Franklin Regional Panthers Boys

Head Coach: Jesse Reed – 1st season

Conference: Class 5A Section 3

Last Season: 8-8 record – Lost to Mars Area in the WPIAL 5A first round

Key Losses: Luke Kimmich, Kadyn Hannah, Jake Nader, Jeffrey Downs, Ben Rosenberg, Luke Treloar

Key Returners: Caden Smith, Cam Rowell, Jake Kimmich, Jordan Suvak, Nick Neuschwander, Max Leven

Promising Newcomers: Cooper Rankin, Fin Hutchison

When Franklin Regional boys basketball coach Steve Scorpion was not retained following the 2020-21 campaign, the Panthers had big shoes to fill. In his four years, Scorpion guided Franklin Regional to considerable success, including a trip to the WPIAL Championship game.

His replacement is Jesse Reed, who is a first-time head coach but boasts significant accolades as a player. He enjoyed a prolific career that spanned Saltsburg, Greensburg Central Catholic, the Kiski School, American University, and professionally in Luxembourg. Reed’s coaching experience includes assistant roles at Saint Vincent College and Carnegie Mellon University.

“Being a head coach at one of the WPIAL schools around here has always been a goal of mine, and I’ve been keeping my eye out for something that would make sense,” Reed detailed when he was hired in August. “The blueprint is there. The success has been there. And I just thought it was a great opportunity to try to come in and hopefully build off of that.”

Last season, FR went 8-8 overall, which included a playoff win in the WPIAL Class 5A preliminary round, followed by a defeat to Mars Area to conclude the season.

However, the Panthers graduated several key players, including four starters, headlined by Luke Kimmich and Kadyn Hannah.

The lone returning starter has been an anchor for FR for the past few seasons, however, as guard Caden Smith is expected to lead the way in his senior campaign. Smith, who also excels at football and baseball, has garnered Division I interest on the gridiron.

Aside from Smith, the Panthers will rely upon senior forwards Jordan Suvak and Nick Neuschwander, junior forward Max Leven, junior guard Jake Kimmich, and sophomore guard/forward Cam Rowell.

A pair of sophomore guards, Cooper Rankin and Fin Hutchison, could also emerge as contributors in 2021-22.

With Reed new to the high school scene, he’s still trying to gauge how his team could stack up in the Class 5A Section 3, as FR competes with Penn Hills, Greater Latrobe, Gateway, McKeesport Area, Kiski Area, and Woodland Hills. A year ago, the Indians went undefeated at 6-0, while the Panthers finished second and posted the most wins, at 7-3.

“I expect to have a team that is going to play hard and compete,” Reed noted. “In terms of how we can finish in our section, I will have a better idea after I go through the section the first time around.”

Franklin Regional Panthers Girls

Head Coach: Bernie Pucka – 1st season

Conference: Class 5A Section 4

Last Season: 5-10 record – lost to Armstrong in the WPIAL 5A preliminary round

Key Losses: Maria Brush, Angel Kelly

Key Returners: Sarah Penrod, Brooke Schirmer, Sophia Reitz, Alexa Patberg, Sophia Yaniga

Promising Newcomers: Avery Musto, Angelina Brush, Sarah Holt, Toryn Fulton, Anna Novelli

Franklin Regional girls basketball has a new leader, as Bernie Pucka took over as the head coach during the offseason, replacing Anthony Kubas. While Kubas departed after three years at the helm, Pucka brings considerable experience, having guided the Plum girls team for nearly a decade before stepping down in 2014. He also served as an assistant coach with the Franklin Regional football team from 2005-06.

He inherits a Panthers team that struggled in 2021, winning just one conference game. FR’s lone win in Class 5A Section 4 came against Greensburg Salem, but the Panthers claimed nonsection wins against Blairsville, Kiski Area, Hempfield Area, and Butler Area.

Furthermore, Pucka will be tasked with replacing a few notable graduates, including Maria Brush, who is now playing at Seton Hill University.

To compound the challenge, the Panthers have no seniors on this year’s roster, so Pucka will have to rely primarily upon juniors and sophomores, as well as possibly some emerging freshmen.

Despite those obstacles, Pucka has set expectations as he hopes to return the Panthers to success.

“It goes without saying that we're setting our sights high in hopes of winning the section and being a playoff contender, as everyone is I'm sure, but we're honestly taking a real "win what's next" approach to the season,” he said. "Win the next practice, then win the next scrimmage, then win the next game! “One day at a time, one opponent at a time, and take care of the business ahead,” Pucka continued. “Don't look forward, and don't look back will be our approach this season.”

Among the key players who return to the mix are junior guards Sarah Penrod and Brooke Schirmer, junior forwards Alexa Patberg and Sophia Yaniga, and sophomore forward Sophia Reitz.

That core should be complimented by a bevy of players looking to carve out roles, including juniors Avery Musto and Sarah Holt, sophomore Angelina Brush, and freshmen Toryn Fulton and Anna Novelli.

Pucka, who teaches in the Plum School District, has also added former Mustangs standout Krista Pietropola to his staff.

Last season, the Panthers finished in last place in the second, while Greater Latrobe and Woodland Hills battled for section supremacy. McKeesport Area also finished as a top team, while Penn Hills posted a winning record overall. Gateway and Greensburg Salem round out the section.