FRANKLIN—It was a game Franklin needed to grow together as a team, and the Broncos took advantage. Franklin went on a 17-0 run during the first and second quarters and also outscored Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 15-0 in the third quarter as the Broncos dropped the Saints 65-28 in a non-district boys’ basketball game Tuesday night.

The game was played with a running clock in the fourth quarter.

For statisticians, the game was priceless:

* With Franklin leading by just six points, the Broncos went on a 17-0 run with 34 seconds left in the first quarter all the way through 3:46 of the second quarter.

* Already leading 41-18 at the half, Franklin held the Saints (1-4) scoreless in the third quarter to build a 56-18 lead.

* NSA scored just 10 points in the second half.

* Ten different Franklin players scored in the game.

* Six different Franklin players scored seven or more points and only one, Franti Urquhart, scored in double figures (12 points).

Franklin (4-1) head coach Danny Dillon was pleased with the team effort.

“We are only five games in, but it does seem like this team is going to be unselfish. We have been preaching it, but it looked like they want to better each other instead of just themselves,” Dillon said. “They were doing some early passing and finding the open man and then it carried on even through the subs.”

The Broncos were able to use their height advantage throughout the game, especially after the first quarter. On fast breaks, the guards were able to get the ball inside to Urquhart and Deshawn Lassiter for easy buckets.

“With our height this year, we’re adjusting and trying to feed down low. With an advantage of two or three inches, that’s what we needed to do. They are starting to look for each other and working together well,” Dillon said.

Urquhart led with 12 points, Davel Newsome scored nine points, Lassiter pumped in eight, and Denzel Smith, Justin Grant, and Trey Kigler each had seven points.

NSA played most of the game without leading scorer Hardison Spalding, who is nursing a foot injury. Breon Willie led the NSA effort with eight points.

“We have a really young team and need to learn to compete,” said NSA head coach Franklin Chatman. “When you can get your kids to play hard like that every possession, you have an opportunity to win. The kids played a little passive. We’ve just got to get better every game.”