By George Starks |
PITSBURG- Take nothing away from Franklin Monroe. When the Lady Jets took the floor against Newton Thursday at the Hanger, it was a group of girls that was ready to play the game.
However, in the end, the hustle fizzled out and FM fell to the Indians, 32-20.
“This is not my brand of basketball,” said Jets coach Tim Barga. “I expect my kids to play hard and get after from start to finish. We didn’t do that tonight and that’s not acceptable.”
It was apparent that Bargas words could not be more true.
With just under five minutes remaining in the game, the Jets were trailing by a slim 27-20 count and was in position to be there in the end.
That’s when the Jets engines flamed out and at that point it was a crash and burn for Barga and his crew.
Newton went on miniscule 5-0 run to post the 12 point victory.
“That’s been the story of our season, ” Barga said. “We start out like a team that’s ready to and then it’s not there anymore. We had a couple of girls that really worked hard. We have to get five girls on the court that wants to hustle and I’m not getting that.”
To make matters worse for Barga, his team committed two more turnovers than points scored (22-20), a deadly combination for basketball.
“No matter who or what team is being discussed, turnovers will destroy any effort being put out” quipped Barga. “We missed too many layups. I counted eight in the first quarter alone. We couldn’t convert on their turnovers (13) the way we should have.”
Franklin Monroe trailed at all the stops, 5-2, 9-8, 25-15 and the final of 32-20.
The Jets, 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the conference, will play at Dunbar Saturday and will host Catholic Monday.
The Jets has no junior varsity.
CNO Photos by George Starks. Left: Franklin Monroe senior Oliva Sease brings the ball up the floor against Newton. Right: Sophomore Caydance Nichols looks for a passing lane after grabbing a rebound.