FRANKLIN
There were two attempts to get in the Conference 41 Quarterfinals between the No. 3 seed Franklin High School Broncos and the No. 6 seed Chincoteague High School Ponies.

After the first attempt on Feb. 18, and the second on Feb. 24, the Conference decided to try and make an effort to play just the semifinal round and championship game before regional play started on Monday, March 2. However, Mother Nature was not giving in one bit, with back-to-back weeks of winter weather causing havoc on the Broncos attempt to get any of these games in.

If the semifinal round would had taken place, the Broncos would have traveled to Sussex Central to take on the No. 2 seeded Tigers with a regional tournament birth on the line. Again Mother Nature wasn’t having it, which ultimately ended the Broncos season.

“Our principal Mr. [Travis] Felts and athletic director Mr. [Dave] Lease put in a tremendous effort with the conference and the region behind the scenes trying to make it all work by moving the regional tournament back one whole week and continuously trying to reschedule games within the conference,” head coach Robby Cutchins said.

After two and a half weeks of hard work in practice and preparation since their last regular season game, coach Cutchins said he had a fear of what may be coming, and that was an opportunity for his young men to put all of their hard work on the line in the playoffs to be taken away by Mother Nature.

After compiling eight wins during the regular season and with their strength of schedule, the Broncos earned a No. 3 seed. With that, they secured a home-court advantage and a legit shot at making the regional tournament — or the sweet 16.

“It’s been a tough stretch, but today was very difficult for myself, Coach Holemon and this entire basketball program because I had to sit them down and tell them that their season had come to an end,” Cutchins said. “It was hard for the young men to accept, but especially tough on our seniors who have played their last basketball game at Franklin High School.

“Dealing with adversity is something I have talked about since day one as it relates to not only basketball, but to the most important game they play and that’s the game of life. I praised them for what they have accomplished on the court this season, but most importantly how they have grown off the court. This was a great group of young men that have grown tremendously this season and I couldn’t be any prouder of them!”

All-district and all-conference meetings were able to get done before regional play started. The Broncos placed Darrien Duck on the Tri-Rivers First Team All-District.

The Broncos had four players get All-Conference 41 honors, Darrien Duck and Corey Porter were both first team selections; Domique Gainey and Quentin Lowe both made the second team.