Franklin Regional boys win Westmoreland showdowns

The Franklin Regional boys basketball team scored a pair of impressive wins last week, as they defeated Kiski Area and Penn-Trafford in all-Westmoreland clashes. The host Panthers bested the Cavaliers 64-54 in a nonsection battle last Tuesday, and followed with a 63-47 win against the Warriors in the Class 5A Section 1 opener on Friday. Against the Cavs, the Panthers used a 7-0 run in the third quarter to take a lead they would not relinquish. Webber Rankin, Colin Holt, and Logan Walter each posted 13 points for the Panthers, while Amaree Gonzalez netted a game-best 15 points for the Cavaliers. In the section lid-lifter three days later, the Panthers sealed the outcome with a 10-0 surge in the fourth quarter. Walter poured in 27 points and Rankin amassed 19 points for FR, while Zach Feldman paced PT with 14 points. As a result, Franklin Regional improved its overall mark to 4-1 on the season.

Jayhawks girls surge on the hardwood

After winning just four games in the previous season, Jeannette girls basketball captured a pair of home victories last week, improving to 6-1 on the season. The Jayhawks notched an impressive 30-24 triumph against Clairton last Monday, and followed with a dominant 41-18 showing against South Allegheny two days later. Navarah Smith led the way against the Bears, scoring a game-high 13 points, while Leah DeFelice chipped in with nine points courtesy of a trio of 3-pointers. In the win against the Gladiators, Smith poured in 23 points.

First-place PT hockey blanks Norwin

Penn-Trafford hockey continued its impressive campaign last Monday, stifling Norwin in a 7-0 win at the Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont. The Warriors set the tone early, scoring three times in a span of seven minutes in the opening period. Liam Lehneke and Roman Catello each had two goals and an assist, Ben Zierski and Zach Grkman posted a goal and two helpers apiece, and Sean Goodman dished out for assists. Carson Weishorn made 26 saves in earning the shutout for PT, while Norwin’s Connor Lovinfosse made 36 stops. With the win, the Warriors are 10-1-0-0, and with 30 points, they reside in first place in the PIHL Class AA.

Bobcats MBB remains perfect

The University of Pitt-Greensburg men’s basketball team wrapped up the first half of its season in impressive fashion last Saturday, as the Bobcats stayed perfect with a 91-61 win at home against Alfred State College. In the win, Matthew Marinchak exploded for 28 points, including six 3-pointers. Trent Rozich added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for UPG, while Michael Bigley contributed a dozen points. The victory moved Pitt-Greensburg to 9-0 overall, including 3-0 in the AMCC.

SHU’s Flohr earns All-American status

Seton Hill University volleyball star Catie Flohr added a major honor to her resume last Wednesday, as she was selected as All-American Honorable Mention by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). This season, Flohr racked up 314 kills, 34 aces, 85 digs, and 95 blocks for the Griffins, who went 15-12 overall, including 7-7 in the PSAC.

This week on WSN

Basketball, hockey, and wrestling are all on the slate this week on the Westmoreland Sports Network, beginning on the ice tonight, as Franklin Regional travels to play Fox Chapel Area at the Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville at 8:40 p.m. On Tuesday, Burrell wrestling hosts Kiski Area at 7 p.m. in a highly-anticipated mat battle. Also on Tuesday on the hardwood, Penn-Trafford hosts a girls-boys doubleheader, as the Warriors girls welcome Greater Latrobe at 6 p.m., while the PT boys will face Albert Gallatin at 7:30 p.m. Elsewhere, the Derry Area boys welcome Greensburg Salem for a Class 4A Section 3 clash at 7:15 p.m. On Wednesday, Seton Hill hosts PSAC action, as the Griffins welcome Lock Haven University, with the doubleheader beginning with women’s action at 2 p.m.