Franklin Regional boys roll over Shaler in WPIAL semifinals
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Monday, February 26, 2024 | 10:17 PM
Franklin Regional’s Connor Crossey drives to the hoop against Shaler’s Julian Vizzoca during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Fin Hutchison goes to the hoop against Shaler’s Kaden Orga during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Cooper Rankin tires to protect the ball from Shaler’s Joey DeSabato during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Fin Hutchinson drives baseline against Shaler’s Joe Miller during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Fin Hutchison fires a 3-pointer against Shaler during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
Franklin Regional’s Cooper Rankin gets tied up by Shaler’s Julian Vizzova (left) during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Monday.
It took Franklin Regional overtime to defeat Shaler in a nonsection game back on Jan. 19.
The Panthers (22-2) didn’t mess around Monday in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals at Mt. Lebanon.
Franklin Regional was hotter than the unseasonably warm temperatures across Western Pa. and scorched Shaler, 69-40, to advance to the championship game 9 p.m. Friday against Moon, which defeated Thomas Jefferson, at Peterson Events Center.
The last time the Panthers were in the championship game, they lost to Mars.
Franklin Regional made four 3-pointers, two by Fin Hutchison, to race out to a 17-5 lead.
It expanded the lead to 21-5 early in the second quarter before the Titans (22-3) chipped away behind Keegan Smetanka, who scored six of his team-high 15 points, and trimmed the margin to 26-18 at halftime.
Franklin Regional put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring Shaler, 18-7, and expanding its lead to 44-25.
“When we played them the first time, we didn’t play as well defensively,” Franklin Regional coach Jesse Reed said. “We were ready defensively from the start, and everyone contributed on offense.
“We knew they were a good basketball team, and we knew we had to come out and compete harder, defend harder, we had to execute better and do everything in our power for 32 (minutes). We executed our game plan perfectly.”
Things didn’t go well for Shaler from the start. It turned the ball over against Franklin Regional’s pressure defense and when the Titans got open shots, they weren’t going in. Franklin Regional’s were.
“We were ready from the jump.” Franklin Regional’s Colin Masten said. “We played great defense. We held them to single digits in two quarters. We shared the ball. It was a great effort.”
Reed said he was nervous for the team the entire day. He knew Shaler wouldn’t go away easy.
“We knew what kind of talent we had and what kind of work ethic we had,” Reed said. “At the beginning of the season our goal was to get to the Pete. Our first goal was to win the section, and our second was to get to the Pete and win it.”
Hutchison lead the balanced attack for the Panthers with 16 points. Connor Crossey had 14 points, Cooper Rankin added 11 and Masten 10.
Cam Rowell, who scored 28 in the 72-62 overtime win, had nine Monday.
“We knew they’d have their runs,” Reed said. “Our goal out of halftime was to win the first four minutes, and we did.”
Brandon London scored 11 for the Titans. He missed most of the third quarter in foul trouble.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Shaler
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