ANSONIA – The Franklin Monroe Jets battled back from what looked like a certain blowout to the home standing Ansonia Tigers after one quarter of play to stay perfect at 5-0 in Cross County Conference play with a 50-45 Tuesday night victory.
“After that first quarter I didn’t think we were going to get anything right but we definitely battled and showed a lot of maturity,” said Franklin Monroe coach Troy Myers. “I am proud of the guys.”
Ansonia jumped out to a double digit 14-3 lead at 2:34 in the opening period led by two Isaac Barga 3-pointers where the score would stand after one quarter of play.
The visiting Jets used second quarter action to whittle away at the Tigers lead to trail Ansonia 17-15 with time winding down on the first half clock. A Ky Cool trey from the top of the key hit nothing but net with time expiring on the clock sending the teams to the halftime break with Franklin Monroe gaining its first lead of the night, a 1 point 18-17 advantage.
Franklin Monroe 6-0” senior Cavin Baker paced the Jets to a 15-3 second quarter comeback with 5 points including a 3-pointer and 2-2 line. Three of the Jets 3-pointers of the night came in the team’s second quarter comeback.
“They came out blazing so the first quarter – it was them dropping them in,” noted Myers, “and then it was us in the second quarter.”
Ansonia opened third quarter play with an Ethan Hemmerich basket with 5:30 showing to take a 20-19 lead before the Jets would close out the period on a 15-7 run and lead 32-26 with one period to play.
Baker led the Jets third with eight points including his second triple of the game.
The visiting Jets took advantage of 8-11 shooting from the fourth quarter free throw line as the Tigers battled back to take the final period 19-18 in the loss.
“The game obviously changed because we were able to create our own tempo,” Coach Myers said of the team’s second half play. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit.”
The Jets’ Luchini led FM with 8 fourth quarter points including 4-4 at the charity stripe. Ansonia kept the game close with four 3-pointers in the final period; Barga with two and Ian Schmitmeyer and Hemmerich each with a trey. Garrett Stammen added 6 fourth quarter points for the Tigers.
“All these guys have their individual things,” Coach Myers stated. “We’re just trying to work with them individually on how to grow up to what they are capable of doing. I proud of them because of their growth.”
Cavin Baker led Franklin Monroe and all players with a game high 17 points.
BOXSCORE:
FRANKLIN MONROE 50, ANSONIA 45
FRANKLIN MONROE – C. Baker 17, A. Luchini 14, K. Cool 9, J. Byers 5, G. Sargent 5 – TOTALS 10 15-23 5 50
ANSONIA – I. Barga 14, R. Stammen 9, I. Schmitmeyer 8, G. Stammen 6, E. Hemmerich 5, T. Gasper 2, P. Beam 1 – TOTOALS 11 2-5 7 45
3-POINTERS
Franklin Monroe 5 (C. Baker 2, K. Cool 1, J. Byers 1, G. Sargent 1)
Ansonia 7 (I. Barga 4, I. Schmitmeyer 2, E. Hemmerich 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS:
03-15-14-18 50 Franklin Monroe
14-03-09-19 45 Ansonia
