Penn-Trafford girls pull away late to defeat Franklin Regional in WPIAL 5A playoffs

Sixth-seeded Warriors advance to quarterfinals after slow start against No. 11 Panthers

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Penn-Trafford's girls basketball team overcame a sluggish first half to pull away from Franklin Regional, 47-22, in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round playoff game on Friday night. The sixth-seeded Warriors, known for their 3-point shooting and fast pace, made only one 3-pointer but used strong defense to spark their offense in the second half and earn a spot in the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

Penn-Trafford is a perennial playoff contender, having won 23 straight home games. The Warriors' ability to adjust and find ways to win, even when their outside shots aren't falling, demonstrates their versatility and experience. For Franklin Regional, the loss ends their season after a respectable 12-11 campaign, though they were without one of their top players due to injury.

The details

Penn-Trafford led just 12-6 after the first quarter and 18-9 at halftime, as both teams struggled to find their shooting touch. But the Warriors turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, going on an 11-2 run in the third quarter to pull ahead 31-15. They then added a 14-0 surge in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a rout. Olivia Weishaar led Penn-Trafford with 11 points, while Torrie DeStefano added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Penn-Trafford

The sixth-seeded girls basketball team that advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals.

Franklin Regional

The No. 11 seed that saw its season end in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Olivia Weishaar

A Penn-Trafford player who scored a game-high 11 points.

Torrie DeStefano

A Penn-Trafford player who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Alyssa Bridges

The only Franklin Regional player to score in double figures, with 10 points.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When we're on, we're on. 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.”

— Chuck Fontana, Penn-Trafford head coach (triblive.com)

“We stepped up our defense, and that led to offense. We had to drive more. When we were on offense, we tried to get the ball into the paint more.”

— Olivia Weishaar, Penn-Trafford player (triblive.com)

“They're on this floor every day, working to get better. They love it.”

— Chuck Fontana, Penn-Trafford head coach (triblive.com)

What’s next

Penn-Trafford will play No. 3 Indiana in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 18th at a time and site to be announced. The teams split the Section 2 title during the regular season.

The takeaway

Penn-Trafford's ability to adjust its style of play and find ways to win, even when its 3-point shooting is not falling, demonstrates the team's versatility and experience. The Warriors' strong defensive effort in the second half sparked their offense and allowed them to pull away from a scrappy Franklin Regional squad.