Franklin Protects Its Floor: Bull Dogs Fall 52-42

North struggles to find offensive rhythm in first half, trailing by 10 at the break

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Columbus North Bull Dogs fell to the Franklin Pioneers 52-42 on the road on Saturday night. North trailed 26-16 at halftime and was unable to overcome the early deficit despite a strong effort in the second half. Caleb Ferguson led North with 16 points, while Austin Perry added 11, but the Bull Dogs couldn't string together enough stops and high-efficiency possessions to complete the comeback.

Why it matters

This loss for Columbus North is a setback in their season, as they were unable to protect their home court against a conference rival. The early double-digit deficit proved too much to overcome, highlighting the importance of starting games strong and maintaining offensive rhythm throughout.

The details

North struggled to find consistent offense in the first half, allowing Franklin to dictate the pace of the game and build a 26-16 halftime lead. In the second half, North battled to try and cut into the deficit, but Franklin was able to answer every push from the Bull Dogs to maintain control. Caleb Ferguson led North with 16 points, attacking the rim, while Austin Perry chipped in 11 points.

  • The Bull Dogs trailed 26-16 at halftime.

The players

Caleb Ferguson

Led Columbus North with 16 points, attacking the rim and keeping pressure on the defense.

Austin Perry

Chipped in 11 points for Columbus North, continuing to shoulder offensive responsibility in tough road environments.

Franklin Pioneers

The home team that built a double-digit lead in the first half and was able to maintain control throughout the game.

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The takeaway

This loss highlights the importance of starting games strong and maintaining offensive rhythm for the Columbus North Bull Dogs. The early double-digit deficit proved too much to overcome, despite a strong effort in the second half, underscoring the thin margins in late February basketball games.