Franklin Regional girls basketball looks to continue roll

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 23, 2017 | 9:06 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

The 2016-17 season featured plenty of positive developments for the Franklin Regional girls basketball team. The Panthers compiled a winning record and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2013.

The drawbacks, however, were that Franklin Regional went 0-4 against the top two teams in its section and was bounced from the playoffs in the first round by McKeesport.

This season, third-year coach Courtney Callas believes her team has the talent and depth to reach greater heights.

Despite the graduation of three all-section performers in Kassidy Hubert, Paige Verona and Samantha Hlozek, the Panthers return plenty of talent, led by 5-foot-10 senior Isabel Palamone. Palamone earned first-team All-Section honors last season in her initial campaign with the Panthers after transferring from Woodland Hills. As the top returning scorer, she likely will be the go-to option this season.

Palamone is joined by fellow seniors Hannah Turacy, Juliana Merlina and Julia Petrucci, all of whom will play key roles in the upcoming campaign. Turacy, a point guard, has proven capable of handling opponents' defensive pressure and also can stretch the floor with her ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. Petrucci recently concluded a terrific volleyball career as a four-year starter for Franklin Regional.

Callas said the Panthers won't rely solely on their seniors for significant contributions, however.

“We also have kids from each grade that can step up and make just as much of an impact,” she said. “I really think that we'll be dynamic, in a sense, this year.”

Among the players in the junior class likely to play significant minutes are Alex Reitz and Jordan Yaniga, both of whom could see time at power forward. Standing 5-10 and 5-9, respectively, they could team up with Palamone to form an imposing presence inside for Franklin Regional. Reitz started in the Panthers' playoff loss, and Yaniga, a former AAU teammate of Palamone, missed a portion of last season with a knee injury but is back to full health.

Other juniors on the roster include Kaitlyn Carr and Courtney Giles, and the sophomore class is composed of Brooke Leopold, Noelle Boyd, Mia Jaffe and Kara Soles.

Callas said she has yet to settle on a starting lineup, but that's in part because she has several more options to choose from than in previous years.

“I don't think we're as limited as we were in the past with people who can step up and play, and I think that's a huge contributor when you start to get past the games after Thanksgiving and past Christmas, because it becomes a grind with the games,” Callas said. “The deeper you can go on your bench, the better.

“We will be able to outlast a lot of the other teams we compete against, and that's really a key when it comes down to a big portion of section play,” she said.

Last season, the Panthers finished tied for third in Section 4-5A with a mark of 6-6. Hampton won the section title at 11-1, and Mars was a game behind the Talbots. Plum also made the playoffs, and Indiana, Armstrong and Kiski Area were left on the outside looking in.

Callas, who played for Freeport in high school and Juniata in college, said her goal is to take the program to the next level by being consistently competitive.

While she's still working on establishing particular schemes and roles to fit the team, Callas already has seen an increased level of excitement from her players.

“That itch to win is there. That's something that's definitely apparent,” Callas said. “They can definitely set their goals high to strive for, and I don't think there should be a problem achieving that with all the effort that they're putting in.”

The Panthers begin their season Dec. 11 at West Mifflin and return home three days later to host Indiana in the conference opener.

Sean Meyers is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional