Franklin Regional hits key shots in 4th quarter, takes care of Warwick in PIAA 1st round

By: Jerin Steele
Friday, March 8, 2024 | 8:16 PM

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Fin Hutchison knows his teammates believe in him every time he takes a shot.

With two of the Panthers’ leading scorers, Cooper Rankin and Cam Rowell, on the bench in foul trouble, Hutchison had the confidence to put the team on his back to put away a pesky Warwick team.

Hutchison had 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Panthers in a 68-53 victory over the Warriors in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A boys basketball playoffs Friday night.

“They never lose faith in me to make the next one,” Hutchison said. “The coaching staff, the fans, my teammates, everyone. That gives me the confidence to let that next one go.”

It was the Panthers’ first state playoff win since 2017. They’ll play Selinsgrove (18-7) in the second round Tuesday.

Franklin Regional (24-3) clung to a 43-40 lead after three quarters. Warwick (17-9) got to within two points at 47-45 after Caleb Johnson nailed a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in regulation, but then Hutchison made his mark.

Following a Warriors timeout, Hutchison nailed a 3-pointer. On the Panthers’ next possession, he put in a tough layup while being fouled and sank the free throw to complete a three-point play.

He went 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the frame.

“We were struggling a little bit to score, so his buckets were very timely,” Panthers coach Jesse Reed said. “He’s great. He puts in so much work. I thought he played with immense confidence in the fourth quarter, whether it was attacking the rim, looking for a shot or getting the ball to other guys.

“The work always shows is what I tell them. The work you do in silence will show whenever it’s time. All the work he does builds to moments like this, and he really stepped up when we needed him. I’m proud of him.”

Friday’s scenario of holding a small lead after three quarters was similar to the WPIAL championship game last weekend against Moon. That game slipped away from the Panthers, but they didn’t let it happen again.

The Panthers outscored the Warriors 25-13 in the fourth.

“The difference honestly was that we had better rotations and better help side (defense) and communication all around,” Hutchison said. “We made them take some tough shots, and that’s why they were missing. At the Pete, we messed up some down the stretch and gave (Moon) some open 3s. Today, we made it happen and got a good team win.”

Rowell and Rankin both got into foul trouble in the third quarter, and Warwick made a run to get back into the game after trailing by nine at halftime. The Warriors won the quarter, 14-8.

With their two top scorers on the bench, the Panthers got key minutes and good defensive stands down the stretch from their bench.

“Cooper and Cam deserve all the praise they get because they are great players and I love coaching them, but we have a lot of other guys who are strong too,” Reed said.

“I thought our guys stepped up when their number was called. You have guys like Zach Bluemling, Jack Spagnol, Drew Devola and Josh Hudak coming off the bench all making plays when they need to.”

Rankin had 16 points. Conner Crossey scored 11 and Colin Masten had 10, including six in the fourth.

Johnson led the Warriors with 17 and Trevor Evans scored 14, but Franklin Regional held him to two points in the second half.

Before the game, the Panthers held a ceremony for Rowell to honor his reaching 1,000 points for his career in the WPIAL championship game last Friday.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Franklin Regional