Incline basketball standout signs letter of intent to Clark College

Incline’s Division III basketball opponents will be glad never to face Molly Franklin again.

Franklin, who terrorized the league the past three seasons, earning two MVP awards and three selections to the All-League first team, signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.

“I really like her, and I think she’s going to be a special player for us,” said Clark College women’s basketball coach Al Aldridge. “She’s a scorer, she’s not just a shooter, which is kind of nice. She also has a good work ethic and she’s a winner. She’s a nice kid and will be a great teammate.”

A versatile 5-foot-9 guard, Franklin enjoyed a successful high school career highlighted by a state championship victory over perennial power Pershing County her junior year. Franklin was instrumental in the win, as she finished with 20 points and was named MVP of the game. That Incline team finished 25-3 overall.

“Molly definitely had an impressive high school career. I’m really excited for her,” said Incline coach Indra Winquest. “I see her being successful at the next level. She’s incredibly fundamentally sound, her ball-handling is outstanding and she shoots at a high percentage. She’s also aggressive and drives to the rim, she anticipates well and she’s a good defender.”

As the leader of a young Incline squad her senior year, Franklin averaged 21.6 points per game, which ranked second in the state among all divisions. The Highlanders won their league title but lost in the opening round of the state championship. They finished 20-6 overall.

Franklin was named league MVP — an award she also received as a sophomore, when she averaged 15.3 points a game. She averaged 14.9 her junior season.

After learning about Franklin, Aldridge said he watched her game film and looked up her prodigious stats online. He was impressed, particularly with her shooting ability. He contacted Winquest and expressed interest.

“She came up and worked out with my club team for a whole day, and she did a really good job,” he said. “She picked up things quickly. She hadn’t practiced since her season ended, and she still performed admirably.”

Winquest thinks Clark College is a good fit for his standout guard. He said that the school — located just north of the Columbia River near Portland, Ore. — boasts one of the most competitive junior college women’s basketball programs in the country.

“I think she’ll get a lot of playing time immediately and will have the opportunity to move up (to a four-year college) after two years,” said Winquest, adding the Franklin was also contacted by several other junior colleges and Division III schools.

“We’re excited to get her,” Aldridge said. “I think we’re fortunate.”