Plum girls fend off rival Franklin Regional

By: Dave Mackall
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 11:25 PM

Rich Mull’s eyes gleamed. The Plum girls basketball coach will take a two-point victory on the road.

Especially at neighboring Franklin Regional.

“Any time we can get a win against Franklin Regional, it’s special,” Mull said moments after his Mustangs held on for a 33-31 victory in a WPIAL Section 1-5A opener Thursday night.

Tamia West’s 13 points paced Plum (4-1, 1-0), which nearly let a nine-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter before securing its fourth consecutive win following a season-opening loss to Indiana.

“It was a good test for us,” Mull said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction. Maybe not as fast as I would like us to, but I do see some positives.”

Aside from an early 1-0 deficit, Plum led for the entire game, building leads of seven points after the first quarter and nine heading to the fourth.

Franklin Regional (1-3, 0-1) made it close, chipping away at a Plum lead that reached 29-20 on West’s third straight basket to close out the third quarter.

“I believe in this team,” Franklin Regional coach Bernie Pucka said. “We continue to get better every day.”

Madelyn Catello twice scored and was fouled, pulling Franklin Regional closer to the lead, but missed both times from the free-throw line.

Alyssa Bridges completed a compact 6-1 run that brought the Panthers within 32-31, but it was as close as they’d get before Plum’s Taylie Auth converted 1 of 2 free throws with 10 seconds left.

The Mustangs’ defense then denied Franklin Regional a last-second shot to save their victory.

“The effort definitely is there,” Mull said. “Hopefully, we can keep that up. That’s one of the most important things. We just need to make some better decisions and be more consistent with our play.”

In a physical, low-scoring matchup, the neighboring rivals waged a battle on every possession.

“Plum is a heck of a team,” Pucka said. “They were my preseason favorite to win this section. If that holds true and if we play them the way we played them tonight — we left a lot of points on the board — I’m already excited for the next time (Jan. 15 at Plum).”

Meanwhile, Plum is back in action Friday night against visiting Hempfield. Franklin Regional travels to Penn Hills on Monday night.

Plum took command early, building a seven-point lead and led 10-3 after the first quarter.

Franklin Regional got within 12-11 on a pair of free throws by Bridges before West’s layup gave Plum a 14-11 halftime advantage.

The Panthers again closed within one point in the third quarter on Bridges’ basket, but the Mustangs used a 12-4 run to take a 29-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Madelyn Catello and freshman Isabella Mendoza-Roberson led Franklin Regional with seven points apiece.

“Our girls worked hard and took it tough,” said Pucka, who teaches at Plum Middle School. “It’s right across the border, so this is a true backyard brawl. No matter whether you win or lose, when you leave the game against Plum, you’re tired. We expected this kind of a game.

“You’re tired. And it hurts.”

Tags: Franklin Regional, Plum