The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
The 2014-15 basketball season was an historic one for the Franklin High School Lady Warriors.
On March 15, 2015, the Lady Warriors won the program’s first NJSIAA Group 4 Championship, besting the Shawnee Renegades 54-48.
That win earned the team a trip to the program’s first state Tournament of Champions, where they made it to the semifinals before falling to top-ranked Manasquan 62-52.
Along the way, senior Adreana Miller ended the season as the basketball Warriors’ all-time leading scorer.
The girls ended the season with memories and photos of their record-setting run, but didn’t have that one thing that signifies a sports champion: a ring.
To help rectify that, businesses and social organizations in the township, as well as the high school Booster Club, have gathered donations to help offset the cost of championship rings and jackets.
The latest effort will occur from 2-9:30 p.m. May 25, when Moe’s Southwest Grill, 120 Cedar Grove Lane, hosts a “Dine & Donate” fundraiser. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the fund ned to purchase the mementos.
Raj Patel, a member of the Moe’s Somerset ownership team – and a 16-year township resident – said he wanted to do the fundraiser when he heard of the need “because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Giving back to the community is our motto,” he said.
“They deserve some sort of recognition when they go through tournament or win a championship,” he said. “They will have that memory for the rest of their lives.”
FHS girls basketball coach Audrey Taylor said the players worked hard “on the court and in the classroom,” and deserve the recognition they have earned.
“If anyone deserves championship rings and jackets, they do,” she said.
