Franklin-Monroe Girls 2021-22 Basketball Preview

PITSBURG – The Franklin Monroe girls varsity basketball team is looking to turn around an 8-12 record last year and a 6-5 finish in the conference.

The Jets will look to make some noise in the new Western Ohio Athletic Conference behind 2^nd year varsity coach Zane Shellabarger and assisted by Abby Hunt. 

The Jets graduated Chloe McGlinch their leading scoring last year along with Stella Shellabarger who generally was the hardest working player on the floor.

Franklin Monroe has two seniors on the team Skylar Bauman and Emma Hein.

FM will lean on senior guard Skylar Bauman for offense as she looks to finish her career strong.

Hein after a two-year absence will play a forward spot and the Jets hope to get her back in form quickly.

Junior guard Jaliyah Nichols had a few breakout games last season and gives Franklin Monroe good quickness and someone who can run the floor well in transition.

Also on the team are three sophomores Olivia Sease, Lillie Shellabarger and Grace Dowler.

Olivia Sease was a freshman guard last year was thrown to the wolves handling the point and now with a year under her belt will be looked to guide the Jets offense using her athleticism and ability to see the floor well.

Another sophomore Lillie Shellabarger will play forward and gives FM toughness by playing hard and working the glass.

Rounding out the roster will be 3 freshman Mara Young, Pressley Cox and Kyra Barnes.

Coach Shellabarger doesn’t have a lot of size or depth but it’s something his team had to adapt to last season and is something they will continue to battle this year as well.

“We will almost always be the smaller team on the floor but feel that we should be the faster team and because of that we will try to run and speed the game up as much as we can. We don’t have a ton of experience … but we have lots of heart, so our goal is to be competitive and give our best and improve every game,” Shellabarger stated.

Zane see Tri-Village and Arcanum as the top two teams to beat in the conference.

“Tri Village has the best players and a great coach, what more needs to be said?  Abby Moore at Arcanum has enoughtalent to give Tri Village fits on most nights,” Shellabarger said.

The Jets are currently 1-1 on the year as they opened the season with a narrow loss to Southeastern 51-46 but rebound to defeat Twin Valley South 78-57.  In those two games senior guard Skylar Bauman scored 52 points to lead the Jets.