Thursday postseason basketball rundown: Connor Crossey and Franklin Regional thump Indiana; Yough girls go double overtime to beat Highlands

Franklin Regional returned just one starter this season from a team that a year ago reached the WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship games.

Despite that attrition, the Panthers still found their way back to the postseason.

And on Thursday, that lone returning starter helped them win their playoff opener.

Connor Crossey scored 24 points to lead No. 16 Franklin Regional to a 71-50 home win against No. 17 Indiana in a Class 5A preliminary round game.

The win moves Franklin Regional (12-11) into next Tuesday’s first round where it will play at No. 1 Montour (21-1). Indiana, which won its final three section games to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2018, finished 10-13.

Crossey, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, scored 14 of his points in the first half when Franklin Regional built a 40-21 lead. That opening half saw the Panthers outscore Indiana, 24-14, in the first quarter.

Jonah Johnston added 14 points and Anthony Mitchell 11 for Franklin Regional, which has won five of its last six games.

Aaron Webb led Indiana with 24 points and brother Stanford Webb chipped in 11.

Class 2A boys

• Forrest Betz’s game-high 21 points propelled No. 19 Brentwood (10-12) to a 59-49 win at No. 14 West Greene (13-8). Brentwood trailed by two points after one quarter before using a 23-9 edge in the second quarter to take a 32-20 halftime lead. Colton Rosing added 12 points for the Spartans, who advanced to meet No. 3 Jeannette (19-2) in the first round. Darren Knight paced West Greene with 14 points and Lane Allison tacked on 12.

• Jayden Iorio scored 26 points and No. 16 Laurel (12-11) finished strong to claim a 50-42 home win against No. 17 Eden Christian (7-16). In what was a tie game after three quarters, Laurel outscored Eden Christian, 12-4, in the fourth quarter to grab the win. Laurel finished the game on a 12-1 run, holding Eden Christian without a field goal in the final quarter. Mason Dean led Eden Christian with 19 points. Laurel will play No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (20-2) next.

• Chris Harper pumped in 24 points and Ben Hayes added 23 to lead No. 15 Bentworth (11-10) to its first playoff win since 2008 courtesy of a 64-40 triumph against No. 16 South Side (11-12) at Peters Township. Bentworth outscored South Side, 45-22, in the second half, including 29-11 in the third quarter. Harper scored 18 points and Hays 14 in the second half for Bentworth, which advanced to play No. 2 Sewickley Academy (17-4).

• No. 13 Winchester Thurston (16-7) led by 11 points at the half and went on to capture a 50-39 win against visiting No. 20 Beth-Center (9-14) at Peters Township. Michael Hammerling scored 20 points and Matt Southers chipped in 17 for Winchester Thurston, which has won six of its last eight games and will meet No. 4 Neshannock (19-2) in the next round. Beth-Center was led by Jason Zellie’s 12 points.

• Springdale (14-8), the No. 21 seed, sprung the biggest upset of the night, as it earned a 42-33 win at No. 12 Jefferson-Morgan (15-8). The Dynamos led, 22-12, at the half and went on to win for the fourth time in its last six games. Pat Wylly scored a team-best 13 points and Liam Dexter tacked on 9 for Springdale, which gets No. 5 Northgate (13-9) in the first round.

Class 4A girls

• No. 16 Yough (12-11) rallied from an eight-point halftime to claim a 53-47 double-overtime win against visiting No. 17 Highlands (6-16). Hailey Bock scored 13 points for Yough, which outscored Highlands, 8-2, in the second overtime to pick up its first playoff win since 2009. All five starters fouled out for Highlands, including Bella Bonnett, who paced the Golden Rams with 14 points. Yough will play No. 1 Blackhawk (20-2) in the first round.

Class 2A girls

• Madison Hughley’s 19 points propelled No. 16 Apollo-Ridge (10-11) to a 70-46 win against visiting No. 17 Bentworth (7-15). The Vikings led by 11 points at the half and closed strong by outscoring Bentworth, 13-2, in the fourth quarter. Josalin McCauley tacked on 15 points for Apollo-Ridge, which will play at No. 1 Neshannock (20-2) next. Bentworth got 15 points from Elizabeth Wade and 14 from Kayla O’Dell.

Boys scores

Class 5A preliminary round

Franklin Regional 71, Indiana 50

Class 2A preliminary round

Bentworth 64, South Side 40

Brentwood 59, West Greene 49

Laurel 50, Eden Christian 42

Springdale 42, Jefferson-Morgan 33

Winchester Thurston 50, Beth-Center 39

Girls scores

Class 4A preliminary round

Yough 53, Highlands 47 (2 OT)