With 2:32 left in the game, the Bethel girls’ basketball team was on the verge of trying to send a shock wave through the Cross County Conference, as they trailed by two points to Franklin Monroe, a team expected to be one of the top three teams to contend for the league title.

The Jets led by ten early in the fourth quarter and looked to be ready to pull away but the Bees didn’t quit. A layup from Olivia Reittinger with 2:32 left cut it to 45-43 and the home crowd could smell the upset.

Unfortunately the Bees offense could not muster any more offense the remainder of the game, as they lost to the Jets 51-43, as the visitors went on a 6-0 run over the final two minutes to survive with the league victory.

The Jets were led in scoring by Bella Cable with 17 points, while Corina Conley added 13 and Chloe Brumbaugh added 11. Bethel also had three players in double figures as Alaina Hawthorn led with 13, Klaudia Lowery scored 11 and McKenna Gray contributed 10.

Franklin Monroe dominated the first three minutes of the game, building an 11-0 lead before the Bees knew what hit them. Bella Cable scored five early on for the Jets.

Hawthorn finally broke the ice for the Bees, as she scored on a three-point play with 4:27 left in the opening period to put the Bees on the board. It was Hawthorn and Lowery who scored all eight of Bethel’s points in the opening quarter, as they trailed 14-8 after eight minutes.

The Jets remained in control throughout the second period despite some big shots from Gray and Hawthorn and led 28-19 at the half.

Lowery had a huge third quarter for the Bees, as she scored eight points in the period and helped keep Bethel in the game. Belle Cable scored ten herself for the Jets as they took an eight-point lead into the final quarter of play.

Bethel came out strong in the fourth, and it was the freshman Gray who led the charge. After Conley pushed the Jets lead to 42-32, Gray buried a three, followed by a layup and rebound to cut the Bethel deficit to three.

The Jets used the run in the final two minutes to seal the win.

*Bethel also earned a tough 49-34 win over Mississinawa Valley on Saturday, as Hawthorn led the Bees with 14, Gray added 10 and Reittinger scored eight.

The Bees are next in action at Newton tomorrow night.