Franklin Monroe gets hard fought win over Miami East
Jets victory sets up CCC showdown with T-V
By George Starks

PITSBURG- The Franklin Monroe Jets used a great second half defense Friday to post a 45-34 Cross County Conference victory over Miami East

Holding a 15-5 lead after one quarter of play, the Jets fell apart in the second, trailing the Vikings, 21-20, at the break.

That one point deficit was provided by senior Travis Feitshans.

Trailing 21-17, Feitshans nailed a three at the buzzer, pulling the Jets to within one at the break and giving FM some much needed momentum.

After being blindsided by the Vikings in the second, Franklin Monroe turned up the heat on defense and turned that defense into offense; outscoring Miami East 14-3 in the frame and building that 10 point lead again, 34-24.

“We talked in the locker room and I asked my seniors to lock in,” said FM coach Troy Meyers. “We didn’t like the way things were going on the defensive end in the second quarter. We made some switches we shouldn’t have made and they caught us on it. The three by Travis at the buzzer in the first half changed the mood of this team. I don’t think you have to be a coach to figure that out. That was really big for us.”

The Jets used a tenacious man defense in the third frame that created five turnovers that led to eight points in transition.

While Trey Mong netted half of the Jets points in the opening half (10) it was Feitshans that sparked the Jets on offense

Feitshans dropped in eight of the F-M 14 points in the frame as the Jets opened things up.

“I told them at half-time they couldn’t just give up,” Meyers said. “I thought the kids came out and got after it. We went into the locker room with some confidence and we played like we had some confidence.”

If it weren’t enough that the Jets held the Vikes to three in the third eight minutes, the Jests continued to soar in the final eight, allowing only 10 points and posting the 11 point victory.

Playing a stretch where the Jets will face not only the Vikings, they had to play Versailles Saturday and then the game that has been on the calendars of many, a trip to New Madison and a date with Tri-Village on Tuesday.

The Patriots remained undefeated Friday after blasting Ansonia, 99-30 and both teams will enter with undefeated records in the conference.

Mong led the way for the Jets with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Feitshans added 11 in support.

The big showdown will start at 6 pm. Tuesday night with the varsity set to begin at approximately 8 pm.