BROOKVILLE – Despite an 18-point performance from senior Emily Ellerbrock, the Bethel Lady Bees saw their season come to an end on Thursday night, as they lost to Covington 46-39 in the second round of the sectional finals at Brookville High School.
With the loss, the Lady Bees finish the season with a 9-12 record, as three seniors played their last game.
“I have said this before, but I truly believe that this year’s group of seniors have been great leaders for us, the best group of leaders I have had.”
“As for tonight’s game, things just didn’t go our way tonight.  “We let them come free too much under the basket.”
The game started slowly, as both offenses did not get much done in the first quarter.  Covington held the Lady Bees to only two points in the first five minutes of the game, before Kendal Banks hit a three to put the Lady Bees up 5-4 with just over two minutes left in the quarter.
While Bethel struggled to score in the early part of the game, the Buccs didn’t score for the last five minutes of the period. When Ellerbrock hit a three at the buzzer, the Lady Bees led 8-4 after one.
Bethel maintained their lead in the first few minutes of the next period, and actually pushed their lead to 17-10 late in the half, but the Buccs scored on a three-point play in the final seconds of the half, cutting the halftime lead to 17-13.
“We started the game similar to the way we came out against Newton,” Quincel said. “We forced too much instead of working the ball around.  Patience was a key, we fired up some wild shots.”
Covington came out on fire to open the third quarter, scoring seven quick points to turn a four point deficit into a 20-17 lead.
Krista Burchette finally scored for Bethel halfway through the period to cut the Covington lead to 20-18.  At that point, it was Ellerbrock who caught fire for the Lady Bees.
The senior hit a pair of three’s and added three free throws in the final two minutes left in the quarter, as they led 30-26 heading into the final eight minutes.
The Lady Buccs again used a fast start to take the lead.  They scored the first six points to take a 32-30 lead, starting a wild four minutes.  During that span, there were four ties and numerous lead changes, before the Buccs hit a three-pointer with 2:33 left, taking a 40-37 lead.
With that basket, Covington ran off nine straight points and the Lady Bees offense went silent over the final two minutes, until Banks scored in the final seconds, but Bethel was out of the game by then.
“We did a better job in the second half attacking the basket, and it was important to get off to a fast start,” said Covington coach Chris Besecker.

Box

Covington (46)- Angle 4, Spurgeon 9, Roberts 6, Hoblit 4, Simon 18, Kihm 5.  Total 46.
Bethel (39)- Banks 5, Cornett 4, Ellerbrock 18, Black 2, Me. Nelson 2, Burchett 3, Ma. Nelson 5.  Total 39.

CHS-  4   13   26   46
BHS-  8   17   30   39