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Franklin High School’s varsity boys basketball team triumphed over Altavista High School on Friday night, Feb. 28, to win the program’s first regional championship in 18 years. 

The No. 3-seeded Broncos defeated the No. 4 Colonels 67-56 in the Region 1B title game at Louisa County High School.

“Words can’t describe the feeling at the present time, honestly,” Franklin Head Coach Robby Cutchins said later Friday evening. “I’ve spoken on the hard work and dedication that these boys have given all season. They bought into the culture and continued to work extremely hard every day! Today they got what they deserved! I’m so proud of these boys! Hats off to Altavista who is a really good basketball team and program.”

The Broncos clinched a berth in the Virginia High School League Class 1 State Tournament with their regional semifinal win Wednesday, Feb. 26. The state quarterfinals are slated for Tuesday, March 4, with Franklin (15-12) set to take on Northumberland High School (15-4) at 7 p.m. at Southampton High School.

A victory would put the Broncos in the state semifinals on Friday, March 7, against either Lancaster High School or Altavista.

In the Region 1B final on Feb. 28, Franklin led 12-11 after the first quarter, trailed 29-28 at halftime and led 49-46 after three quarters.

Cutchins said the deciding factor in the game was simply an overall great team effort from the Broncos.

“We knocked down some big shots, and the guys we relied on heavily led the way for us,” he said. “Our defense came up with some huge stops on different occasions. We got it to 10, and they hit two big threes, but then we were able to answer and stop them three possessions in a row, which was huge.”

Standing out individually for Franklin were senior guard Christian Grant, with 19 points, six rebounds and five steals; senior forward Kamarre Hicks, with 14 points and three blocks; and sophomore forward Lavarius “LJ” Majette, with 12 points and three steals.

Cutchins was an assistant coach for the Broncos in 2007 when Franklin last won a regional title. The Broncos have reached multiple regional finals since then, but Friday marks the first regional championship win during his 11-year tenure as head coach.

“It’s like I told the boys in the locker room after the game, winning the title has so many meanings to so many people, and it simply impacts so many,” Cutchins said. “The way these young men have represented the city of Franklin and Franklin High School this season is second to none. They have grown tremendously on and off the court.”

Grant shared what it meant to be able to win the regional title this year.

“Looking at the banner in the gym and seeing that we haven’t won a regional championship in 18 years, winning the regional championship meant a lot to me,” he said. “Being able to make history and put 2025 on the banner means that the hard work has paid off for all of us! But the job isn’t finished yet!”

Broncos senior guard Altavis Turner said, “To make it to this far in a season that didn’t look favorable for us is more than an accomplishment but more of an achievement. I’m beyond proud of my team and the commitment and sacrifices we made to make it this far. The spirit of the Broncos is strong, and we are proud to wear these colors and continue the fight now for not only being regional champions but fight to be a state champion! Let’s go, Broncos!!!”

Cutchins noted that sports brings people together and “provides so much to so many.” 

“My joy personally is seeing everybody coming together to celebrate the success of these young men,” he said Friday, Feb. 28. “I try not to let everybody see my soft side, but I broke down tonight simply because I’m just so happy for these boys!”

Franklin took the lessons learned from a challenging regular season schedule and used them to help propel it through the Region 1B Tournament and to the title.

The No. 3 Broncos defeated No. 6 Buffalo Gap High School in the regional quarterfinals on Monday, Feb. 24, and then upset No. 2 Brunswick High School on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the semifinals.

“Reaching this level of success with this group is a true testament of what hard work can do,” Cutchins said Friday afternoon prior to the title game. “There weren’t many that believed these young men could reach this level of success before the season started and even early on in the season. The main factor for that was the inexperience of this squad.”

The Broncos started the season 2-8. 

“But they have laced it up every day and worked as hard as they could to have an opportunity to be successful,” Cutchins added. “Now they have an opportunity to experience what their hard work has rewarded them with. I’m always proud of each squad year in and year out because of their dedication to the program and the culture. This group is trying to raise the bar just because of the odds. I’m extremely proud of them again, words can’t describe it!”

Franklin hosted Buffalo Gap on Feb. 24 in the quarterfinals and won 65-40.

“The boys prepared in all phases of the game and in return executed in all phases,” Cutchins said. “We played really good defense throughout and stuck to the game plan, which created some good offensive opportunities.” 

Leading the Broncos statistically were Grant, with 16 points and five steals, and junior DeMoreon Smith and Hicks, with 13 points and 11 rebounds each.

Franklin defeated Tri-Rivers District rival Brunswick twice during the regular season, 68-50 at home on Jan. 27 and 44-42 on the road on Jan. 29. In the regional semifinals, the Broncos hit the road and earned a third victory over the Bulldogs with a final score of 32-29.

“Throughout a basketball season, beating a team three times is one of the hardest feats to accomplish,” Cutchins said. “Preparation and execution on the defensive side of the ball is what has put us in a position to be successful this season, especially down the stretch and into the postseason. 

“The second time we played Brunswick this season, it was a two-point game in a defensive battle at their place,” the coach added. “So we knew we were in for another defensive battle (in the regional semifinals). We didn’t shoot the ball well at all, which we haven’t all season, so we have relied heavily on defense. This game being our best overall defensive output of the season is the reason we were able to come out victorious.”

Statistically, Turner led Franklin with 13 points and five steals, and Grant added 10 points and three steals.

It was in 2023 that the Broncos last reached the regional title game and clinched a state tournament berth.

This year, Franklin vied for the regional crown in a contest with Altavista, which advanced through the regional tourney by defeating No. 5 Rappahannock County High School 75-51 in the quarterfinals before edging out No. 8 William Campbell High School 63-61 in the semifinals. Campbell had upset No. 1 Cumberland High School 59-56 in the quarterfinals.