STORY BY CHIP CIRILLO | PHOTOS BY DEB SCALLY 

Franklin coach Darrin Joines ranks his star senior guard, Reese Glover, No. 1 in the Midstate.  "Who's better?" Joines said.  Glover, a Missouri Western signee, enjoyed another great game with 37 points in the Rebels' 71-63 win over Brentwood in front of a full house at Franklin on Friday night.  Glover, a pure shooter, hit all nine of his foul shots and four 3-pointers in the District 11-AAA opener for both teams.  "It's just what he does," Joines said. "He was such a good leader tonight. He was encouraging when he needed to be, he was tough when he needed to be and he was coaching the team.  "I'll be honest with you, a couple times he said, 'I think we ought to do this,' and I said, 'Let it roll.' He's earned it. If I can't trust him, who am I going to trust?"  Joines said Glover's scoring average is in the high 20's or low 30's.  His backcourt partner, Reed Kemp, added 10 points. Newcomer Asharri Haynesworth, a 6-goot-5 senior, added a strong post presence. He is the son of former Titans/Volunteers defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.  Haynesworth and 6-7 Matt Thurman give the Rebels good size underneath the basket.  "That opens the shooters up," Glover said. "We get easier shots as guards. It's a whole new dynamic to our offense."

Franklin (5-2, 1-0) led for the entire fourth quarter, but Brentwood (5-2, 0-1) narrowed the gap to 67-63 in the closing seconds before the Rebels scored the last four points.  "I think we're a 100-percent better team than they are," Bruins coach Greg Shirley said. "I believe in my guys. There's a chance we could play them three more times. (Franklin) has a lot of weapons and they have a post attack now."  Franklin and Brentwood are considered the district favorites.  Cole Massey, a 6-3 senior forward, led the Bruins with 22 points, including five 3-pointers.  "Cole is a great shooter," Shirley said. "He didn't get a lot of playing time in the past and now he's made himself a very good player."  Jack Thurman, the district tournament MVP last season, came off the bench to add 20 points. He didn't play in the first quarter due to "a team situation," Shirley said.  Brentwood lost for the second time in three games after opening the season with four straight wins.  "It was rowdy," Joines said. "I loved it. Who says you can't play important games in November in basketball? Apparently, you can. It sure felt like it, didn't it?"

Source:  Franklin Home Page