FRANKLIN
The Franklin Broncos have been forced to play two games this week thanks to inclement weather earlier this season. The first pitted the Broncos against the Park View Dragons, which the latter won on Monday night, 85-69.

“Coming here is always tough,” Park View head coach Brian Sykes said.

The Dragons raced out to a 16-11 first quarter lead, but the home team owned the second quarter.

Sophomore Markeen Tyler hit a three-point basket to cut the deficit to 21-18, and teammate Fred Lassiter put the Broncos ahead with a basket just two possessions later.

Franklin ultimately pushed its lead to 33-26, with a 22-10 run, before the Dragons clawed back into it.

Park View hit a couple baskets just before the half to bring the game within one point, 37-36, at the intermission.

“Bottom line, we played really well in the first half and weathered the storm to lead by one at the half,” Franklin head coach Robby Cutchins said. “They came back out in the second half and shot lights out. They didn’t miss.”

Park View exploded in the third quarter, connecting on 8 three pointers to head to the final stanza 72-48.

Keldon Johnson — who is among the state’s leading scores — was held to only two points in the first half, but knocked down three triples in the quarter.

“We came into the locker room at the half and switched some things up and came back and played Dragon basketball,” Sykes said.

Franklin continued to fight, but the third-quarter blitz was too much to overcome.

Deuntae Jefferson was among three Broncos in double figures with 24 points. His older brother, Quayshawn, added 15 points, while Lassiter pitched in 10. Park View’s Charlzae Holmes led all scorers with 30 points, while Johnson scored 16.

The Broncos wrap up the regular season on Wednesday against Northampton.