PITSBURG – In what will likely be the last time the Bethel Bees get to play at the “old” Franklin-Monroe High School, it was a tough conference game Thursday against the Lady Jets, as Bethel fell 57-30 on Thursday night.  Starting next season, the Lady Jets will be playing in a brand new high school, being built on the property next door to the current school.
While they will not be playing in that gym anymore, they will likely see the blue and white again, as Bethels second-round tournament game would be a matchup against FM.  The Lady Bees (2-17) took a bye in round one, while the Jets play winless Jefferson.
“We had spurts where we were playing, but we had a lifeless effort most of the night,” said Bethel coach Ed Quincel.  “We were getting beat down the floor every other time they got the ball.”
It didn’t take long for the Lady Jets to set the pace for this game.  Monica Heckman scored six of the game’s first eight points, and with 4:35 left in the opening period, Franklin Monroe took a 10-0 lead.  Halfway through the period, it was Katelyn Cripps hitting a driving layup in the lane, and the Lady Bees were on the board.
From that point, both teams played evenly through the opening period.  After a Lady Jets three-pointer, Casey Seale scored in the paint to cut the Lady Jets lead to seven. 
Bethel struggled in the second period, as the Lady Bees offense was held in check following an early short jumper from Seale.  After Bethel made it 19-10, the Lady Jets ran off six straight points before Emily Mongaraz broke the string.  From there, it was all Franklin Monroe for the
rest of the half.  The Lady Jets took a 31-12 lead into the half.
“We had kids who had shots and passed them up tonight,” Quincel said about their stagnant offense.  “We didn’t react very well.”
Bethel came out and put together a strong third period, as Cripps scored four quick points to cut their deficit to 16 points.  Mercedes Nelson also was a key component with five points in the quarter, and Krista Burchett added a three-pointer, as Bethel outscored the host Jets 13-11 in the period.  However they still trailed 42-25 heading to the fourth.
The Lady Jets extended their lead in the fourth period. 
Cripps led the Bees with 10 points, while Seale added eight.
Bethel now returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 16 hosting Bradford in the final regular season game that was postponed due to the weather.  They open tournament play on Thursday, February 24 at Brookville in the tournament, against the aforementioned FM/Jefferson winner.