Pelham basketball standouts sign scholarships

PELHAM — McKenzie Smith was determined that she wasn’t going to cry. So when Pelham High School girls basketball coach Antonia Tookes asked if she had anything to say Wednesday during a signing ceremony, Smith took the easy way out.

She knew that more she talked, the tears would start to flow.

So Smith thanked all her friends and supporters, signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at Berry College in Rome, Ga., put on her hat and smiled the rest of the time.

And she didn’t shed a tear.

She and Quadranique Franklin signed scholarships in the Pelham library. Franklin, the Albany Herald’s 2015-16 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, signed with Fort Valley State.

The two standouts were key players on Pelham’s deep postseason runs the past two seasons.

While Smith was able to hold back the tears, Franklin didn’t. The senior broke down when her mom told her “the sky is the limit” and gave her a hug.

“I worked a whole lot to get here,” said Franklin, the Lady Hornets’ leading scorer who led the team to the Class AA quarterfinals.

“I’m glad to finally make it. Now it’s time to face the real world.”

Franklin averaged 17 points, three rebounds and two steals to lead Pelham to a 28-2 record. She also considered Columbus State, but felt like Fort Valley State was the right fit.

“It’s going to be a lot different and there is going to be some stuff that I haven’t ever seen before,” she said. “Being out on my own is going to be tough. I’m used to my mama being there every step of the way.”

Smith wasn’t a regular starter but her play off the bench was a key reason for Pelham’s success during the past two seasons. Tookes told the audience that Smith said she didn’t want to play basketball in college after her freshman and sophomore seasons.

However, after a solid junior year, she became more interested. Then during her senior season, she inquired more. Smith, who will graduate with honors, had considered going to Georgia Southern as a student before the opportunity to sign a scholarship and play at Berry presented itself.

“My confidence level went up,” Smith said. “I realized that I could play at the next level and I went out did what I had to do.”