MORTON — The Franklin County Bulldogs saw their season come to an end Thursday afternoon in the first round of the MHSAA Class 3A South State Tournament as they were routed by the Raymond Rangers 75-48 at Morton High School.

Franklin County had no answer for Raymond’s balanced scoring attack on this day. The Rangers had four players wind up in double figures.

“They’re a good basketball team,” Franklin County head coach Chris Jordan said. “They were quicker than us. They’ve got a (big) guy who gave us fits.”

Jamie Collins led Region 7-3A champion Franklin County (16-7) with 22 points, but Raymond did a good job defensively throughout the game. The only other Bulldogs player to score in double figures was Taylor Washington with 12 points.

Raymond, the Region 6-3A runner-up, took a 19-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and then took a double-digit lead during the second quarter en route to a 41-27 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs tried to get back in the game in the third quarter, but they could only cut two points into Raymond’s lead. Then their offense went flat in the fourth quarter, allowing the Rangers to pull away.

Korey Sanders had a game-high 21 points and Paul Jenkins had 15 points for Raymond, which will take on either Columbia or Choctaw Central in the semifinal round today at 6 p.m.

LSHAA Class 1A girls playoffs

JONESVILLE, La. — The top-seeded Block Lady Bears got off to a good start in the LHSAA Class 1A playoffs as they defeated the No. 32 seed Varnado Lady Wildcats 65-34 Thursday night in the bi-district round.

Leading the way for District 3-1A champion Block was Tyra Jefferson with 18 points. Phyllicia Woods and Arnesha Beard each scored 12 points and Shateca Collins chipped in with 10 points.

“We came out and I told them No. 32 is a good player. We did a good job on her,” Block head coach Kristy King said. “Then they went to No. 22 and she started scoring and we just doubled her up. Our guards did a great job all night. They got a lot of steals.”

Block improved to 25-4 on the season and will take on a familiar opponent in the regional round in St. Mary of Natchitoches. That game will take place next Monday or Tuesday. The 16th-seeded Lady Tigers defeated No. 17 seed False River.