PITSBURG – The Franklin Monroe Lady Jets played inspired basketball riding the emotions of Senior Night and never quit in a close contest with the Dixie Greyhounds. The Hounds would prevail late answering every run the Jets had to escape with a 34-30 win at the Hangar.
Franklin Monroe would honor four seniors prior to the game Alivia Addis, Ava Figel, Caydance Nichols and Kyra Brandt.
Both teams struggled to score early in the game. Dixie got two fielders from Bethany Himan and Franklin Monroe got a bucket each from Kyra Brandt and Alivia Addis with just over 2:30 to go in the first quarter.
Dixie then jumped ahead 9-4 after Ella Kreitzer scored an old fashioned three-point play followed by a Jacie Hartmier fielder. Franklin Monroe’s Caydance Nichols scored on a jumper in the lane to end the first quarter with Dixie leading 9-6.
The Greyhounds scored 8 points in the second quarter getting five from Emma McQueen, two from Maddison Caldwell and a free throw from Kendyl Hypes.
The Jets got a triple from Reagan Flora a lay-up from Nichols but trailed at the break 14-11.
Franklin Monroe came out with fire and energy in the 3rd quarter holding Dixie to just 3 points while having their best offensive quarter scoring 11. Alivia Addis got them going with a triple, then scored six more for 9 of the 11, sparking the Jets to a two-point lead 22-20 heading into the final frame.
“I thought we came out with really good energy. Our defensive energy was needed even when we got in a little bit of a slump, we didn’t let up. Then Alivia Addis gave us a boost with a big third quarter to grab the lead,” Franklin Monroe coach Carrie Wood said.
“She has had a couple games like that where she stepped up and really showed that senior leadership on the floor and I’m very proud of her overall,” Wood praised.
Addis would pick up her 4th foul and have to sit much of the final stanza, even then the Jets were able to expand their lead to 26-21 and things were looking good.
Dixie inched their way back into the game behind Bethany Himan who scored 8 of her game high 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Himan’s three-pointer at 4:26 tied the game up at 26 and then she gave them the lead on a lay-up and moments later added a free throw with Dixie leading 29-26 at regain the lead 28-26 with 1:58 to play.
Caydance Nichols was able to navigate through the lane to close the score to 29-28 but Dixie answered with a lay-up and then made a couple of free throws to push their lead back out to 33-28 with 33 seconds left.
FM didn’t give up as senior Kyra Brandt scored at the rim to close to 33-30. But a missed lay-up and a made free throw from Dixie closed out the scoring with the Greyhounds spoiling senior night for the Jets winning 34-30.
After the game first year coach Kerry Wood talked about her seniors and her first experience with a senior group.
“I will say that my seniors challenged me at first. I set the rules and expectations, and there was a little bit of pushback, but by end of season, I would say that everything has really been good. They (Seniors) have been setting great examples for the underclassmen, and I think that is huge, and what we needed here at FM,” Wood concluded.
With the win Dixie improved to 9-11 overall and 4-5 in the WOAC. They have one game remaining in the regular season and will host Arcanum on Thursday. Dixie than will face Ansonia on Tuesday February 17th for a first-round tournament game in DVI with the game played at Versailles at 6pm.
Franklin Monroe fell to 3-18 overall and 0-10 in the WOAC. They will conclude their regular season on Thursday hosting Northeastern. They are also in the OHSAA DVI girls basketball tournament and received a bye and will play in the 2nd round against the winner of Tri-Village vs Dayton Christian. That game will be played at Versailles as well on Saturday February 21st at 3:30pm.
Box Scores
Score by Quarter
09 … 05 … 06 … 14 – 34
06 … 05 … 11 … 08 – 30
Team Scoring
Dixie – Kreitzer 0-1-1/1 – 3, Miller 0-1-2/8 – 4, K. McConnell 0-0-1/2 – 1, Himan 1-4-1/3 – 12, McQueen 1-1-3/6 – 8, Hartmier 0-1-0/0 – 2, Hypes 0-0-4/8 – 4, Totals 2-8-12/30 – 34
FM – Addis 1-4-0/0 – 11, Brandt 0-2-0/2 – 4, R. Flora 1-0-0/0 – 3, Buhl 0-2-0/0 – 4, Nichols 0-4-0/2 – 8, Totals 2-12-0/2 – 30
