It was a memorable season for the Franklin Regional boys basketball team. After missing out on the playoffs in each of the last two years, the Panthers appeared in the WPIAL and PIAA championships in Class 5A this season.

Franklin Regional’s sharpshooter Fin Hutchison was a major piece to the team’s success. Now, he gets to bring his expert marksmanship to the college level, as he recently made his commitment to Seton Hill.

“It feels amazing - just a weight has been lifted off my shoulder completely,” the future Griffin noted. “Now, I can finish out the school year, get good grades, enjoy hanging with friends, and get ready for next season.”

Hutchison became acclimated with coach Ben Wilkins and the Griffins basketball program after attending the team’s summer camps. He quickly noticed the morale and chemistry, and immediately felt at home.

Hutchison started his basketball career at Franklin Regional with humble beginnings. Unlike most Division II players, he started his freshman year playing on the freshman team. It wasn’t until his sophomore season that things started to click.

“Coach (Jesse) Reed came in my 10th-grade year, and played me as the sixth man on the team,” he shared. “My first varsity game was against OLSH, and I had 16 or 17 points. It was a surreal moment knowing I could play with these guys.”

He brought that success his sophomore year into the AAU season, while also forming chemistry with his Franklin Regional teammates. He joined Basketball Stars of America (BSA) and played with fellow Panthers Cooper Rankin and Colin Masten.

The connectivity carried over into the high school season, but the Panthers were plagued with injuries during Hutchison’s junior year. They wound up losing their final 10 games of the regular season last year, missing the playoffs.

But Hutchison noticed a major uptick in his game with the absence of key players like Cam Rowell and Rankin.

“I polished my game by having to do other things with having them both out,” he remarked. “I was vocal during practice, games, and in the locker room. Having them out sucked, but it made me step up as a player and a person.”

Hutchison and the Panthers came into this year fully healthy and hungry to make a run in the WPIAL. That came to fruition with the team reaching the WPIAL and the PIAA championships. However, they fell short both times, losing to Moon and Imhotep Charter, respectively.

Despite the losses, Hutchison and his teammates knew the history they were making and the mark they were leaving on Franklin Regional hoops.

“I saw articles everywhere,” he discussed. “It all set in and we were doing something that hasn’t been done in so long. Hallways were lined with kids and teachers at school; they canceled the school board meeting for the state title game; we had a student bus come. I think that’s when things started to settle in for me.”

After leaving his mark in Franklin Regional history, he’s ready to set forth on his next journey at Seton Hill. But even though this year and the run is over, it’s something that Hutchison will never forget.

“Making a last run with my senior guys and just being with them,” he noted. “Not making the playoffs for two years in a row and then making a huge run playing every game possible - the grind was real - but there were so many laughs along the way. It’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world.”