On a night when the rims were tight and shots weren’t falling, Penn-Trafford had to get used to some initial discomfort before it could find its footing in the playoff opener.
“When we’re on, we’re on,” Lady Warriors coach Chuck Fontana said. “When we’re not, we have to get to the rim and defend. People think all we do is shoot 3s. We want to prove we can win other ways.”
The sixth-seeded Warriors didn’t count their reps, they made their reps count.
After a sluggish opening half, they settled in and eventually ran past No. 11 Franklin Regional, 47-22, on Friday night in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round girls basketball game in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford (18-5), known for its 3-point shooting and fast pace, made only one 3 but forced the Panthers (12-11) to work on both ends and revved it up in the fourth to return to the quarterfinals.
The Warriors will play No. 3 Indiana (20-3) on Wednesday at a time and site to be announced. The teams split the Section 2 title.
“We stepped up our defense, and that led to offense,” said Penn-Trafford guard Olivia Weishaar, who had a game-high 11 points. “We had to drive more. When we were on offense, we tried to get the ball into the paint more.”
Torrie DeStefano added 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Hanna Weishaar also scored 10 in the win.
Alyssa Bridges was the only Panthers player in double figures with 10.
Penn-Trafford has won 24 straight games at home.
“They’re on this floor every day, working to get better,” Fontana said. “They love it.”
They didn’t love Franklin Regional (12-11), which has not won a playoff game since 2019 but kept it close in a mostly uneventful first half.
Penn-Trafford led 12-6 after the first quarter and 18-9 at the half. Both teams experienced long scoring droughts.
“I thought we gave them fits defensively for a long time,” Panthers coach Bernie Pucka said. “We know what they can do in transition. There was not a sense of nervousness with us tonight, but there was some hesitancy.”
Fontana said Franklin Regional’s defensive approach made it a sticky night.
“They play man defense really well,” Fontana said. “They gave us trouble with that at first. In the second half, we were more up and down and we started clicking.”
An 11-2 run in the third allowed Penn-Trafford to pull ahead 31-15. Olivia Weishaar hit a 3, and Raya Johnson converted a three-point play off a fast break.
It was 33-18 going to the fourth, but the Warriors added on with a 14-0 surge, running away and hiding with an advantage that grew to 29.
Izzie Fontana scored four straight, DeStefano had a putback and Hanna Weishaar scored in transition.
DeStefano was active around the ball, one of the top traits that make her a Division II Seton Hill commit.
“As Torrie goes, we go,” Chuck Fontana said. “Her motor never stops.”
Franklin Regional had only two field goals in the fourth, both inside the final two minutes.
Chloe Pucka fouled out for the Panthers with 2 minutes, 54 seconds remaining.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our girls’ effort and how they trusted each other,” Bernie Pucka said. “Offense takes time. Penn-Trafford is a really good team. They’re good at home. This place was packed for a girls game.”
Franklin Regional played without injured 6-foot-1 starter Isabella Roberson.