For most of the first three quarters, No. 2 Franklin Regional had the better of the play against top-seeded Moon Area. The Tigers controlled the fourth quarter, however, en route to a 53-48 victory at the Petersen Events Center, capturing the WPIAL Class 5A Championship.

With the Panthers holding a 42-37 lead after three quarters, FR appeared poised to claim its first district crown. But the Tigers, led by Michael Santicola, got hot from behind the arc, while the Panthers went cold from the field in the final frame. As a result, Moon outscored Franklin Regional 16-6 in the quarter, winning the fifth title in program history, and the first since 2017.

The Tigers’ late heroics overshadowed a solid performance from the Panthers (23-3), who had a three-point advantage at the end of the first quarter, and extended to a six-point edge at the intermission.

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The dynamic duo of Cooper Rankin and Cam Rowell led the Panthers offensively, as Rankin scored a game-high 16 points, and Rowell posted 15 points. Rankin netted half of his output in the first quarter, which helped FR overcome a 6-0 deficit at the onset.

On the other end, Aiden Reesman scored eight points in the first quarter for Moon (23-3) after hitting the winning foul shots in its semifinals victory earlier this week. Reesman was one of three Tigers in double figures, joining Santicola, who scored 14, and Elijah Guillory, who netted 11 points.

Both teams will commence the PIAA Class 5A bracket next Friday. Franklin Regional will play Warwick (17-8), the sixth place team out of District 3.