Coach Franklin Praises Belleville East’s Collective Team Effort

BELLEVILLE — The Belleville East Lancers fell to the Edwardsville Tigers 52-47 on Friday night, Jan. 9, 2026, in a closely contested game that showcased strong performances from several Lancers players.

Ja’Cory Brown led Belleville East with 10 points, while Jalen Coleman added eight points. Coach Davis Franklin praised the collective effort, highlighting Brown, Troy Alexander, Jordan Williams, and James Johnson for their contributions.

“We had a good game from Ja'Cory; I’m proud of him,” Franklin said. “We also had Troy (Alexander), Jordan (Williams), and James (Johnson). We had a collective game from our team, and that’s what I like to see.”

The Lancers have experienced a somewhat inconsistent season, marked by a solid showing at the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic and a recent tough loss at Granite City. Franklin acknowledged the ups and downs but expressed confidence in the team’s potential as they approach the playoffs.

“It’s most definitely been up-and-down,” Franklin said. “But I still believe in our guys. We still have a team that we need when it comes to the playoffs that we can do something special. We just need to figure out the pieces, just put it together at the right time, and now, since we’re in the second part of the season, it’s time to do that.”

The Lancers, now with an 8-7 record, have several key games ahead, including the BOS Winter Classic tournament in about two weeks and upcoming Southwestern Conference matchups. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday at Alton, followed by a home game against O’Fallon next Friday, both starting at 7:30 p.m. They will also host Columbia, Missouri’s Battle next Saturday at 7 p.m.

“On Tuesday, we play against Alton,” Franklin said. “After that, we play everybody again. So, the blessing with this conference, it’s a tough conference, for one, but then, we also get an opportunity to play them one more time before the playoffs. No easy nights. You’ve got to bring it every night. Anybody can be beaten. I enjoyed the effort our guys showed tonight.”

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