Everything seemed to be going as planned. Bethlehem had seized command against a difficult Marshall County team and looked to be just 2:05 away from their first EVER trip to the KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen Final Four. For the Banshees, their first two possible opponents we probably the toughest to hurdle because they were against two teams that matched up well against them not just quickness at guard play, but also size and post play.
Marshall had stayed close to Bethlehem the entire game and although they trailed through much of the first half had actually reclaimed the lead going into the fourth and final quarter, 37-35. Still, Bethlehem wasn’t finished and thanks to the great performance of seniors Amelia Hodges and Ella Thompson not only got their team back in it, but seized control and carried a 47-44 lead after a putback by Thompson with 2:05 left.
After a timeout, all Bethlehem needed to do was Maintain their defensive pressure which they had done all game long.
Unfortunately, Cayson Conner had other ideas.
First, her jumper at the top of the key cut the deficit to 47-46, then after a missed shot on the other end, Marshall raced down court setting up Conner again for another basket that gave Marshall County the lead for the last time at 48-47. Conner then forced a turnover and although the Lady Marshall’s failed to score, another turnover by the Banshees gave them the ball right back as Conner was fouled and added to the lead with two Free throws.
After that, Marshall County chose to foul Bethlehem to slow down their momentum knowing well that they were well below the limit with 00:34 left and a three point lead. Ella Thompson hit both free throws when she was fouled in the act of shooting. In fact, the Miss Basketball candidate of Kentucky had a stellar game scoring 20-points and pulling down seven rebounds in her final game. With the lead cut to 50-49, Bethlehem went to their pressure defense, but fouled Halle Langht and who made both freebies to make it 54-49 with 00:13 left.
Bethlehem wasn’t finished as Emma Filiatreau’s putback made it 54-51, but free throws by Conner and Laught made it 58-51 and after Hodges three was short, that was the final score.
In the end, it was the senior Conner that really stepped up and bought her team an opportunity to play for a State Title. In the final 2:05 of the game, she scored ten points (three baskets and four free throws) and finished with a game high 24-points on 8-of-13 shooting, 7-of-8 from the free throw line and 2-steals while playing all 32-minutes.
Ironically, Bethlehem did get the job done outrebounding the Lady Marshalls and their one-two inside threat of Langht and Sophie Galloway 38-28, but what really hurt the Banshees chances throughout the game was 18-for 55 shooting and although Marshall County wasn’t much better at 17-43, they outscored them at the free throw line going 18-22 (including 8-8 in the last 00:39 of the game) while Bethlehem was 11-13.
For Bethlehem and head coach Jason Clark, this was not how it ws suppose to end for the most talented Banshee team in history. They played well enough to win both games and created matchup problems for every opponent they faced, but in the end a couple of mistakes allowed them to be outscored 14-4 in the final two minutes. For the seniors Thompson and Amelia Hodges, an Elite Eight finish was two game short of their original goal and surely they will remember this game the rest of their life. This was a team that was battle tested all season long and weathered a pandemic and all the challenges put before them.
While the Banshee fans, who had followed this team all season long gave them one last thank you,I wondered just what both Thompson and Hodges were thinking. Surely they were saddened by how their high school careers had just come to a thunderous end on the Rupp Arena floor, but if they had taken a moment to look around them they might notice just how different this season’s team actually was. Of the starting five only Hodges and Thompson were main starters from the 2019 team and although Kasey Spalding and Bailey Bishop did play some during that first State Tournament team, the Banshees had suddenly become very young. Emma Filiatreau and Xavier Smalley had made major progress during this season and had become a Two-headed monster in the post both offensively and defensively. Spalding and Bishop had continued to improve as well, but he biggest surprise was the super freshman class led by Carlie Thurmond which insured their future of success.
Yes. This Banshee team was a special one and there’s no question that it’s identity the past three seasons was the two seniors, but there’s no question that their prescence during their short time here was actually the beginning of what might be a great run of success for future seasons to come. For the Bethlehem basketball team may have ended yesterday on the Rupp Arena floor, but the future looks bright.
Only time will tell.
