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Franklin
Monroe senior, Devon Eley, puts up the shot that made the
final score, 55-31,
Friday in the Jets Cross County Conference win over
Arcanum. Looking on is Henry
Bourne (40), Zach Hyre (behind right),
Arcanum's Connor Pohl (far right) and a unknown Arcanum
player as they
all watch the ball fall through the net. CNO Photo by Dylan Knoop
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Jets outshoot
Trojans on emotional night
By George Starks
PITSBURG- On a night when Franklin Monroe put three in double figures
led by senior Trey Mong with 16 points and 10 rebounds, it eventually
wasn’t about Mong.
On a night when the Arcanum Trojans shot a measly 11 of 42 from the
field (26.2 percent), it wasn’t about that either.
It wasn’t about a 55-31 Cross County Conference victory by the Jets. It
was all about what happened with 59.1 seconds left in the game. It all
boiled down to a Franklin Monroe senior named Devon Eley.
Eley, born with Spina Bifida, had been the team manager since he was in
the seventh grade. Friday, Eley was more than just a manager, he was a
player as he dressed and with 59 seconds remaining in the game, he
entered and contributed to the team score.
Eley scored the final two points of the game and will forever be in the
record books at Franklin Monroe. It was a night when a young man was
bigger than the game itself.
“It was as if the Spirit of God was in the place when he checked in,”
said an emotional coach Troy Myers. “When you see a guy that has the
heart that Devon does, how do you hold emotions back? That kid is
probably here more than I am here in our gym. That is no lie. Since
seventh grade, he has done everything for us. He’s filled water
bottles, got our towels…everything. We got the win but wins aren’t why
I coach. When I see things like this and the look on the faces of our
players when he went out there, that’s what makes this job worth doing.
Devon got an opportunity to do what they do every night.”
Even Arcanum coach Brian Gunter weighed in on the Eley situation.
“He’s a tremendous young man,” said Gunter. “It was a great night for
him and he’s very visible in the community and in the FM program. I’m
just thrilled for him. Our fans showed their support for him and I
happy for him.”
Before Eley took the floor and after he departed, fans from both teams
stood a cheered as a show of respect a sportsmanship.
“That was a class act on the part of the Arcanum fans,” Myers
acknowledged. “It made the whole situation super special because they
knew what we were trying to do and they helped make it bigger than the
game itself. I really appreciate what they did by making it a memorable
moment for Devon. He’s always been about the team and tonight was our
way of saying ‘Thank you’.”
As for the game, it wasn’t the prettiest win the Jets will ever record.
At the end of the first half, the Jets held a 23-12 lead but with nine
turnovers, it was the lack of offense by the Trojans that allowed
Franklin Monroe to hold that lead.
In the first half. Arcanum shot a dismal five of 24 from the field
(20.8 percent).
“We talked about that first half in the locker room and believe me, I
wasn’t happy,” said Myers. “We didn’t execute very well in the first
half but we played better in the second half and the kids finally came
together.”
Along with Mong, Travis Fietshans put up 14 points but it was their
style of play together that made Myers a little happier.
“When those two get together and their play above the rim is being
executed, it doesn’t get much better,” Myers suggested. “Every team in
our conference knows Travis can play and they are going to key on him.
When Trey goes to work in that post the way he did tonight, it’s real
difficult to defend him or keep him off the defensive glass.”
In addition, Martin Maksvitis netted 10 in support of Mong and
Fietshans, including two big bombs that broke the game wide open.
“He’s really still a raw player and is starting to come into his own,”
said Myers. “I don’t think he’s reached his potential yet and this is a
good thing because he’s only a junior.”
In losing the conference game, Gunter new what his kids were up against.
“We played a very good FM team tonight,” said Gunter. “They are good in
transition and they knocked down some big shots. We held them to 23
points in the first half and we didn’t shoot well ourselves. When you
play good teams, there are certain things that separate them from
others. We’re getting there and we’re gaining experience but you’ve got
to knock down shots to stay in the game and you have to take care of
the ball.”
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