Highlands, Franklin Regional cool off after heated fourth quarter Tuesday
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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | 11:39 PM
Tempers spilled over to the tune of five technical fouls in the second half on Tuesday night when Franklin Regional played at Highlands in a tension-filled boys basketball showdown for first place in Section 3-5A.
Chippy from the start, the game flared up in the fourth quarter when Franklin Regional's Nick Leopold and Highlands' Luke Cochran were assessed double-technical fouls with 3:33 remaining.
Coaches from each side then stood up and began shouting at each other and both also were whistled for technicals. They both had to sit the rest of the game, which had 52 fouls.
Nobody was ejected. But this was the kind of game that might be subject to the WPIAL's 10-minute “cool-down” period come playoff time.
Franklin Regional's Nate Leopold also was called for a technical earlier in the half.
Both coaches said it was a heat-of-the-battle situation more than any bad blood.
Although, when the teams played on Dec. 22 at Franklin Regional and the host Panthers won 70-46, there was a hard foul by Franklin Regional's Hunter Stonecheck on Highlands' Cochran.
That could have carried over.
“I'm going to defend my kids and stick up for them,” Franklin Regional coach Steve Scorpion said. “It was a physical game and things happen. We both knew what was at stake. It's nothing personal. I am passionate and so is (Stoczynski). In that type of game, things like that happen sometimes. It's nothing personal toward (Stoczynski).”
Highlands (11-3, 5-1) downed the No. 4-ranked Panthers (11-4, 5-1), 87-68, in Harrison Township for its ninth straight win.
“We dapped after the game in the (handshake) line like we do whenever we see each other,” Stoczynski said. “I think we both know it's all on the basketball court and nothing personal.”
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Highlands
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