsey followed with an easy layup seconds later.

Franklin then missed a 25-foot shot and Middleton missed a five-foot attempt in front of the free-throw line to end Taft’s hope of a miracle finish.

Franklin had two baskets in the last minute of the game, but Dorsey hit the front end of three one-and-one opportunities to clinch the victory and send Taft home a first-round loser for the third year in a row.

“Two years ago, we got blown out by Banning,” Kolinsky said. “Last year, we lose to Westchester in two overtimes. This loss just breaks my heart. You think about a City basketball championship for 15 years and now it’s all over for me.”