Franklin Regional Panthers Boys

Head Coach: Jesse Reed – 5th season

Conference: Class 5A Section 1

Last Season: 12-12 overall, lost to Montour in WPIAL Class 5A first round

Key Losses: Connor Crossey, Jonah Johnston, Drew Devola

Key Returners: Anthony Mitchell, Colin Holt, Webber Rankin, Logan Walter, Thomas Bridges, Daniel Mosiello

Promising Newcomers: Leo Clemente, Sean Cartwright, Alec Masten, Oliver Leven, Rowan Sadowski

Circle the Dates: Franklin Regional opens section play hosting Penn-Trafford on December 12th on WSN. The Panthers first match up against reigning section champion Uniontown is on the road January 13th.

On the heels of a run to the WPIAL and PIAA title games the previous year, the Franklin Regional boys could not replicate that success with a new group of players last campaign. Tasked with replacing four starters from that historic squad, FR clawed to reach the WPIAL playoffs. After an impressive victory at home against Indiana Area in the preliminary round, the Panthers fell to top-seeded Montour in the first round, finishing at 12-12 on the year.

While the Panthers won’t have to start from scratch once again, they will be tasked with replacing nearly 35 points per game, as well as the top three rebounders from 2024-25.

Conspicuous by their absence are Connor Crossey, Jonah Johnston, and Drew Devola. Crossey, now playing at Saint Vincent College, averaged a team-leading 19.5 points, along with 4.5 rebounds per game. Johnston, meanwhile, compiled 11.2 points and 7.1 boards per contest, while Devola, who is playing football at Michigan Tech, posted averages of 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

While those graduations loom large, the Panthers return a half-dozen contributors from last year, all of whom are upperclassmen. Junior guard Anthony Mitchell is the most accomplished returner, as he averaged 5.5 points, 2.7 boards, and 2.1 assists per game last season. Forward Colin Holt, who accumulated 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest, and guard Daniel Mosiello will be counted upon as the only seniors on the roster. Also, juniors Webber Rankin (3.3 points per game), Logan Walter, and Thomas Bridges will factor heavily into the rotation. Two other juniors who likely would’ve been contributors, Aaron Novelli and Cole Devola, are out for the season with injuries.

Fifth-year head coach Jesse Reed is also eyeing several players who could emerge as varsity contributors for the first time, including juniors Leo Clemente and Sean Cartwright, sophomores Alec Masten and Oliver Leven, and freshman Rowan Sadowski.

Last season, the Panthers placed fifth in Class 5A Section 1. Uniontown Area took the section title, going unblemished, while Gateway and Greater Latrobe tied for second place, and Penn-Trafford finished fourth. McKeesport Area, Albert Gallatin, and Laurel Highlands finished below FR in the standings.

This campaign, the Gators appear to be the favorites, while the Red Raiders and Warriors will also be top contenders.

While Reed retained assistant coaches Joe McGinn, Mike Simmons, and Austin Dedert, former Franklin Regional standout Nick Leopold has been added to the staff.

Prior to commencing section play at home against Penn-Trafford on Dec. 12, the Panthers will play two other neighboring districts, going to Plum and hosting Kiski Area.

Franklin Regional Panthers Girls

Head Coach: Bernie Pucka – 5th season

Conference: Class 5A Section 1

Last Season: 15-7 overall, lost to Bethel Park in WPIAL Class 5A first round

Key Losses: Madi DeRiggi, Toryn Fulton, Addison Musto, Anna Novelli

Key Returners: Chloe Pucka, Alyssa Bridges, Katherine Yaniga

Promising Newcomers: Gemma Sadoski, Madelyn Catello, Rachel Marcej, Isabella Roberson, Megan Kavo, Amelia Bertucci, Lucy Helbig

Circle the Dates: Franklin Regional begins section action at home against Plum on December 11th on WSN. The Panthers battle Gateway on December 18th and finish section play hosting Fox Chapel on January 26th.

Last season was a special one for the Franklin Regional girls, as they shared the section title, the first for FR since 1979. Despite that massive accomplishment, as well as 15 wins during the regular season, the Panthers suffered an early exit from the postseason, as Franklin Regional was upset by Bethel Park in the first round of the Class 5A bracket.

Four starters graduated from that team, meaning that the Panthers will look vastly different this campaign as they try to replicate last season’s breakthrough.

Gone are Madi DeRiggi, Toryn Fulton, Addison Musto, and Anna Novelli. DeRiggi was honored as the Class 5A Section 1 Player of the Year after she averaged 13.8 points per game. Fulton, a Division I softball recruit, was a First-Team All-Section performer, averaging 8.9 points, while Musto was Second-Team All-Section, posting 9.1 points per game. Furthermore, Anna Novelli, who is now playing at Grove City College, contributed 6.3 points per game.

Thus, just one starter returns – junior guard Chloe Pucka. The daughter of head coach Bernie Pucka, she averaged 3.5 points per game last year and was a Second-Team All-Section honoree. A pair of sophomores, forward Alyssa Bridges and guard Katherine Yaniga, also return after seeing minutes off the bench. Bridges, an accomplished AAU player with college basketball aspirations, could vastly improve upon her 3.9 points per game last season.

With the rest of the lineup undefined, a bevy of players are vying for opportunities. That group includes seniors Gemma Sadowski, Madelyn Catello, and Rachel Marcej, as well as freshmen Isabella Roberson, Megan Kavo, Amelia Bertucci, and Lucy Helbig.

“This team is very different from last year's. We're young, but battle tested,” detailed Bernie Pucka, in his fifth season at the helm. “Many will notice that we graduated heavily, and count us out, but those closest to us know what we got and are thankful with what we have.”

Last season, FR went 11-1 in section play, tying with Shaler Area. Fox Chapel Area and Plum deadlocked for third, while Penn Hills, Armstrong, and Gateway all missed the playoffs.

The Panthers will open the section ledger against the Mustangs, Pucka’s alma mater, on Dec. 11 in Murrysville.