Bethel 6th Grade Girls Travel Ends FCBL League, Tied for First Place

On Dec. 12, 2010 the Bethel Girls  6th Grade Travel team was sporting an undefeated record when Westport PAL came to Bethel and upended the Lady Wildcats by two points.

The disappointment of that loss, seems to have instilled a steely resolve in this team. While the team has lost three additional times since that day, their collective commitment to success entering into Sunday’s rematch with Westport showed as they sported a 22-4 record overall with a 9-2 record in league play.  

With a chance to share the regular seasons best record in the Fairfield County Basketball League with Westport and Fairfield on the line, Bethel produced its best team effort of the year with a convincing 12 point victory, the final score reading 34-22.

With Jessi Demment out of action with an ankle sprain, 8 of  the 9 players available scored for Bethel, while they’re pressure team defense kept Westport’s offense out of rhythm most of the game. 

Bethel was led in scoring by Amanda Towey who collected 12 points, while Sofia Orrico and Meggy Dolan each had six. With Orrico directing offense with crisp passing, Dolan and Towey were able to knock down jump shots that set a positive tone for the day early in the game. 

After taking a 2 point lead into the locker room at halftime, Bethel came out with a 8-0 run off pressure defense provided by Annie Bedore, Maddie Byrnes, Ryann Belcher, Ashley Champman and Samantha Manfreda. When the horn sounded to end the third quarter Bethel had expanded its advantage to seven. Manfreda, Chapman and Bedore finished with four rebounds each many coming in the third quarter. 

Westport closed the gap to four mid-way through the final quarter but a clutch free throw by Hannah Kelm iced the game and sent Bethel home with a share of first place in league play for the year.

Bethel will finish out its regular season over the next 10 days with 3 non-league games before entering into the FCBL Playoffs with hopes of defending its 2010 title.