The Grizzlies, who fell to the Spartans in both their regular season meetings, piled up 53 points after the intermission to rout Manchester 81-53 in the first semifinal game at Hanover College.
Franklin now will challenge top-seeded Hanover in tonight's HCAC tourney title game. The Panthers, ranked second in the nation, pulled away from Defiance College (Ohio) in a 79-54 decision in the second semifinal contest.
Franklin (16-11) outfought second-seeded Manchester (18-9) in the first half, leading 28-24 at the break. FC then mounted two key runs to build its lead to as many as 32 points, shooting a red-hot 62 percent in the period. Moreover, the Grizzlies hit 17 of 22 foul shots on the night and committed just 10 turnovers. The Spartans attempted only six free throws, hitting five.
Franklin (16-11) was paced by freshman forward Darrius Jackson's game-high 26 points. Jackson hit seven of 10 field goals, including a trio of thee-point baskets, and dropped in all nine of this free throw tries. He also had four assists. Jackson was backed by junior Jared Sabelhaus with 13 points, Nick Kane with 12 and Alan Davidson with 10.
Manchester, which had 32 rebounds to the Grizzlies' 29, had just one player score points in double figures, Sydney McDaniel.
The Grizzlies will take on Hanover at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Panthers' Collier Arena.