PITSBURG – The Franklin Monroe Jets boys basketball team opened up their season with a convincing 63-25 win over the visiting Milton Union Bulldogs.
It looked like a season opening game for Milton Union but after a few minutes had ticked off the clock it was clear that Franklin Monroe was playing like they were in mid-season form and not their first game of the year.
Milton scored the first basket in the game … but there would be a long dry spell until they scored again.
The Jets employed full court man-to-man pressure and relentless ball pressure in the half court and the Dogs struggled offensively against it.
The defense would also help get the Jets going generating turnovers that led to points … a lot of points with FM going up 18-2 by the end of the 1st quarter.
The Jets gave a different look employing a 1-3-1 halfcourt defense in the 2nd quarter with similar results.
They would continue to score the ball in a variety of ways and after 25 unanswered points the Bulldogs finally connected on a triple at the 5:35 mark of the 2nd quarter trailing 25-5.
FM would hold a 32-8 lead at the break.
“I thought we set the edge early. I thought we let our defense work for us early and created good opportunities for us in transition, and really just kind of try to create the momentum early,” Franklin Monroe coach Troy Meyers said of his team’s first half performance.
Jet senior guard Eric Brenner scored 9 points in the first quarter 6 of them by getting to the rim and knocking down a triple as well and led FM with 12 points at the break.
Halftime was what Milton needed to regroup, and it would help as they came out scoring 14 points in the 3rdquarter … but the Jets countered with 20 points of their own including six triples to win the frame 20-14 and go up 52—22 heading into the final stanza.
Eric Brenner and sophomore Blake Riffle each had two triples and senior Brandt Filbrun along with junior Ben Denlinger connected on a trey as well.
The scoring barrage by Milton in the 3rd quarter would be squelched in the 4th period as the Jets limited them to just one triple.
Brandt Filbrun continued his hot shooting beyond the arch with two more, four total for 12 points for the game.
In all the Jets knocked down 12 triples … but showed they can score the ball off the dribble as well.
“Our defense led to early offense, which created a lot of good spirit, a lot of good momentum for us. And then obviously we shot it well. So anytime you shoot it like that from deep, creates a lot of pressure on the opponent. I Thought we played with great pace, and it just opened up the floor for a lot of players. I don’t know exactly what the scoring column was, but there was a lot of balance there. I believe, maybe outside of Eric Brenner,” Meyers said after the game.
Eric Brenner paced Franklin Monroe with 18 points all in the first three quarters … but his defense also drew praise from coach Meyers.
“We challenged Eric defensively, he wants to play at the next level, so it’s like you’ve got to be able to impact the game in multiple ways. He does it, obviously with his offensive game, but for him to be able to play at an elite level, he’s going to have to guard, he’s going to have to understand defense, he’s going to have to understand schematics. So, we’ve challenged him in that way, and I think some of the stuff that he got was in transition, so obviously he can shoot it a little bit, and it’s just, how can he impact the game on other areas, rebounding, defense, communication. So, I think he’s grown, and I think he continues to grow because he works at it so hard,” Coach Meyers praised.
It’s a game that the Bulldogs will want to forget and an impressive opening game for Franklin Monroe who many consider to be a leading contender to challenge for the Western Ohio Athletic Conference Championship.
The Jets will play at Randolph Southern on Tuesday night, host Calvary Christian on Friday and then open league play on Sunday, December 8th against Twin Valley South at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers).
Box Scores
Score by Quarter
FM – 18 … 14 … 20 … 11 – 63
MU – 02 … 06 … 14 … 03 – 25
Individual Scoring
FM – Lucas Brenenr 1-3-2/4 – 11, Eric Brenner 3-4-1/4 – 18, Brandt Filbrun 4-0-0/0 – 12, Blake Riffle 2-1-0/0 – 8, Trey Wilson 0-1-0/0 – 2, Ben Denlinger 1-1-0/0 – 5, EB Fall 1-2-0/0 – 7: Totals 12-12-3/8 – 63
MU – Copp 10, Fraley 3, Keys 3, Kimmel 9 – Total 6-3-1/2 – 25
