Bethlehem players, from left, Tessa Miles, Ashlyn Miles, Carlie Thurmond and Emma Filitreau all were named to the all-region team and will face McCracken County in the state tourney today. (Twitter Photo)
Emma Filiatreau could go to a lot of colleges and be a productive player on the basketball team. Instead, the Bethlehem senior will head to Oklahoma State on an equestrian scholarship because of her love for horses.
First, though, the 6-foot center who is averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game will play against McCracken County today in the state tournament at Rupp Arena.
Filiatreau, a Miss Basketball finalist, is used to playing in Rupp Arena because of Bethlehem’s success the last three years. She’s a 50 percent shooter from the field and this year has expanded her shooting range to where she’s hitting 38 percent from 3 and is second on the team with 53 3-pointers.
“She has been fantastic,” Bethlehem coach Jason Clark said. “She is the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. In the region final, she put us on her back and just packed us. I don’t know what more she could do. She’s just a super kid..
“She has gradually gotten better and better every year. I am glad she is on our side for sure.”
Filiatreau had 35 points — and made four 3-pointers — and 17 rebounds in the overtime win over Taylor County to put Bethlehem into today’s state tourney game against McCracken County, which has a 20-game win streak and 32-2 record.
Bethlehem has won 11 straight games since a 65-61 loss to Covington Holy Cross in the All “A” Classic championship game.
“They are just a super fun group to coach,” Clark said. “I told our girls (after the All ‘A” loss) to remember this feeling and it gets you prepared for what it takes to win big games down the stretch and we had a tough region final.”
Junior point guard Carlie Thurmond runs the show for Bethlehem. She averages 17.2 points per game and is also a 50 percent shooter from the field. She leads the team in 3-pointers with 57 (40 percent) as well as assists.
“Our whole team starts with her. She has a lot of responsibility. She is something super special,” Clark said.
Sisters Ashlyn (12 points, 7.6 rebounds) and Tessa Miles (12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds). Ashlyn is a junior and Tessa a a sophomore.
“The Miles are athletes. Both are long, rangy type players who can go inside or outside,” Clark said.
“(Kensey) Clayton played strong down the stretch. We are pretty solid one through six.”
Bethlehem also has a team full of multi-sport athletes. Thurmond, Clayton and the Miles sisters also play soccer and run track.
“We encourage it. We are such a small school that you have to share athletes,” Clark said. “I like multi-sport athletes. It works different parts of the body and uses different coordination.
“We have one that rides a horse. The others are all soccer players. They all run track and hold the school record. We might even have a few softball players. They are into everything. I encourage it because it gives them different competition.”
