HOUSTON — Bethel girls basketball coach Caleb South knows the measure of a team is how they respond to adversity.

And after the first loss of the season Milton-Union Saturday, the Lady Bees wasted no time getting back off the mat with a 50-42 win over Houston Monday in non-conference action.

Bethel is now 7-1 on the season.

“Every team is going to face adversity,” South said. “That is something I am always telling the girls. It is not about how many times you get knocked down. It is about how many times you get back up. We could have been down after the loss or we could do what we did and come in here and get a W.”

And South knows anytime you play a Shelby County League team, you are in for a battle.

And it was that to the very end.

“This is not an easy place to get a W,” South said. “They play a really tough schedule. This was a good win for us.”

While Bethel was in front most of the game, Houston stayed right with them.

It was 12-10 after one quarter, 23-22 at halftime and 38-35 after three quarters.

But, Karley Moore and Kerrigan Calhoun combined for 21 second half points — when Moore was scoring she was getting the assist, most of which were to Calhoun on lobs inside.

“I love our high-low game,” South said. “It was working really well tonight.”

Houston used three 3-pointers in the second half — two by Katie Maier and one by Megan Maier — to stay within striking distance.

And Bethel helped them by leaving points out there from the foul line, hitting just 10 of 25 for the game.

But, the Bees would get stops from their 1-2-2 defense at the other end.

“It wasn’t good (the free throw shooting),” South said. “There are so many things we can get better at. But, just think how good we will be when we do. We are young, I started two freshman and a sophomore tonight. Our defense has been a key for us all year.

“They do a great job and I ask them to do a lot of different things out of it.”

With Bethel leading 48-42 in the final minute, the Bees’ Grace Bennett got behind the Houston defense for the final two points to put the game away.

“I know Karley Moore and Kerrigan Calhoun are the girls that show up in the scorebook, but it is a team effort,” South said. “The girls are doing a great job.”

Moore had 17 points and six assists, while Calhoun had 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Maddie Montgomery had nine rebounds and four steals, Rhyan Reittinger had three assists and Leah Heffner blocked two shots.

Katie Maier scored 13 points for Houston.

Megan Maier and Emma Kemp added 10 points each.

Bethel returns home Thursday for a big game with Miami East.

East is 3-0 in the TRC, while Bethel and Covington both have one loss in the conference.

“That’s going to be a really tough game,” South said. “Miami East is a very good team.”

And the Bees can draw on the way they answered the bell Monday night.