The Panthers rode their senior leader, who scored 14 of their final 16 points, past Teagan Swint and Newton North to capture their first state crown.

Tears poured out of Caden Sullivan and head coach CJ Neely. The emotions were too much to contain. Franklin finally reached the mountaintop. Sullivan scored a game-high 31 points,

Franklin, the top seed in this year’s Division 1 state tournament, enters the championship game after a dominant postseason run. The Panthers have won every tournament game by at least eight points. Meanwhile,

Two of the state's best will play for the ultimate prize when Franklin meets Newton North for the Division 1 boys basketball state championship.