Boys Basketball - Latrobe vs Franklin Regional

January 07, 2022

Fourth Quarter Free Throws Boost Latrobe Boys to 55-48 Win over Franklin Regional

It didn't have the dramatic finish of last year's buzzer beater ending, but for three quarters the Latrobe Wildcats and Franklin Regional Panthers played another spirited, close basketball game on the hardwood at Greater Latrobe. This time it was the Wildcats fourth quarter foul shooting success that put the game away, as they beat the visiting Panthers 55-48 in a Class 5A Section 3 battle on Friday, January 7.

Latrobe led 18-14 after one quarter, as Landon Butler scored 9 for the Wildcats and Caden Smith had 8 for the Panthers.

Franklin Regional closed the gap slightly in the second quarter to trail 27-24 at halftime. The Panthers held Latrobe to a single field goal in the quarter but sent the Wildcats to the foul line, where they converted 7 of 9 attempts.

The third quarter saw the Panthers make up the three point deficit, then take the lead when Jake Kimmich hit a pair of free throws at the 5:12 mark of the quarter. The two teams then swapped the lead several times before heading to the fourth with the game knotted at 40.

Fouls became an issue for both teams down the stretch, but it was the Wildcats who got the most opportunities at the line, and they made the Panthers pay. The Panthers scored 6 points from the field and went 2-of-4 from the line for 8 points, and held Latrobe to 5 points from the field. But Latrobe's 10-of-14 foul shooting was the difference, as they slowly pulled away for the 55-48 win. Darius Davis fouled out for Latrobe and Caden Smith walked the plank for the Panthers. Both teams ended the game with a pair of additional players at 4 fouls.

Latrobe's Landon Butler led all scoring with 25 while Chase Sickenbeerger added 14. Franklin Regional was led by Caden Smith with 21 and Cam Rowell with 12. Latrobe was 24-of-34 on free throws while the Panthers went 12-of-19 at the line.

Next up for Latrobe (3-6, 1-2) is section game road trip to McKeesport on 1/11. Franklin Regional (2-8, 1-3) has a non-conference matchup at Pine Richland on 1/11.