FRANKLIN-Martin Astrop, new boys basketball coach at Southampton High School Coach, got an early lesson on the school’s intense rivalry with Franklin High.

The Broncos sailed to a 61 -51 victory Friday night at the FHS gym.

The Indians led briefly in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but Franklin’s Josh Willis connected on two three-pointers and

Donzell Shearin gunned a three to put their team up 13-6 with 3:13 left in the quarter. Pressing full court and pushing the ball down court was the Bronco game plan for the first quarter as FHS led 17-8 after one period. In the second quarter, Bronco Malik Brown’s aggressive defense stole many balls before the Indians could get across half court, netting him with 10 points in the second quarter. The Indians trailed 38-25 at halftime.

The Broncos came out in the second half with a half-court defense while the Indians pressed full court.

Bronco Coach Danny Dillon said some of his key players were in foul trouble, resulting in the change of defense. The Indians’ press on defense still could not give them the points that they needed to close the gap. Willis pumped in two more three-pointers, and the third quarter ended with the Broncos up 48-34.

SHS outscored Franklin 17-13 in the final frame, but as the old saying goes, “It was too little, too late.”

Astrop said the game was &uot;a tale of two halves.&uot;

&uot;You can not spot a team that many points and try to come back,&uot; he said.

Losing many starters from last year’s team, Astrop has only two experienced players.

For the Broncos, Dillon said after the game that the word was &uot;team.” He felt that his players played together as a team to gain the victory. He added that this was the Broncos’ best game for four quarters of play.

Both teams went to their benches during the game. The Southampton bench added 22 points while the Franklin bench scored 14 points.

In scoring, the Broncos had two players in double figures: Willis with 20 points and Brown with 16. For the Indians, only Sidney Rawls was in double figures with 12 points.

Because of the addition of another team into Southampton’s district, the Indians will not be able to host the very popular annual Christmas tournament. But on Dec. 28, they will hold the four-game Super Friday, which will feature both boys & girls junior varsity and varsity games.