The Franklin Regional Panthers basketball team (Murrysville, PA), was nudged 48-45 in Thursday's non-league battle with the host Mars Fightin' Planets (Mars, PA)

The Fightin' Planets now possess a 2-1 record. They put it on the line next when they host Fox Chapel for a WPIAL 5A 2 battle on Tuesday, January 3. Mars will battle a Foxes team coming off a 31-30 non-league win over Freeport (Freeport, PA). The Foxes record now stands at 1-0.

The Panthers (1-2) will now prepare for their battle against Blackhawk (Beaver Falls, PA). The Cougars come into the non-league battle with a 3-0 record. In their last battle, Blackhawk edged McKeesport (McKeesport, PA), 46-43, in a non-league battle.