Honoring Franklin Learning Center Girls Basketball Team on winning the Public League Basketball Championships.

WHEREAS, The Franklin Learning Center is a magnet high school for students in grades 9-12, organized into three mini-schools of about 300 students each: College Prep, Health Science, and Technology; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Learning Center’s Girls Basketball Team had been in the Public League Semifinals for fifteen consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Learning Center’s Girls Basketball Team had entered the Public League Final with an undefeated record of 21-0; and

WHEREAS, In the final, Franklin Learning Center faced Central High School; and

WHEREAS, The members of the team are: Number 53, Junior Center Cintrella Harris; Number 44, Sophomore Guard Ashley Blake; Number 10, Sophomore Guard Estella Jones; Number 12, Senior Guard Chanel Ross; Number 14, Junior Guard/Forward Jehan Jones; Number 20, Sophomore Forward Arian Jackson; Number 23, Senior Guard/Forward Precious Oree; Number 32, Freshman Guard Angelique Walton; Number 35, Junior Guard Tiffany Kent; Number 40, Junior Center Phyllis Carter; Number 34, Junior Forward/Guard Kiyonna Neal; Number 52, Junior Forward/Guard Celeste McNeil; Number 52, Freshman Center Ife Crawford; and

WHEREAS, Coach John Merlino has been the Coach of the Girls Basketball Team at Franklin Learning Center for the last 18 years; and

WHEREAS, Chanel Ross made 9 of 17 field goals, made every free throw she took, scored 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, and five steals; Ashley Blake scored 15 points, Kiyonna Neal scored 5 points, Phyllis Carter scored 10 points, Precious Oree scored 4 points and Jehan Jones scored 4 points in the Bobcats of Franklin Learning Center’s 61-44 win over Central High School,

WHEREAS, Franklin Learning Center’s Girls Basketball Team completed their season undefeated; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Franklin Learning Center’s Girls Basketball Team in winning the Public League Girls Basketball Championship.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That and Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Coach John Merlino as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End