The Franklin Regional boys basketball team prepped for Friday’s Section 1-5A opener against Penn-Trafford by defeating Kiski Area, 64-54, on Tuesday in a nonsection game.

The Panthers (3-1) used a strong second half and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from an athletic Cavaliers team.

Kiski Area (1-2) erased 30-29 a halftime deficit by getting baskets from Devin Lindenfelser and Landyn Artman to open the second half.

Franklin Regional responded by scoring going on a 7-0 run to make the score 37-33 on buckets by Webber Rankin and Alec Masten and a 3-pointer by Anthony Mitchell.

The Panthers led 45-39 heading to the final quarter and quickly pushed the lead to double figures.

Rankin, Colin Holt and Logan Walter scored 13 points each. Mitchell finished with nine and Masten eight.

“That is what we need this year, a balanced scoring,” Frankin Regional coach Jesse Reed said. “We played better defense in the second half, and we shared the ball. Kiski Area is a very good team.”

The game was close throughout the first half as the team exchanged leads.

“We have to correct our mistakes,” Kiski Area coach Corey Smith said. “We also did not win the 50/50 balls. Jesse does a good job having his team prepared.

“His team is always ready to play. We allowed them too many second chances.”

Amaree Gonzalez led Kiski Area with 15 points, and Devin Bell came off the bench to score 13. Landyn Artman had nine, and Lindenfelser finished with eight.

“It was a nice win,” Reed said. “It was a good way to get ready for Penn-Trafford. It is always a good battle against Kiski Area.”

Reed was also pleased with the way his team managed the lead in the fourth quarter.

“It is all about decision-making,” Reed said. “If we get a good looks and easy ones, we want to take them. We do not want to force anything. We always want to make sure that we are putting ourselves in the best opportunity.

“We do not want to want to be indecisive. That is when turnovers happen and mistakes happen. So we still want to be aggressive and attack, and when they are in rhythm shots, we want to take them.”

Kiski Area does not open section play until Dec. 16 against Indiana.