Franklinton’s Lady Demons hung tough for the first quarter against the two-time defending Class 4A state champions Tuesday but ended up falling, 75-26, in the home game.

Franklinton was able to hang in courtesy of the long-range shots Chelsea Armand was knocking down.

Salmen took a 2-0 lead at the 7:23 mark when Kalani Brown, who had a game-high 28 points, was good on a layup.

Armand gave Franklinton the lead with a three before Brown was true on a field goal.

Armand then nailed her second trey at the 5:35 mark to put the Lady Demons back in front, 6-4.

Brown tied the game with a basket. She was also fouled on the play but missed the free throw. The teams were knotted, 6-6, with 4:50 remaining.

Armand was back at it 33-seconds later. This time it was a three from the left corner, and the Lady Demons were up, 9-6.

Brown scored the next four points before Kayla Sibley and Tiara Warren both made field goals. Brown scored the Lady Spartans’ final four points of the period, all part of a 12-0 run, and Salmen led, 18-9, with 22 seconds to go.

But Armand pulled her club closer at the buzzer. Armand was fouled in the act of shooting a three. She stepped to the line and made all three.

Salmen’s lead was 18-12 after one.

Armand had all 12 of Franklinton’s points in the first period and Brown put up half of her points in the opening quarter.

“I was pleased with the way we started out shooting the ball,” Franklinton coach Elecia Crain said. “We just lost momentum on moving the ball around the perimeter. Hanging with the No. 3 team, I didn’t expect us to hang with the big girl (Brown), but I’m pleased with them as far as what they did.”

Salmen had an active defense throughout, which forced Franklinton into turnovers.

The Lady Spartans held Franklinton to just three points in the second quarter.

Salmen scored the first six points of the second period on a pair of layups by Sibley as well as Brown’s layup. It was 24-12 at the 6:31 mark.

Franklinton’s points for the quarter came on a 3-pointer from Jada Thompson with 6:17 remaining to trim the advantage to 24-15.

But that was the final time Franklinton scored in the first half.

Salmen ran off the final 12 points of the second period, turning the game into a lopsided one with a 36-15 lead at the break.

The first 3:24 of the third period also belonged to Salmen as the Lady Spartans opened on an 11-0 run to take a commanding, 47-15, advantage.

Hayle Davidson ended the Lady Demons’ scoring drought at the 4:07 mark by banking in a shot before splitting free throws with 2:38 on the clock.

Salmen led, 52-23, after three before going on for the 75-26 victory.

Franklinton’s Armand tallied 12 points for the Lady Demons while Shaikeria Fabré totaled seven.

Thompson and Davidson both had three, with India Dickerson adding one.

Franklinton is 5-13 overall this season and 1-3 in district.

The Lady Demons host St. Scholastica Academy tonight, with tipoff at 6 p.m.

Salmen’s Sibley put up 17 points while Shelantia Starks posted 14.

Warren and Arianna Cooks both recorded six, and Amira Bickham scored five points.

The win put Salmen at 19-3 this season and 4-0 in district.