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Franklin Monroe senior Mason Conley hits for two of his game high 24
points Friday against
Covington. Conley led the team in points but was
also the 2016-17 Homecoming King as the
Jets posted a 54-47 victory
over the Buccs. CNO Photos by Dylan Knoop
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Jets prevail on
homecoming night
Mason Conley shines in win
By George Starks
PITSBURG- It will be a night that Franklin Monroe senior Mason Conley
may not soon forget.
Before the start of the Cross County Conference game between the Jets
and Covington, Conley was named the 2016-17 homecoming king.
Conley backed that honor up with a 24 point performance as the Jets
went to 3-0 on the season with a 54-47 victory.
A win that was in doubt until the very end.
“We grinded it out,” said Jets coach Troy Myers. “They (Covington) had
the luxury of watching us for two games because this was their first
game of the season (football tournament). They knew the story. They
slowed us down and tried to control the tempo. We did a lot of good
things in the first quarter that allowed us to get the lead that we
had. Then our sweat dried a little bit in the second quarter and the
shots didn’t fall like they did in the first quarter so you kinda get
stale and that starts to grind on your mentality. I’m proud of my kids
though. It wasn’t going smooth but their response was there.”
Holding a slim 34-33 lead after three quarters of play, the Jets came
out ready to attack.
Franklin Monroe went on a 11-0 run at the 4:05 mark of the frame on two
foul shots by Conley, taking a seemingly comfortable 45-33 lead before
junior Jett Murphy hit a trey at the 3:41 to get the Buccs moving on
offense.
After a 12 foot jumper from the right corner by junior Parker Hesler,
Murphy nailed back to back triples getting Covington to within a 47-42
count.
Sophomore Ethan Conley followed with a pair of free throws before
senior Trevor Miller drained a three at the 1:12 mark of the game.
Forced to foul, Covington put Mason on the line down the stretch and
the senior helped get the Jets their third straight win of the season.
“It was a big night for Mason and that takes a lot of character. Your
homecoming king, then you come back into the locker room and he did
what he did,” said Myers. “He could have made this night about himself
but I didn’t think he forced too much, I didn’t think he was trying to
press so I think it speaks a lot for his character. I’m super proud of
Mason as a senior. He did what he was supposed to do tonight.”
In the end, it all boiled down to defense for the Jets.
“Honestly, I think our defense probably won us that game,” admitted
Myers. “Actually, our defensive rebounding won us that game. We were
able to shut them off late, giving them only one chance so we did a
good job on the glass.”
Holding a commanding 20-10 lead after the opening quarter, it looked
like the Jets were well in command of things.
By the end of the half, a 10 point lead had been trimmed to a 28-22
score and only one after three before the Jets picked things up again.
Now 3-0 (2-0 CCC) the Jets will hit the road next Friday for a date at
Bethel.
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Sophomore Ethan Conley hits for two as Covington senior Trevor Miller
defends.
Conley netted 12 in the Jets victory.
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Franklin Monroe homecoming queen was Brianna Dicaneu and the king was
Mason Conley.
The homecoming prince and princess were Ellie Ayers and
Teague Bouman.
Both are in kindergarten at Franklin Monroe.
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