Franklin Regional notebook: Boys basketball team sprints out of gates

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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The ball went up in the jump circle and Franklin Regional took off.

Showing a fast-paced style, the Panthers ran to a 2-0 start to open boys basketball season with a pair of wins at the 19th Hempfield Tip-off Tournament.

“We’re trying (to run),” coach Jesse Reed said. “That is how we want to play.”

The Panthers looked dominant in their opener, a 63-35 win over Connellsville.

Colin Masten had 15 points, Cam Rowell added 11, and Fin Hutchison and Cooper Rankin had nine apiece as Franklin Regional sprinted to a 28-5 lead after the first quarter. The 30-point mercy rule was in effect in the second half.

The Panthers followed with a 68-51 victory over Greensburg Central Catholic, the No. 2-ranked team in WPIAL Class 2A, as Rowell netted 16, Rankin 13, Masten 11 and Hutchison 10.

The annual Mike Rettger Tournament was set for Dec. 8-9 in Murrysville.

The Franklin Regional girls lost both games at the Laurel Highlands tip-off tournament.

Addison Musto scored 17 points and Toryn Fulton added 15 in a 62-56 loss to Hempfield.

Fulton had 15 again when the Panthers fell to Laurel Highlands, 50-38.

Hockey wins

The Franklin Regional hockey team made it back-to-back wins as it defeated North Hills, 6-2, to move to 3-2-0-1 on the season. Six Panthers scored in the win. Max Rutkowski had a goal and two assists, while Liam Copeland added one score and one helper.

Recruiting

• Franklin Regional senior baseball player Blake Bertucci announced he will continue his playing career at Gannon. Bertucci is a right-handed pitcher for the Panthers.

• Football lineman Max Leven (6-8, 285), a Franklin Regional alum who played this season at Bridgton Academy, received an offer to play at Independence Community College, an NJCAA program in Kansas.

College scene

Checking in on Franklin Regional alumni playing in college:

Men’s soccer

• Penn State Behrend: Senior Justin LeDonne was named to the United Soccer Coache Division III All-Region VII Second Team. Junior forward Blake Cooper made the third team. LeDonne was the AMCC co-player of the year. He helped the Lions post 12 shutouts in 21 games. Behrend gave up only three goals in AMCC play. LeDonne added three goals and an assist. Cooper led the team with 32 points (12 goals, 8 assists).

Women’s soccer

• Westminster: Junior Brooke Horvath was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women’s All-Region VII Third Team. Horvath, a three-time All-PAC player, was third in the conference with 10 assists, fourth in points (34) and fifth in goals (12).

Wrestling

• Pitt: Redshirt freshman Finn Solomon was ranked No. 23 in the country at 149 pounds. Solomon had a record of 10-2 with two pins and a major decision.

Senior softball

The Murrysville senior softball team (sponsored by Rick’s Sports Bar and Grill), made up of players 58 and older, recently completed its 2023 season in the Western Pennsylvania Senior Softball League.

Led by manager Rick Straw, the team finished third in the regular season and advanced to the championship game before falling to McKeesport. The team finished 21-11.

Murrysville’s team consisted of outfielders Jerry Lieb, Brian Novak, Russ Orgera and John DeMonte; infielders Ron Perry, Jeff Shondelmyer, Brian Rostek, Bill Fulton, Paul Ritter and Lou Cortazzo; outfielders/infielders Lou Pianetti and Bob Bair; pitcher Tom Gray; and catchers Bill Fraser and Gary Siegel. Jim Kennel served as third-base coach and Sandy Perry was the score keeper.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional