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Franklin High School’s varsity boys basketball team has rebounded from a three-game losing streak to win back-to-back Tri-Rivers District games heading into its contest against host Surry County High School on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Broncos routed host Windsor High School 58-28 on Friday, Jan. 26, after defeating host Southampton High School 67-47 the day prior.

The last game in Franklin’s three-game losing streak was a rematch against district archrival Brunswick High School on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Poor shooting from the free-throw line played a role in the Broncos’ 61-59 home loss to the Bulldogs.

Franklin went 6-for-21 from the charity stripe.

In comments after the game, Broncos Head Coach Robby Cutchins said the showdown against the Bulldogs was decided by one possession here or there. 

“We have played them three times this season, and every game has been decided by two points,” he said. “We beat them at their place by two, and they have got us the last two games by two points.”

Focusing on their Jan. 24 meeting, he said, “It was a heck of a ballgame that unfortunately we came out on the bottom side of. We had a great game plan and executed decently in the first half, but we just couldn’t create much offense. 

“So being down eight points at the half, we needed to adjust some things to try and create some offense off of our defense, which we have hung our hats on for the last couple of years,” he continued. “The third quarter we did just that, having a monster quarter and being able to gain the lead.”

He said he and his team knew the game would be a back-and-forth contest in the fourth quarter and would possibly come down to the final possession.

“It lived up to that theory once again,” he said. “We battled a little bit of foul trouble throughout the second half, and unfortunately with 1:12 left to go in the fourth, Chaevon (Torrance) picked up his fifth foul. At that point we were up by five and had controlled the previous two minutes of play.”

The coach noted that Torrance, a senior standout who earned all-state honors last season, has done an outstanding job the past two years avoiding foul trouble, only fouling out once during that span. 

Cutchins said that the Jan. 24 game still came down to a final possession. 

“Bottom line, it was a great basketball game by two good basketball teams,” he said. “I’m proud of all of our boys as always because they left everything they had out there on the floor tonight.”

Leading FHS in scoring were Torrance and senior Kaden Bailey, with 14 points apiece, and junior Kamarre Hicks, with 11 points.

Cutchins said the game’s outcome was “a tough one to swallow, but we will continue to grind and put ourselves in the best position possible for the district and regional playoffs. You never know because with Brunswick dropping down a classification this year to (Class 1), we could see them again not only in the district tournament but the regional tournament as well.”

Franklin (12-8) visits Surry County (3-16) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.