Frankton Rolls over Crawford County to First Basketball State Championship
A record-setting defensive effort paved the way for another record, leading Frankton to its first-ever boys basketball state title. The Eagles came up with 19 steals – an all-class championship game record – leading to a 60-32 win over Crawford County. The 28-point win beat the previous 2A record for margin of victory by one point.
In its only other finals appearance, Frankton lost in the 2015 Class 2A title game to Park Tudor by 27 points – the previous record for winning margin. But the Eagles, coached by alum Brent Brobston, left no doubt this time, building a 32-14 halftime lead and pushing it to as many as 30 points the rest of the way.
The Eagles’ pressure forced the Wolfpack into 13 turnovers in the opening 16 minutes and 25 for the game. Frankton guard Landon Weins had all five of his steals in the first half, while teammates Maurice Knight and Patrick Spillman had four each.
Up 7-6 in the first quarter, the Eagles (23-6) forced three straight turnovers during a 10-0 run that upped the lead to 11. After the Wolfpack closed to 18-9 at the end of the quarter, Frankton then scored the first eight points of the second to move on top 26-9.
With his team up 18 at halftime, Knight took over in the third, scoring 14 of his game-high 23 points. Eight came to start the quarter and gave the Eagles a 40-14 lead. By the end of the quarter Frankton led 50-20.
Crawford County, making its first finals appearance, finished the season 22-7 for Coach Levi Carmichael. Tyrell Nickelson led the Wolfpack with 14 points.
Class 2A State Championship Records
Largest Margin of Victory: 28 by Frankton (old record by Park Tudor, 27, in 2014 and 2015).
Fewest Points Allowed: 32 by Frankton (old record 37 by Lapel vs Indpls. Howe in 2016) ** (Second fewest points allowed in all classes)
Most Combined steals (Since 1977): 27 by Frankton and Crawford County, 2017. (old record 23 by Harding (14) and Forest Park (9) in 2005. ** Ties record in all classes.
Most Steals by Team (Since 1977): 19 by Frankton. (old record 17, by Harding vs Forest Park in 2006) **Most ever in all classes.
Keegan Freestone of Frankton Wins Trester Mental Attitude Award
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Keegan Freestone of Frankton High School as the winner of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Boys Basketball.
The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by his principal and coach.
He ranks third academically in his senior class. He is the Vice President of National Honor Society, Frankton Eagle Mentor, and Student Council member. Keegan has also participated in tennis and golf, where he was a three-year letter-winner, team captain, and 2016 All Conference in tennis.
Keegan is the son of Brad and Katie Freestone of Alexandria, Indiana. He will be furthering his studies in Bloomington, at Indiana University. He plans to study Accounting and Finance.
The 4A, 3A and 2A awards are named in honor of the late Arthur L. Trester, who served as first commissioner of the Association from 1929 to 1944. Trester helped Indiana high school sports and the IHSAA emerge from the Great Depression in a position of preeminence unmatched by perhaps any other state in the nation.
The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Frankton High School in the name of Keegan Freestone. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.
ad and pushing it to as many as 30 points the rest of the way.
The Eagles’ pressure forced the Wolfpack into 13 turnovers in the opening 16 minutes and 25 for the game. Frankton guard Landon Weins had all five of his steals in the first half, while teammates Maurice Knight and Patrick Spillman had four each.
Up 7-6 in the first quarter, the Eagles (23-6) forced three straight turnovers during a 10-0 run that upped the lead to 11. After the Wolfpack closed to 18-9 at the end of the quarter, Frankton then scored the first eight points of the second to move on top 26-9.
With his team up 18 at halftime, Knight took over in the third, scoring 14 of his game-high 23 points. Eight came to start the quarter and gave the Eagles a 40-14 lead. By the end of the quarter Frankton led 50-20.
Crawford County, making its first finals appearance, finished the season 22-7 for Coach Levi Carmichael. Tyrell Nickelson led the Wolfpack with 14 points.
Class 2A State Championship Records
Largest Margin of Victory: 28 by Frankton (old record by Park Tudor, 27, in 2014 and 2015).
Fewest Points Allowed: 32 by Frankton (old record 37 by Lapel vs Indpls. Howe in 2016) ** (Second fewest points allowed in all classes)
Most Combined steals (Since 1977): 27 by Frankton and Crawford County, 2017. (old record 23 by Harding (14) and Forest Park (9) in 2005. ** Ties record in all classes.
Most Steals by Team (Since 1977): 19 by Frankton. (old record 17, by Harding vs Forest Park in 2006) **Most ever in all classes.
Keegan Freestone of Frankton Wins Trester Mental Attitude Award
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Keegan Freestone of Frankton High School as the winner of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Boys Basketball.
The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by his principal and coach.
He ranks third academically in his senior class. He is the Vice President of National Honor Society, Frankton Eagle Mentor, and Student Council member. Keegan has also participated in tennis and golf, where he was a three-year letter-winner, team captain, and 2016 All Conference in tennis.
Keegan is the son of Brad and Katie Freestone of Alexandria, Indiana. He will be furthering his studies in Bloomington, at Indiana University. He plans to study Accounting and Finance.
The 4A, 3A and 2A awards are named in honor of the late Arthur L. Trester, who served as first commissioner of the Association from 1929 to 1944. Trester helped Indiana high school sports and the IHSAA emerge from the Great Depression in a position of preeminence unmatched by perhaps any other state in the nation.
The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Frankton High School in the name of Keegan Freestone. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.