This one really bothered coach Mark Mays.
Bethel could not muster any offense on the road at Northridge last week, and the Bees girls’ basketball team lost to the Polar Bears 32-27.
“It was a bad half which we seem to have this year,” Mays said. “This one really hurt, we aren’t playing as good as we can. In the other half, we usually come back and play even with them, or better. We are trying to put a whole game together.”
“We have been working on different things, and we aren’t quite there yet. We got ourselves in a hole.”
In the first half, the Bees offense never got on track, as they trailed 24-10 at the half. The Bees tried to adjust to defending Jamese Johnson and Bethel struggled early.
“We were trying to focus on her, and she scored six points right away for them,” Mays said. “We were trying to figure out how to keep her from taking over the game.”
Meanwhile, Bethel’s offense could not get any shots to fall.
“We had some open looks and they weren’t falling,” Mays said. “We shot 55 shots in the game, and they just weren’t falling.”
“In the second half, we went to a box-and-one on Johnson and it worked, we took the ball out of her hands. Then they hit a few shot you wouldn’t expect.”
Johnson fouled out with two minutes left, but the Bees couldn’t hit three one-and-ones in the fourth quarter as their struggles continued.
“We were going after them on defense, but couldn’t capitalize on offense,” Mays said. “We took it to the rim but couldn’t hit the free throws. We just needed those and couldn’t get them” For the game, Bethel was 8-19 from the free throw line.
Mays admits that even though the Bees have already surpassed their win total of last season, they have work to do.
“We have been working on different things, and we aren’t quite there yet,” he said. “We are getting better but need to be more patient offensive with that we are trying to do.”
Emily Crase led Bethel with 10 points in the loss, Becky Schweiterman, Tia Koewler, and Kayla Grable each had five and Delaney Hardert scored two.
Bethel was also missing three players due to illness and injury. They lost 15 ppg from those 3 players.
“It has been a struggle, the kids we have must contribute and step up.”
Bethel also lost to Xenia Christian 48-32. Emily Crase led with 16. Also last week, the Bees lost to Miami East 44-33 in league play. Finally on Saturday, the Bees defeated Riverside 36-28.
Bethel returns to action tomorrow night at National Trail, and hosts Tri County North Saturday.
