Cali Konek finds comfort in Franklin Regional backcourt

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 5:21 PM

Cali Konek might be attending her fourth high school in as many years but one wouldn’t know it by watching her play basketball at Franklin Regional.

Konek, a 5-foot-7 senior guard, looks quite comfortable not only in a Panthers uniform but also while competing at the Class 5A level.

“When she looks back at her (high school career) we want her to say she played for Franklin Regional,” Panthers’ coach Anthony Kobus said. “She just wants to be one of the players on the team. She doesn’t want a lot of attention.”

With Konek adapted to her role in the backcourt Franklin Regional (9-3) is tied for first place in Section 2-5A and is ranked No. 5 in Class 5A.

They take a five-game winning streak into Thursday’s home game against No. 4 Gateway (11-3, 5-1).

Konek, a Division I Charlotte recruit, has more than 1,600 career points (she scored 1,045 in her freshman season alone at Imani Christian). She is averaging about 14 points for the Panthers, often facilitating scoring chances for teammates over creating them for herself.

“She looks the other way a lot of times and tries to get the ball to other girls,” Panthers senior forward Jordan Yaniga said. “It has worked out well.”

A coach recently told Konek to shoot the ball more.

She listened when the Panthers scored a signature victory: a 52-51 upset of then-No. 2 ranked Mars, the defending PIAA Class 5A champion, on the road. Konek had 26 points and made six 3-pointers.

“Playing here at FR has been such a fun experience for me, not only on the court but off of it as well,” Konek said. “The girls and the coaching staff are absolutely amazing, and I wouldn’t want to be playing with anybody else for my senior year of basketball.”

Kobus is in his first season as coach at Franklin Regional, so he also has needed an adjustment period.

He said Konek’s abilities in the open floor have helped make the Panthers go: her court vision and long-range shooting included.

“Cali has really adjusted to the team and the team to her,” Kobus said. “Anyone moving and starting a new school in high school is tough, but Cali came in and right away the girls took her in. I think she is really enjoying high school and taking it all in her senior year. These girls are a tight knit group, and she fits right in.”

Konek, who played at Southmoreland last year but had her season cut short by a knee injury, said she feels like one of the varsity players, not the varsity player.

“Coach Kobus expects the same thing out of every person and that has been what has made us so successful,” she said. “The girls are so enthusiastic and we all have the same mindset for the season, and that’s to win. The coaches, my teammates and myself know what we’re capable of, and when we produce all of our abilities on the floor, we’re definitely a team to be afraid of.”

Franklin Regional already has more wins than it had all of last season when it finished 8-13 and lost eight of its final nine games.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Franklin Regional