KRES All-Star Cooper Francis Discusses Salisbury’s Run to the State Title

The Salisbury Panthers’ run to the 2023 Class 2 State Title was emotionally charged. The season got off to an inauspicious start as they dropped their first two games of the season. Junior Cooper Francis says the team wasn’t rattled by the early setbacks.

The Panthers went on to win 29 of their next 30 games. The playoff run included winning a daunting district tournament and defeating unbeaten Lincoln in the sectional round. The team’s biggest challenge came in the lead-up to the Show-Me Showdown with the passing of teammate London White. Francis says they drew a lot of inspiration from White in Springfield.

With White’s number 20 uniform draped on the last chair of the bench, the Panthers entered the fourth quarter of both the semifinal and championship games tied. They proceeded to score 20 points in each fourth quarter to claim the program’s first state title since 2013. Francis describes the final moments of the state title game.

Francis’ brother Austin was a member of Salisbury’s 2013 state championship team.