MEADVILLE — After a year of construction and renovations, theFranklin County High School gymnasium reopened Tuesday night with abrand new floor, to tipoff basketball action between the upstartLawrence County Cougars and the host Bulldogs.

Franklin County won the varsity girls game 47-29, while theCougars overwhelmed the Bulldogs 60-26 in boys action.

The gym’s roof and floor were damaged last year duringHurricanes Katrina and Rita. Both the boys and girls teams wereforced to play their games on the road last season.

“It feels good to be back playing here, but we’ve still got along ways to go,” said Franklin High girls coach Charles Moore.”We’ve got three seniors on this team, so we’re counting on themand our younger girls to step up.”

Moore’s ladies (2-0) beat Choctaw Central last weekend to openthe 2006-07 season. Tuesday night against Lawrence County, the LadyBulldogs showcased their powerful inside game, with the presence ofseniors Vanity Green and Latanya Williams scoring freely.

Franklin jumped out to a 25-13 lead in the first half and neverlooked back. Moore’s girls outscored the Lady Cougars 22-16 in thesecond half.

“We’ve got to improve our mental part of the game,” added Moore.”That’s mainly because we’re such a young team.”

Moore lost his two leading scorers to graduation in VictoriaHunt (Pensacola Community College signee) and Shalena Wilcher(Co-Lin signee). Both Wilcher and Hunt were four-year starters forhim. Franklin made it to South State last season.

His three senior players, Green, Williams, and guard SinekaShaw, combined to score 28 of the Lady Bulldogs 47 points lastnight. Williams led all scorers with 12 points and nine rebounds,while Shaw added 12 points and five assists.

Lady Bulldog junior standout Shareka Hunt finished with fiverebounds, four points, and two blocked shots.

For Lawrence County, Candice Little led with 11 points and threeassists.

In the boys game, new Lawrence County headcoach Preston Wilson watched his fast and furious Cougars race outto a 20-4 first quarter lead behind the quick guard work of seniorsCayce Lee and Oliver Peyton.

“We played aggressive early in the game,” said Wilson. “Ourguards really played well.”

Wilson and his Cougars (3-1) kept the pressure on a young andinexperienced Franklin County team by collecting a 38-12 lead atthe half. Lawrence County led 54-16 after three quarters.

Coached by Chris Jordan, the Bulldogs were playing without theservices of three or four starters, due to the Bulldogs’progression in the Class 3A State football playoffs.

Jordan’s Dawgs were led by junior forward Jason Hunt with 10points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Guard Jarvis Hunt addednine points and three assists.

For the Cougars, Dominique West led all scorers with 14 pointsand two steals. Peyton finished with 12 points, four boards, threesteals, and two assists. Perrin Wells added nine points and sevenboards. Lee dropped in six points and collected four steals.