If there was any doubt who is the best girls’ basketball team in the Tri-Rivers District, there is no more. Franklin outscored Surry County 33-11 in the first half en route to a 65-36 victory in the Tri-Rivers District tournament championship game Saturday night.

Surry County, the third seed in the tournament, upset No. 2 seed Appomattox Regional Governor’s School on Friday night to reach the finals. Franklin, the top seed by way of a playoff game against ARGS last Tuesday, defeated Sussex Central on Thursday night to reach the finals. Earlier in the year, Franklin had lost a district game to ARGS.

Although Surry had more size, the Lady Cougars could flat out not shoot in the first half. Franklin did a good job of clogging up the lane and dared Surry to shoot from the outside. It did not work out well for Surry.

The Lady Broncos took a comfortable 10-point lead in the first quarter. After opening the game at 4-4, Franklin reeled off 10 straight points in a two-minute period. Franklin was able to move the ball quickly on offense, and when Timia Hobbs pulled up for a 3-pointer at 2:17 of the first quarter, the Lady Broncos led 14-4.

The route was on when Franklin scored the first 12 points of the second quarter and the Lady Cougars did not score until 2:39 left in the half. Hobbs led the Franklin offense with 11 points in the first half. The Lady Broncos built their huge lead even though it missed 10 free throws in the first half.

Franklin subbed liberally in the second half, and Surry played better, but the home team could not erase the huge hole it dug in the first half.

The Broncos played the the first-place game and the tournament like a team on a mission.

“We knew our back was against the wall. It’s tournament time. Even though its regionals next week, we wanted to go out a winner,” said Mona Sumblin, Franklin head coach. “I knew Surry would have a home-court advantage. I told them to let’s get it done early. We knew their key players and they got into early foul trouble. That helped us a lot.”

Franklin was led by Hobbs with 17 points. Pashawn Hunt and Iesha Boone both added 10 points for the Lady Broncos (18-3). Everyone on the Franklin roster scored except one player.

Surry was led by Britney Johnson with 11 points and Tamitrice Marsh with 10 points.

Hobbs and Keshara Bradley were both named to the All-District First Team. Sumblin was named Tri-Rivers District co-Coach of the Year.

Franklin will host a Group A Region A Division I playoff game against Rappahannock or Choncoteague at 6 p.m. Tuesday.