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Franklin High School’s varsity boys basketball team has taken the lessons learned from a challenging regular season schedule and used them to help propel it to the Region 1B championship game.

The No. 3-seeded 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, clinching a berth in the Virginia High School League Class 1 State Tournament.

Franklin (14-12) will face No. 4 Altavista High School (12-13) in the regional title game at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Louisa County High School.

“Reaching this level of success with this group is a true testament of what hard work can do,” Broncos Head Coach Robby Cutchins said. “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. 

“But they have laced it up every day and worked as hard as they could to have an opportunity to be successful,” he 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 Monday 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 senior Christian Grant, with 16 points and five steals, and junior DeMoreon Smith and senior Kamarre 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 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, senior Altavis 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 will be vying 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.