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(A small gallery of photos follows the story below.)

By Titus Mohler and Frank A. Davis

Franklin High School’s 2024-25 varsity boys basketball team started the season 2-8, learned the lessons that were afforded to it during the regular season, went on to win the Region 1B championship and now is one of the last two teams standing in the state.

The Broncos traveled to Lancaster High School on Friday, March 7, and triumphed over the two-time defending state champion Red Devils on their home court, 41-34, to punch their ticket to the Virginia High School League Class 1 state championship game.

This is the Broncos’ first appearance in the state title game in 32 years. They last reached the final in 1993 when they fell via a buzzer beater to Twin Springs High School.

In the other state semifinal on Friday, George Wythe High School defeated Patrick Henry High School of Glade Spring 82-54.

The Broncos (17-12) will play the Maroons (25-4) for the state championship at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond.

The FHS squad received celebrity treatment as it departed Franklin on Friday, March 7, on its way to Lancaster High School. After boarding the Bronco Stampede bus, the team was escorted by the Franklin Police Department, Southampton County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police on a tour through various parts of Franklin, including downtown Franklin. Along the streets were Broncos fans waving and cheering as the Stampede passed their location. 

At City Hall, a host of Franklin City Public Schools staff stood on the steps, waving Bronco paraphernalia and singing and cheering. 

Upon the Broncos leaving the Franklin city limits, Southampton County/Franklin Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. and his deputies led the team to the Southampton County line where the Broncos were picked up by the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office and escorted all the way to the James River Bridge. 

This process unfolded in reverse as the Broncos came back early Saturday morning, March 8.

As the game against the Red Devils tipped off, the Broncos took an early lead and held it at 11-6 at the end of the first quarter. At the half the Broncos continued to hold an advantage with a score of 25-19. 

In the third quarter, the Broncos were up as much as 27-19 in the early minutes. 

The two teams continued to battle hard as the final quarter got underway. With 4:01 left in the game, the Red Devils closed the score to 34-32. At the two-minute mark, the Broncos were ahead by only one point, with a score of 35-34. 

Forced to foul, the Red Devils sent the Broncos to the free throw line 12 times, and they went 8-for-12. 

The Franklin defense held the Red Devils scoreless for the final two minutes of the game to allow the Broncos to win with a score of 41-34.

Franklin finished with two scorers in double figures — sophomore forward Lavarius Majette and senior guard Christian Grant recorded 12 points apiece.

Broncos Head Coach Robby Cutchins remarked after the game, “I’m almost at a loss for words right now, overrun with emotion. This group is special, man, they really are. People keep picking against us, and they just fight even harder. We’ve only played one game throughout the regional tournament and now the state tournament that we’ve been favored in, and that was the regional quarterfinal game against Buffalo Gap. All the other games we’ve been the underdog. 

“But these boys bought in a long time ago, and they come to film study daily and take the floor daily with a purpose of fighting the next fight,” he continued. “I told somebody the other day when they were praising how far they’ve come this season and asking how we’ve done it, I said, ‘Well there’s nothing pretty about it, but if you like defense, scrappiness and just simply getting after it with the game plan put in place, then this Broncos squad is one you want to see.’ 

“We’ve earned our stripes all year, and now we’ve earned our spot and opportunity in the state championship game,” he added.

He gave credit to Lancaster for being a tough squad that had been back-to-back state champions.

“Now we will face George Wythe, who has been the No. 1 team in the state all year long,” Cutchins said. “They are a very good basketball team and program.” 

He noted that the Maroons lost to Lancaster in the 2023 state title game, and they were knocked off in the semifinals last year but are right back this year.

“So we know it’s going to be a tall task, but we will be prepared,” Cutchins said.

The scouting work on George Wythe began for Cutchins on the bus ride back from Lancaster.

“The biggest key in this game will be what got us here, and that’s our defense,” Cutchins said. “The objective is to see how much we can keep this team in front of us and eliminate them (from) having the ability to knock down shots. They score in bunches and average right at 75 per game, with a handful of games over that this season.”

He noted that the Maroons are one of the better shooting teams in the state, including behind the three-point line. 

He said they have two players combining to average about 40 points per game — senior forward Reed Kirtner, who wears No. 4, and junior guard David Goode, who wears No. 10.

“We’ve done a good job at holding teams below their season average all year, and this is yet another tall task for us,” Cutchins said. “We did a great job against Lancaster in the state semifinal, with them averaging 63 points per game and holding them to a game total of 34. So it’s going to take another phenomenal effort defensively for us to be successful.”

He noted that George Wythe features an experienced team, with most of this same group having been part of the squad that reached the state title game in 2023 and the state semifinals in 2024.

“So they’re a seasoned squad, for sure, with a ton of offensive weapons,” Cutchins said. 

He noted that the Maroons are also quite good on the defensive side of the ball, exercising a lot of on-ball pressure. 

“So we will be prepared come Friday and will just have to execute a heck of a performance on the big stage,” Cutchins said. “We are looking forward to it!”

BASKETBALL FAN BUS INFORMATION SIGN-UP DETAILS

The following information comes from Franklin City Public Schools:

• Sign up at Franklin High School front office Thursday, March 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Bus will load at 10:30 a.m. and leave at 11 a.m. Friday, March 14, from the FHS parking lot

Age Requirements:
• Ages 10-15: Must be accompanied by an adult (1 adult per 2 children)
• Ages 16+: May attend independently

Requirements for Sign-Up:

1. Proof of game ticket purchase
2. Completed permission form
3. Name and phone number
4. Emergency contact information

Important: All forms and requirements must be met during sign-ups. No exceptions.

Those with questions should contact Mr. Gamble or Miss Brown.