Brave boys face tough conference opponents
Harold Habben and Jaden McCarter reach for a rebound in last Thursday’s game against Sauk Centre. Photo by Mike Mallow
The Benson Braves boys basketball team fell to 1-7 in the West Central Conference after losses to Sauk Centre and Melrose last week.
Juan Espinoza and Blake Brehmer both averaged 10 points per game last week. Andrew Nissen (2-of-5) and Landon Skarsten (2-of-5.5) both shot over 35 percent for the Braves.
The Braves, now 4-8 overall, traveled to BOLD Tuesday, Jan. 31 and close out the week with three games in a row. On Thursday, Feb. 2, Benson will play at Lac qui Parle Valley, in Madison, before hosting Montevideo Friday, Feb. 3 and ACGC Saturday, Feb. 4 to close out the week.
Sauk Centre 80
Benson 40
Sauk Centre jumped ahead 34-19 at the break then out-scoring Benson 46-21 to earn a 40-point win Tuesday, Jan. 24, in Benson.
The teams combined for 17 made three-pointers.
Benson’s Landon Skarsten hitting 4-of-8 from deep. Juan Espinoza added three and Blake Brehmer and Tayte Antolick both sank one in the game.
Espinoza led the Braves with 15 points. Skarsten added 12. Brehmer and Antolick had five each while Harold Habben and Jaden McCarter rounded out the scoring with two and one, respectively.
Habben grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds with two blocked shots. Espinoza and McCarter both dished out three assists each while McCarter added three steals.
Melrose 63
Benson 33
Melrose led from start to finish en route to a 63-33 win over Benson Thursday, Jan. 26, in Benson.
The Dutchmen jumped out to a 31-14 halftime lead then extended that lead in the second half, out-scoring Benson again 32-19 for the 30-point win.
The Dutchmen shot 46.2 percent, connecting on 24-of-52 from the floor while holding Benson to just 22.4 percent on 11-of-49.
Benson also lost the rebounding battle, 41-26, but forced 15 Melrose turnovers in the game.
Both teams exchanged eight three-pointers.
Blake Brehmer finished with a team-high 15 points and was the only Benson player in double digits. He added five boards, two assists and a steal.
Tayte Antolick finished with six while Juan Espinoza and Andrew Nissen both added five each. Nissen was 2-of-5 for a team-high 40 percent from the floor.
Harold Habben rounded out the scoring with two points.
Lanadreon Godwin grabbed a team-high five boards for Benson, who got boards from 10 different players of its roster against Melrose.
Landon Skarsten also added two assists for the Braves.
