CAMDEN – Franklin Monroe boys basketball trailed by one with two minutes left in first half but surged to a 10-point lead late in 2nd quarter for a 30-20 lead at the break. It was enough for them to control the second half with solid defense and steady offense and then finish the game strong at the free throw line for a big 71-53 win over Preble Shawnee.
It was a game on the calendar to see with two of the top teams in the WOAC battling on a Tuesday night. Coming in the Arrows had passed a couple of early season test with wins over Dixie and Arcanum … but for both teams this would be the biggest test so far with the Jets flying high.
The first quarter would prove to be very physical as both teams started out in an extended zone defense.
FM jumped in front 7-3 to start on a triple from junior Ben Denlinger and buckets from seniors EB Fall and Ty Riffle.
Preble Shawnee answered with an and one from Brayden Robinette to close the gap to 7-6 only to see the Jets extend the lead back out 12-7 on a lay-up and triple from junior Brandt Filbrun.
Senior Reece Smith answered quickly for the Arrows with a bomb from the right corner … but FM held a 14-10 lead at the end of one.
Shawnee tried get to the rim off the dribble and also pound the ball inside in the 2nd quarter, but the Jets aggressively defended the paint forcing more perimeter shots.
Shots weren’t falling for the most part with the exception of two triples from Robinette who would be the most consistent scorer for the Arrows all night, he ended up with a game high 18 points for his team.
The Jets ability to handle the physicality and defend were big factors in the first half and Franklin Monroe coach Troy Myers gave credit to his assistant coaches and kids for executing well.
“The physicality was a real deal in the first half, we were fighting like crazy to defend the post and the interior and had a couple calls go against us, a couple calls go for us. But I thought our plan and our work before the game was right, and that’s a credit to our coaches. Honestly, not me. I’m not taking credit for that, but our coaches’ ability to come up with a plan on how we can best utilize our defense to take away what they want to do and make them one dimensional? We weren’t perfect, but I thought we executed our defensive plan coming in well,” Myers commented.
Despite all that Preble Shawnee held a 19-17 lead with 2:12 to go in the first half.
That was until senior guard Eric Brenner got hot. He connected on three straight triples in the last two minutes including one as the horn sounded to help the Jets go up 30-20 at the break to give Franklin Monroe momentum.
“This game is a game of runs, a game of momentum. His (Eric Brenner) ability to knock down shots obviously stretches the defense, and you have to be able to knock down shots, and fortunately, we knocked some down,” Myers said.
In the third quarter the pace quickened with both teams putting the ball through the cylinder, but Preble Shawnee came up short 20-16 at the end, trailing 50-36 heading into the 4th frame.
FM’s EB Fall scored 8, Eric Brenner and sophomore Blake Riffle both had 6 points.
Preble Shawnee senior Ian Blankenship who isn’t 100% from an ankle injury came to life in the 3rd quarter had 5 points to help Robinette with 6 points.
In the final stanza the Arrows were forced to try and generate turnovers as the Jets spread the floor while still looking to score. FM did a good job of handling the extended 1-3-1 trap getting the ball into the middle to Fall. He was able to score attacking the basket and distribute enough that fouls would ensue.
The Jets were a combined 11-for-12 good enough to win the quarter 21-17 and proved to be a big key to win the game, drawing praise from coach Myers.
“The first thing I would say is the ability to close down the game at the free throw line becomes ultra important. Obviously, you know that when you get into deep season play and you get into big-time games, you have to close down the game at the free throw line. And that game was still within reach … but it was our ability to go to the line and have the poise to make shots to keep the lead the way it was kept us from scrambling on defense and allowed us to get our “D” set on the other end,” Myers stated.
The 71-53 loss to Franklin Monroe was the first in the WOAC for Preble Shawnee, a streak that extends back to February 5th, 2022, when they fell to Tri-Village, a span of 27 straight league victories.
Shawnee was led in scoring by Brayden Robinette 18, Brody Foxbower 11, Brody Morton 10, Ian Blankenship 6, Reece Smith 5, Braylon Dorrel 2 and Carson Hollon 1 point.
Preble Shawnee falls to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the WOAC. They will play at National Trail on Friday.
Franklin Monroe was led by Eric Brenner with 27, EB Fall with 20, Blake Riffle with 10, Trey Wilson 6, Ben Denlinger with 5 and Brandt Filbrun with 3 points.
Franklin Monroe remains undefeated at 6-0 and 3-0 in the WOAC they will host a scrappy and athletic 3-3 Dixie team on Friday and coach Troy Myers understands the importance of being able to win league games on the road is important.
“I’m so proud of our guys, man. I mean, this is a road win in the conference, but we have to be sober and humble enough to know that tomorrow you can’t take the rat bait and we better show up tomorrow and figure out how to beat Dixie,” concluded Myers.
