Not only did the Oil City girls beat Franklin for the first time since 2019 on Thursday night, but they finished in a three-way tie for first place in Region 5. 

The score was 44-19, and gave the Lady Oilers a share of the region title with Conneaut and Titusville at 5-3. (Titusville, two games removed from its Feb. 9 upset of Franklin, pulled off another stunner Thursday, this one over Conneaut, 51-46, to forge the gridlock.) Oil City last won the region title (outright) in 2017.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Franklin, which finished fourth in the five-team league with a 4-4 mark. 

Neither Jadyn Blum nor Sophie Boal played, so that enabled Oil City to concentrate on stopping just Hailey Hanna in Franklin's three-point attack, according to what coach Ryan Justice told the newspaper. Hanna drained one from distance, giving her 43 for the season.

Seniors Halle Curry and Sydney Stevens, who hand't played all season, did see the floor on Thursday. Stevens was a starter and Curry a defensive specialist for last year's team.

Seniors Payton Liederbach and Sophia Garmong led Oil City Thursday with 12 points apiece.

Both Oil City and Franklin will take 12-10 records into the playoffs, the pairings for which will be announced Saturday.

Cranberry girls, who may not have been in the best of health, dropped a 44-25 decision to Karns City in the KSAC tournament. The 14-9 Berries will next play Brookville in the District 8-9 3A playoffs.

Elena Ishman led Cranberry's efforts against Karns City with eight points. Darien Wenner was held to four points -- zero field goals while going 4/4 from the foul line.

Rocky Grove girls ended their season with a 7-15 record after falling to Jamestown, 61-51. Lydia Kennedy again led the Orioles with 17 points, while Abigail Mawhinney and Payton Phillips added 10 each.

Friday's Games

Over in District 10 on Friday, while Rocky Grove beat West Middlesex, 89-51, in a non-region game, Saegertown grabbed a share of the Region 2 title with the Orioles with a 64-40 win over Maplewood.

Noah Baughman scored 21, Landen Carter 20 and Connor Ritchey 16 for the Grove, which finished the regular season with a 16-6 record. Carter also filled the stat sheet with 10 rebounds and six assists. 

Baughman moved into third place behind Dylan Gravatt and Chad Sanner on the Grove's all-time scoring list. Carter is tied with Travis Perry for fourth.

Region 5 finales included Oil City's 70-54 victory over stubborn Conneaut and Franklin's 56-39 verdict over Seneca to end a four-game losing streak. 

Unsung hero Spence Singleton had some key baskets until the 17-5 Oilers pulled away in the fourth quarter behind freshman Easton Liederbach who scored 20 to go with six assists. Nevin Stinson netted 15, Steven Heise 14 and Michael Fink grabbed 11 rebounds.

Jameson Wofford scored 18 and Ian Higley 11 in 12-10  Franklin's win.​​