GAME OF THE WEEK : Wilson Can’t Keep Up With Franklin

No matter how much improvement Wilson High boys’ basketball team made, the Mules could not keep pace with Franklin’s Johnnie Sanders.

Sanders, the nephew of former UCLA and NBA great Marques Johnson, had a game-high 27 points to lead host Franklin to an 77-44 win over Wilson in a Northern Conference game Friday.

After a stunning 53-50 victory agains Lincoln Wednesday, Wilson promised to make things interesting. The Panthers felt threatened enough to run their full-court press, which forced six turnovers in the first two minutes.

After three minutes, Sanders had five points and Franklin held a 10-0 lead.

Steve Aguilar finally made a shot underneath to put the Mules on the board with 1:27 left in the quarter.

As the Panthers’ lead grew from 17 points after the first quarter to 27 at halftime, the only thing left to watch was Sanders and his considerable offensive skills.

Sanders, a two-time Northern Conference player of the year, made two three-pointers to open the second half as Franklin led 47-14. Three minutes later, he made a two-handed dunk as Franklin’s lead reached 41.

Sanders’ most impressive shot came on a breakaway. Getting pushed from behind while airborne, the 6-foot-3 Sanders made a one-handed jam.

With Sanders sitting out most of the fourth quarter, the Mules scored 24 points, four more than they had scored in the previous three quarters combined.

Records: Franklin 12-5.