By GREG MENGELT

HANOVER — Defending champion Franklin, which lost twice to Hanover during the regular season, upset the host Panthers in the championship game of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday at Collier Arena.

It is the Grizzlies’ 10th conference tournament title, breaking a tie with Hanover for the most in league history.

The regular-season champion Panthers looked in control of Saturday’s championship when they led 45-40 at the half and 64-59 with 9:04 left, but the Franklin duo of freshman Cody Samples and senior Matt Krause was too much down the stretch.

Samples keyed a 14-6 run that put Franklin ahead 73-70. A jumper from Hanover senior Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) cut the Grizzly lead to a point, but Krause scored five points in 44 seconds — a jumper and a 3-pointer — to ice the victory.

Sample (Versailles/South Ripley) finished with a game-high 34 points on 10 of 12 shooting. He made seven of his eight 3-point attempts and seven of his eight free throw attempts. Krause (West Lafayette) had 22 points on a perfect 7 of 7 shooting. He was 2 for 2 from deep and 6 for 6 at the foul line.

Hibbard, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led Hanover with 27 points, five assists and four rebounds. The former New Albany star was 11 for 20 from the floor and made five of his seven free throws.

Junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper) added 18 points and was also named to the tournament team. Senior guard Noah Williams (Jeffersonville/Christian Academy) added eight points, six rebounds and three assists.