PITSBURG – The 2018-19 Franklin-Monroe Lady Jets basketball team is looking to raise the bar even higher than they did last year, a team that went 21-4 and tying the most wins in school history and finished 9-3 in the Cross County Conference in a tie for third place with Covington and just behind Miami East and Tri-Village.
After falling in the sectional finals to Covington last year, Franklin- Monroe Coach Abbey Moore said, “The bar has been raised and it’s going to take a lot of hard work in the off-season to surpass that next year.”
The Jets will be primed with seasoned and experienced talent returning to take on that challenge with just one senior Tara Goubeaux graduating last year.
With that talent coach Moore will be counting on their experience and leadership to come up big this year.
“Going into the 2018-2019 season we are going to have to bring our best effort every time we take the floor. We will turn to our experience and leadership going into this season. I believe that our mindset, determination and ability to overcome adversity are going to be our keys to achieve success on the court this season,” Moore commented.
The Jets roster includes one senior, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshman. Due to limited numbers Franklin Monroe will be limited to a varsity only schedule this year.
Despite those limited numbers the Jets return their entire starting lineup that includes:
Kennedy Morris is a 5-foot-9 guard and the lone senior on the team this year. Morris average nearly 6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 assists last year and is a four-year varsity starter.
Belle Cable is a 5-4 junior guard and averaged nearly 9 points per game last year. Belle is a streaky shooter and if she gets hot can put points up in a hurry.
Corina Conley is a 6-0 junior forward who gets a lot of attention from opposing teams on defense. She is a versatile athletic player who led the team last year in several categories including nearly 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots a game.
Audrey Cable is a 5-7 a junior who is the glue that holds the team together at the point guard position. She has the ability to drive and score, get out and lead the break, as well as knock down the mid-range jumper. She averaged 9 points, 3 assist and 2.5 steals per game last year. Cable will be unable to perform on the floor this year due to a recent injury, but she will still be a steady influence on the team from the bench.
Chloe Peters a is a 5-9 junior forward who will provide size inside and averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds last year.
Also seeing time on the varsity will be Stella Shellabarger, a 5-8 sophomore forward, and Chloe McGlinch, a 5-7 sophomore guard.
Rounding out the varsity team is Katie Ressler, a 5-5 sophomore guard, Lexi Olson, a 5-6 freshman forward, and Skylar Bauman, a 5-5 freshman guard.
Coach Moore will be in her fourth year at the helm of the Jets and will be assisted by Brandy Fourman and Whitney Rhodus.
Moore expects the Cross County Conference to be a gauntlet this year.
“The CCC is a conference on the rise with a ton of talent. Every game on our schedule is highlighted. We will respect every opponent and must come prepared and ready for each conference team we battle,” Moore stated.
Franklin-Monroe will have some high expectations and has earned praise from fellow Cross County Conference coaches as one of the teams to beat, and coach Moore is more than pleased with her non-conference schedule knowing they will have to play well every night.
“I also believe that our strength of schedule including non-conference games with Versailles, Legacy Christian, Fort Recovery and St. Henry will be key factors going into tournament time,” Moore commented.
The Jets have a huge challenge ahead of them after Audrey Cable tore her ACL in the third scrimmage against Catholic Central that will require surgery and will sideline her for the entire season.
“My heart breaks for her, but I know her faith, strength and determination will empower her to overcome the adversity and she will come back even stronger next season. Her role on this team will be just as important if not more than before and she has made it clear to her teammates that she will be a leader on and off the court despite the setback,” Moore said.
“Adversity has hit us early with Audrey’s injury being the most recent. We have had several discussions as a team about taking adversity, turning it into motivation and using it to make us stronger. I have one highly motivated group of girls and thankfully in our final scrimmage last Friday against a very aggressive Russia team we were able to get things ironed out and I know these girls are going to battle and fight every time they step on the floor. I have a feeling it is going to be a special season,” Moore added.
The Jets will open the season on Friday, Nov. 23 in the inaugural Lady Trojan Tip-off Classic where they will take on Brookville in the first round.
The bar has been raised at Franklin-Monroe and even with a little adversity don’t be surprised if the Jets move it even higher.
