Franklin Regional’s Cam Rowell headlines TribLive Westmoreland boys basketball all-stars
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Saturday, March 30, 2024 | 5:07 PM
Franklin Regional’s Cam Rowell dunks over Moon defenders during their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Monday, Mar. 18, 2024, at Peters Twp.
Jeannette’s Noah Sunder hauls in a rebound against Greensburg Central Catholic’s Franco Alvarez during overtime in a PIAA Class 2A second-round game Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Norwin.
Yough’s Terek Crosby (2) drives to the basket as Mt. Pleasant’s Yukon Daniels (14) during a game Feb. 3, 2023.
Penn-Trafford’s Tyler Freas (4) drives to the hoop against Latrobe’s Ian DeCerb (5) on Tuesday.
Monessen’s Lorenzo Gardner celebrates after scoring his 1,000th point against Western Beaver in a WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
Southmoreland’s Ty Keffer (11) looks to pass on Jan. 22, 2024.
Southmoreland’s Elliott Premus defends Belle Vernon’s Zion Moore on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.
Derry Area senior Nate Papuga goes up for shot while Neshannock’s Ashton Allison (3) and Jake Rynd (15) defend during a WPIAL Class 3A playoff game Feb. 22, 2024.
Imhotep Charter’s Ahmad Nowell blocks a shot by Franklin Regional’s Cooper Rankin during the PIAA Class 5A state championship game on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Tyree Turner drives to the basket past Northgate’s Landon Lockett during their WPIAL Class 2A semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Gateway.
Player of the Year
Cam Rowell, Sr., G, Franklin Regional
The state championship game looked like it was getting away from Franklin Regional. But just then, Cam Rowell growled.
The senior guard took a pass from Colin Masten, who came up with a steal, and broke into the open court for a one-handed slam that had the Giant Center rocking.
While Franklin Regional didn’t win the PIAA Class 5A championship, Rowell made his presence known.
One of the top finishers in the game also made his mark in the WPIAL, turning heads with his athleticism and calm command for the WPIAL and state runner-up Panthers.
For his efforts, Rowell is the TribLive Westmoreland Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Tyree Turner was a close second. Terek Crosby of Yough also was considered.
“The season Cam just put together for himself, and for Franklin Regional’s history, was really remarkable,” Panthers coach Jesse Reed said. “We went as Cam went all year.”
Rowell eclipsed 1,000 career points during the Panthers’ memorable season that took fans on a ride they had not anticipated. He averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Panthers (27-4), who made the PIAA final for the first time in 27 years.
“We were underdogs,” Rowell said. “We knew we could play with (Imhotep in the state final). We have to play a full game. It takes a team to win it all.”
Rowell’s dunks may have set him apart most from others.
What started as his teammates daring him to dunk in a game early in the year became a regular occurrence.
“If I get a chance, I am going to try to slam it,” Rowell said. “It gets everyone pumped up.”
It’s hard to mention Rowell without mentioning senior Cooper Rankin, his right-hand man.
Reed called them a true dynamic duo — “R&R” as they became known together.
Rankin appreciated the opportunity to run the point for one of the program’s most memorable teams in perhaps its brightest season.
“The thing that hurts most is that I won’t get to play with my brothers anymore,” Rankin said. “That’s going to suck, but it’s part of life.”
First team
Franco Alvarez
Sr., F, Greensburg Central Catholic
A talented forward who ran the floor well, he averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, while shooting 61.8% from the field. … Helped GCC to WPIAL 2A runner-up finish.
Terek Crosby
Sr., G, Yough
Among Yough’s most prolific scorers, averaged 25 points and 4 assists, while making 44 3-pointers for a 3A quarterfinalist. … Ended his career with 2,036 points.
Tyler Freas
Sr., G, Penn-Trafford
Led Warriors to 5A playoffs, averaging 16.1 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. … Made 52 3-pointers and scored over 800 career points.
Lorenzo Gardner
Sr., G, Monessen
Climbed program scoring list, finishing career with 1,689 points, second among Greyhounds scorers. … Averaged 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for Class A playoff team and had a 62-point game.
Ty Keffer
Sr., G, Southmoreland
One of the program’s elite scorers averaged 19.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals. … Ended career with 1,575 points and 223 3-pointers.
Zion Moore
Jr., G, Belle Vernon
One of the WPIAL’s top volume scorers, he averaged 26.3 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game for 4A playoff team. … Has 1,585 career points.
Nate Papuga
Sr., G, Derry
Helped Derry to first, first-round playoff win in WPIAL playoffs, and first PIAA berth, while reaching 1,000 career points. … Averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and made 68 3s-pointers.
Cooper Rankin
Sr., G, Franklin Regional
Point guard guided a high-powered team that finished as the WPIAL and PIAA runner-up in 5A. … Averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals.
Tyree Turner
Sr., G, Greensburg Central Catholic
Led GCC to runner-up finish in WPIAL 2A and a 24-4 record. … Averaged 21.0 points a game, along with 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 steals.
Second team
Kymone Brown
So., G, Jeannette
Ryan Burkhart
Sr., G, Greensburg Salem
Max Butler
Jr., G, Latrobe
Noah Felentzer
So., G, Southmoreland
Drew Gordon
Jr., G, Hempfield
Colin Masten
Sr., G, Franklin Regional
Austin Matthews
Sr., F, Yough
Ian Temple
Sr., G, Penn-Trafford
Alonzo Wade
Jr., G/F, Belle Vernon
John Wetzel
Jr., G, Latrobe
Third team
Tommy Davis
Jr., F, Belle Vernon
Dante Giallonardo
Sr., G/F, Mt. Pleasant
Parker Hollick
Jr., G, Ligonier Valley
Fin Hutchison
Sr., G, Franklin Regional
Trevor Kovatch
Jr., G, Belle Vernon
Isaiah Mallich
Sr., G, Jeannette
Dylan McCullough
Sr., G, Norwin
Kyle McNeil
Jr., F, Latrobe
Stanley Rajkovich
Fr., F, Derry
Maximus Williams
Jr., F, Hempfield
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Southmoreland, Yough
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