McKnight makes big play again as Norwin boys basketball team edges Franklin Regional

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 5:37 PM

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Norwin might have been playing in Murrysville, but it took McKnight Road to a tournament championship.

Less than 24 hours after hitting the winning shot against Pine-Richland, senior guard Chris McKnight literally stole the show again as his defensive takeaway just before the buzzer sealed a 61-60 win for the Knights against host Franklin Regional on Saturday afternoon in the Mike Rettger Memorial Tournament.

McKnight was named tournament MVP after a 14-point performance in a back-and-forth title game that saw 17 lead changes and five ties.

The lead switched sides 12 times in the second half, with sophomore King Carver’s basket giving Norwin (3-1) the lead for good with 44 seconds remaining.

After a pair of timeouts, Franklin Regional (2-1) had possession with 2.5 seconds.

Following the inbound from in front of the Panthers’ bench, McKnight stepped in front of a pass headed for the paint, and time ran out to give the Knights their third straight win.

“I just saw the ball coming in and made a play,” McKnight said. “I did it because I was prepared. It’s all about preparation and being ready for the moment.”

Senior Nate Kuch scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for Norwin, which edged Pine-Richland, 66-64, on Friday night when McKnight came off a screen and hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left.

More tense moments followed Saturday.

“We grinded it out, and that is a testament to our guys buying into each other and having a defensive mindset,” Norwin coach Cam Auld said. “Chris can be an X-factor when he is at his best. He can take our team to a whole other level.”

Franklin Regional, which beat South Fayette, 62-48, in the tourney opener, took a 60-59 edge with 1:15 left when sophomore Alec Masten finished a layup off a feed from junior Anthony Mitchell.

But like it had all day, Norwin responded quickly and with purpose, recoiling to play defense after each score.

Both teams attacked the rim or fired up shots without many passes, each trying to keep pace with the other.

“We weren’t able to get a lot of stops,” Franklin Regional coach Jesse Reed said. “They were getting layups at will. I’d like to have one more play call back with about 15 seconds left. We need to be better in those situations — late-game execution — and that’s on us as coaches.”

Junior Logan Walter led the Panthers with a game-high 19 points, including three 3s, Masten scored 13 and junior Webber Rankin had 12.

The largest lead came with 2:38 to play in the second quarter when Kuch hit a 3 to put the Knights up 28-21.

Neither team had more than a 6-0 run.

Franklin Regional, which scored 90 in its season opener against Plum, was up 53-48 after Masten’s 3 with 5:45 to play in the fourth.

But Kuch completed an old-fashioned three-point play before the Knights regained the lead at 57-55 on Kuch’s drive and spin.

Mitchell’s 3 gave the Panthers a 58-57 edge, but senior Alex Graney scored inside to put Norwin up one.

“Norwin is a veteran team,” Reed said. “They have a bunch of guys who can score and create. They’re a nice team.”

Norwin, which lost its opener to North Allegheny in overtime, 59-57, will take momentum into its Section 2-6A opener Tuesday at No. 2-ranked Upper St. Clair.

“I feel like we won two completely different ways but also the same way, if that makes sense,” Auld said of the pair of tournament wins. “Our guys are doing the little things. This is huge for us. It’s a little hardware. It gives us a boost.”

McKnight, who broke his thumb just before last year’s first-round playoff game and missed the postseason, had 10 points in the first half as the Knights took a 31-28 lead.

The Knights also led 14-12 after the first quarter.

“We come in and work every day,” McKnight said. “We compete the same, no matter who the other team is.”

Graney and Carver scored eight each for the Knights.

Franklin Regional made seven 3s.

Pine-Richland won the consolation game against South Fayette, 54-42.

Four players made the Rettger all-tournament team: Walter, Norwin senior Mario Csukas, Pine-Richland senior Grant Spacciapoli and South Fayette junior Owen Keener.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Norwin