PITSBURG – In the game of basketball some night’s things just don’t go your way, as was the case when Miami East handed Franklin Monroe a 78-34 loss on senior night.
Playing in their last home game at The Hangar were four seniors; Zach Hyre, Austin Brown, Landon Peters and Bradey Hesler and managing his last game was team manager Noah DeCamp.
Also cheering in their last home game were Kelly Fourman, Shania Baker and Audrey Aslinger.
Offensively Franklin Monroe was unable to get on track in the first quarter. The Jets were getting good looks … but the ball would rim in and out, and frustration started to mount.
The Jets would trail 16-5 after the first quarter.
In the second period the Jets’ frustration with the Vikings’ defense led to impatience and settling for outside shots, shots that weren’t falling.
The Vikings got it rolling on the break, scoring many easy transition baskets as Miami East opened up a 35-9 lead at the half.
“We didn’t expect this at all … Franklin Monroe was playing really good basketball. We saw them give Minster all they wanted and was in the game with Fort Loramie until the fourth quarter,” Miami East boys basketball coach Allen Mack said.
“Our kids really defended well, and that led to some easy baskets, helping us get off to a good lead,” Mack added.
Franklin Monroe never really mounted much of a charge in the second half as the Vikings continued to roll offensively with 25 points in the third quarter and 19 in the final stanza and Miami East went on to claim a 78-34 conference win over the Jets.
It was not the type of finish the Jets were looking for their seniors, but there are still two remaining regular season games at Covington on Friday and Dixie on Saturday.
The Jets need to put this game behind them and finish the regular season strong and use that momentum toward the postseason tournament.
Zach Hyre had 12 points, Ethan Conley 10 and Bradey Hesler six to lead Franklin Monroe.
Box score:
Score by quarters:
FM…05…04…11…14 – 34
ME…16…19…24…19 – 78
FM (8-11, 5-5)
Kyle Ressler 2, Mason Conley 3, Landon Peters 0, Zach Hyre 12, Bradey Hesler 6, Ethan Conley 10, Cole McGlinch 1
Totals 4-9-4/4 – 34
Miami East (17-2, 9-1)
Ryan Haney 12, Damien Mackesy 26, Kearns 2, Braxton Donaldson 9, Bradley Coomes 7, Brandon Mack 4, Kley Karadak 2, Rutledge 2, Michael Werling 14
Totals 3-31-7/11 – 78
3-pointers:
FM 6 (Hyre 2, Ressler 2, Peters 1, Hesler 1
ME 3 (Donaldson 1, Coomes 1, Haney 1)
