The juggernaut knows as the Bethel Bees offense continued to impress in the early season, as the host Bees crushed Northeastern 87-52 last week in a non-conference basketball game.
Caleb South led four Bees in double figures with 33 points, six assists and six rebounds, while scoring 13 was Jesse Nickell, Tyler Terry added 12 and Ryan Rose scored 11. Adding seven points, six assists and six rebounds was Ian Anderson.
“Northeastern was much improved,” Bethel coach Brett Kopp said. “This was a big win going into the weekend with a big conference game and a GWOC school coming up. We like to push the pace, and it all starts with our defense. We put pressure on the ball and create off of it.”
Bethel shot 75 percent from two-point range, and 35 from the three.
“We are looking to improve on getting the better shots,” Kopp said. “We can run well in transition, but we need to get better shots in the half court.”
“We picked up the pressure early on the guards, and we have a lot of athletes with nine guys with a lot of deflections.”
South had another big game for the Bees, and after scoring his 1,000th point on opening night, he just looks to improve.
“His biggest improvement has nothing to do with the offense, he is buying in on defense,” Kopp said. “As quick and hard as he attacks the rim, he will get a lot of easy baskets in transition.”
“We had four guys in double figures, and someone will eventually throw something at us to stop Caleb, but we have other guys who can shoot the ball. It’s a nice thing to have.”
*Bethel came back on Friday and captured their CCC opener, defeating Mississinawa Valley 73-54, to remain unbeaten on the season.
South led all scorers with 25 points, while Rose added 15 and Terry scored 12.
*On Saturday night, the Bees lost to Fairmont 87-70 in a non-conference game in Kettering. South led Fairmont with 19 points, Nickell and Anderson each added 10 and Rose scored 10.
Bethel Girls Basketball- Becky Sweiterman scored 11 points for the Bees, while Morgan Crase added 10 leading the Bees past Bradford last week 56-27 in a Cross County Conference contest.
The Bees exploded out to an 18-4 lead after the opening period of play and never looked back. Sweiterman scored nine of her points in the first quarter to lead the Bees.
Bethel scored the first eight points of the second period to extend their lead out to 26-4 as the Railroaders could not get any offense going.
Mandi Bates, who led everyone with 14 points, was scoreless for the first ten minutes of the game, before hitting a pair of technical free throws to start an eight points second quarter.
Leading 33-14, the Bees controlled the second half for the win.
