Franklin's Curry overcomes potentially season-ending
thumb injury to make second team all-state
As it turns out, it was a season that almost wasn't for Damon Curry.
The Franklin star injured his thumb during the second game of the season, and at first he feared it might be broken.
But, luckily, it was just a "slight tear," and he carried on after missing just one game -- helping the Knights to their third straight District 10 3A title while putting together a second straight 400-point season and joining the school's 1,000 points list.
For his efforts, he was named second team all-state in 3A by the Pa. Basketball Writers.
But it wasn't easy -- since he had to learn to shoot the ball differently with the thumb injury. He told his story to Mike KIlroy of exploreVenango.
Now Curry can focus not only on another D-10 title, but becoming Franklin's all-time leading scorer next season.
The record is 1,596 set a year ago by Easton Fulmer, also a second-team all-stater.
Curry scored 464 points with 59 threes-- his second straight 400-point campaign -- averaging 17.2 for the Knights this year..
He earned many other honors this season, and to see them -- as well those received by others in Venango County -- go the the basketball page.
Here's a link to a free (hopefully) site that lists all the all-staters from every class CLICK HERE
Hornbeck, Curry All-District 10 (small school)
2022-23 all-stars
Franklin junior Damon Curry (33) was named Player of the Year on the YDL District 10 boys and Region 6 all-stars voted on by the coaches. Teammate Jalen Wood (5) was picked to the second team on both the YDL and coaches region teams, while Oil City's Jake Hornbeck (3) and Rocky Grove's D'Andre Whitman were selected for the YDL third team. Hornbeck and Whitman were also first team on their respective region squads. Franklin's Johnathan Leccia (22) and Cole Buckley (4), Oil City's Cam VanWormer (15) and Rocky Grove's Blayne Baker (10) were second team all-region selections. Curry and Hornbeck were later named to the D-10 stars by the Erie Times News.
Girls all-stars were announced April 13 and included three locals on the Region 5 squads: Franklin's Estella Adams (1) on the first team and teammates Jamie Blum (10) and Katie Boal (4) on the second and Oil City's Maddy Marczak (this ball is mine!), also on the second team.
North Clarion's Lily Homan, formerly of Venango Catholic, was third team on the YDL District 9 all-stars and a first team repeater on the KSAC squad. Cranberry's Kendell Findlay was third team on the KSAC stars.
Sharon Kennedy Catholic's Monique Vincent, one of three current or recent players who hail from Rocky Grove, was named to the ETN small school all-District 10 team. Vincent and senior Natalie Keith were mainstays on SKC's 26-4 2A state championship team. Vincent scored 268 points, made 79 steals and dished 144 assists. She also shot 85 percent from the line. Keith scored 204 points. Another Vincent, Mariah, graduated in 2020.
Curry picks up
two POY awards
James Henry was honored with a spot on Venango Catholic's Wall of Fame, which is usually reserved for the school's first team all-conference selections . Henry, who scored 501 points this season, received a plaque.
Last look at D-10's 3A champ, runner-up
Franklin: 23-5, 18-game win streak, 3-time district, 2-time region winner
Cole Buckley was deadly in the paint -- as was Johnathan Leccia, but in a different way. Jalen Wood (5) was all over the floor, dishing, scoring and defending. Damon Curry is Franklin's newest member of the 1,000 points club. And senior Ethan Owens (2) -- replacing the departed Luke Guth in the lineup -- was stead as can be. (Photos by Richard Sayer)
Damon Curry -- 464 points, the second straight 400-point season for the 6-5 junior, 121 rebounds, 79 assists, 31 steals
Junior Jalen Wood -- 344 points, 160 assists, 48 steals, 75 rebounds; 71 three-pointers, 40% from deep, 72% from line
Junior Cole Buckley -- 328 points, 153 rebounds, 79 assists, 34 steals, 58% from floor
Ethan Owens -- 189 points, 99 boards, 40 assists, 23 steals for the 6-2 senior; 51% from field
6-8 senior Johnathan Leccia -- 96 blocks despite missing the first seven games, 151 points, 171 rebounds, 61% shooter from field
Dreyden Payne (No. 15) -- 125 points off the bench for the junior, 74 boards, 27 assists, 79% from line
Aiden McCracken -- senior made a basket late in the Penn Cambria game for 101 points on the seniors, shot 41% from three-point land
Oil City: 19-7; D-10 runner-up to Franklin, interdistrict qualifier two years in row
Jumping' Jake Hornbeck, Oil City's point guard, and Cam Van Wormer were four-year varsity players. Van Wormer scored 842 points, Hornbeck 734. (Photos by Richard Sayer).
Erstwhile football all-stater Ethen Knox (2) showed he could play a little basketball, another junior, Sayyid Donald (21), came into his own, sophomore Gavin Stephens (5) was a valuable asset off the bench and senior Connor Highfield hit some big baskets during the season.
Jake Hornbeck -- 367 points, 184 rebounds, 120 assists, 52 steals, 29 blocks for the senior PG, who shot 46% from the field and 77% from the line
Cam Van Wormer -- 307 points despite missing a couple of games, 104 boards, 39 assists, 49 steals, shot 76% from the line, including a streak of 21 without a miss; 30-foot game-winning runner at the buzzer at Warren had to be play of the year, 38 3-pointers. Van Wormer scored 20 points in the Clarion County all-star game April 2, including a basket tying the score after his team trailed by 18 points in the second half.
Sayyid Donald -- 293 points for the 6-2 junior, who shot 48% from the floor and 36% from three-point land, 129 rebounds, 39 steals, 26 blocks, 71% from the free throw line
Ethen Knox -- 229 points for the 6-0 junior, who also missed two games, 138 rebounds
Connor Highfield -- 125 points, 42% from field, 52 boards for the senior
Gavin Stephens -- 68 points, 29 boards, saw more action toward the end of the season and made some huge three-pointers in the win at Warren.
Play It Again Cam...
Students whistle while they work
Here's Molly Mietus of Oil City, formerly of VC. She joined the ranks on Feb. 8.
Oil City's Jake Hornbeck made his debut in a late January game.
Here's Franklin's Damon Curry with Tim LaVan again.
Here's Molly Mietus of Oil City, formerly of VC. She joined the ranks on Feb. 8.