Seymour’s boys basketball team salvaged a weekend split with a solid 53-43 victory over Franklin on Saturday night, a result that offered some hopeful signs for the young Owls.

Besides atoning for a tough six-point loss the night before against Brownstown Central, the win was Seymour’s most decisive since a 16-point victory over Charlestown nearly a year ago.

And unlike the team’s back-and-forth win earlier this season against Corydon Central, the Owls (2-2) grabbed an early lead and then defended and maintained that advantage throughout.

“I liked the way we started tonight,” Seymour coach Kirk Manns said. “After last night, I was concerned about our energy. That wasn’t a problem tonight. I thought we came out with good energy and pace.”

For the first time this season, Manns shuffled his starting lineup by inserting guards Andrew Levine and Charlie Longmeier.

Levine, a junior, provided an instant spark with a hustling layup that spurred the Owls’ opening 9-2 run. Longmeier, a sophomore point guard, quickened Seymour’s offense with his passing and slashing to the basket, and finished with five assists and four points.

“It’s early in the season and we’re starting to figure out who plays well together,” Manns said. “It’s just a matter of seeing what our guys are capable of. This is a new team and they all have different personalities. They’re still trying to fit into new roles. That’s what the early season is all about.”

Landon Fritsch came off the bench, but responded with his best game. The sophomore scored 20 points, to go with five rebounds and two assists, and was one of three Owls in double figures.

Fellow sophomore Eli Meyer followed with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Marcus Brooks recorded his first double-double of the year, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

“We definitely made major strides tonight,” Brooks said. “We stayed together, energized and disciplined, like our coaches always say. We did that tonight and got the ‘W.’”

Casey Regruth added eight rebounds to Brooks’ total to help the Owls control the boards against Franklin (0-2), a point of emphasis for Manns.

“We got outrebounded last night (against Brownstown) and gave up 11 offensive rebounds,” Manns said. “I thought, with Marcus and Casey, we did a great job tonight.”

The Owls outrebounded Franklin 16-11 while building a first-half lead and ended the game with a 30-29 edge on the boards.

After controlling the game early, Seymour started the second half with four turnovers. Cold-handed Franklin turned suddenly hot and closed the score to within a point at 23-22 midway through the third quarter.

Seymour never lost the lead, however. Boosted by Meyer’s six points in the final minutes of the third quarter, the Owls went up 30-22.

“I’m definitely looking to score more,” said Meyer, who has scored seven, seven, nine and 17 points in Seymour’s first four games.

Meyer added two more baskets early in the fourth quarter to resist another Franklin surge. Fritsch then took over at the foul line, hitting nine of 10 free throws down the stretch.

Saturday’s win improved the Owls’ record to 2-2, just the second time since the 2007-08 season that a Seymour squad has opened a campaign with a .500-or-better record.

“We’re getting better,” Manns said. “What’s exciting is, there’s so much room for improvement.”

From the players’ perspective, the hope is hard work is paying off.

“This year is more difficult than last year,” Meyer said. “We’re practicing in the morning and in the afternoon, and with hybrid scheduling, it makes it more difficult. But we’re definitely playing together and playing as a team.”

{span}Seymour 53, Franklin 43{/span} {span}Franklin;7;4;13;19;—;43{/span} {span}Seymour;9;10;11;23;—;53{/span} {span}Franklin (0-2): Damon Dickey 6 1-2 17, Carson Hunter 5 1-2 11, John Shepard 4 1-6 9, Max Lancer 1 0-1 2, Jumpshot Warner 1 0-2 2, Max Clark 1 0-0 2, Thomas Crow 0 0-0 0, Will McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Drew Doty 0 0-0 0, Totals 18 3-13 43.{/span} {span}Seymour (2-2): Landon Fritsch 5 10-12 20, Eli Meyer 7 3-6 17, Marcus Brooks 5 0-0 10, Charlie Longmeier 2 0-3 4, Andrew Levine 1 0-0 2, Dylan Fields 0 0-1 0, Casey Regruth 0 0-0 0, Will Cottrill 0 0-0 0, Totals 20 13-22 53.{/span} {span}3-point goals: Franklin 4 (Dickey 4), Seymour 0.{/span} {span}Rebounds: Franklin 29 (Warner 6, Hunter 5, Shepard 4, Dickey 3, Lancer 3, Clark 3, McLaughlin 1, Team 4), Seymour 30 (Brooks 10, Regruth 8, Fritsch 5, Meyer 3, Levine 2, Fields 1, Team 1).{/span} {span}Turnovers: Franklin 7, Seymour 11.{/span} {span}Fouls: Franklin 21, Seymour 16.{/span} {span}Junior varsity{/span} {span}Franklin 42, Seymour 40{/span} {span}Seymour: Evan Smith 11, Donovyn Thomas 10, Will Cottrill 8, Bret Perry 7, AJ Harrell 2, Jack Pennington 2.{/span}{div class=”yj6qo”} {/div}{div class=”adL”} {/div} {/div}{/div}{/div}{/div}{/div}{div class=”hi”} {/div}{/div}{/div}{div class=”ajx”} {/div}{/div} {div class=”gA gt acV”} {/div}