One of the nicest things a coach can say about one of his athletes is that the person is one of the best to ever put on a uniform in that sport at that school.
When Brownstown Central girls basketball coach Brandon Allman announced Katherine Benter as the Braves’ most valuable player for the recently concluded season, he said she was one of the best to ever play that sport at the Mid-Southern Conference school.
Benter’s highlights for her season and career include:
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School record for points in a season with 548 for an average of 21.1 points per game
School record for free throws attempted (24) and made (18) in a game
Ranks second in school history in free throws made with 322
Ranks second on the school’s career scoring list with 1,311 points
Ranks second on the school’s all-time 3-point baskets made list with 139
Hoosier Basketball Magazine top 60 workout
Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association academic all-state
ICGSA second team all-state
Senior all-state honorable mention
Indiana Basketball Coaches Association player of the week
All-Mid-Southern Conference first team
Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association all-district and regional all-star
Topped team in rebounds (198)
Topped team in free throw percentage (122 for 164) 74%
Allman said Benter was a unanimous MVP.
He said although she recorded a ton of accomplishments, she was always about the team.
“She was always working to improve her game. Her teammates learned so much from her. She always brought something extra to the game,” he said.
Avery Koch, Emma Klinge, Addie Shelton, Maddy Hackman and Ava McKinney were other players who received special honors.
Koch, who along with Benter was a senior on the team, received the coaches’ award.
Allman said Koch overcame three knee surgeries and never gave up. She suffered a concussion in the final regular-season game against North Harrison and missed most of the sectional.
“She led every break from the huddle,” Allman said. “She always found ways to help the team. She was a positive role model.”
Klinge, a junior, received the assists award (70 for 2.7 per game) and was named the outstanding defensive player.
“She had a high basketball IQ for being in the right spot at the right time. Her defense was always top-notch,” Allman said. “She made opponents take tough shots.”
Shelton, a junior, received the mental attitude award and was named the Rising Lady Brave. Allman said the latter recognition goes to a player who pushes her teammates in practice, hardly ever misses practice and always cheers on teammates.
He said Shelton received the mental attitude award for being a good role model, showing sportsmanship and integrity and leading by example.
Hackman, a sophomore, received the shooting award for making 96 of 225 shots from the floor for 43%. She already is No. 1 on the career 3-point list with 154 with two more years to add to that total. She helped the team set a school record for 3-pointers in a season with 207.
Hackman also was named to the all-MSC second team.
Andrea Bair, Hannah Stahl, Hackman and Kalee Borden received their letter jackets.
McKinney was named the most improved junior varsity player.
Coaches Kallie Roller and Maria Anderson honored the 6-12 JV team. Roller said the team showed a lot of improvement as it averaged 25 points per game the first half of the season, then averaged 39 points the last half of the season.
The varsity Braves went 19-7 overall, including 7-2 in the MSC, and won a tournament at Trinity Lutheran.
The HBCA presented the Braves a Team Honors Court award for having a 3.97 grade-point average out of a 4.0.
When the Braves won the sectional at Edgewood, it was just the second time in school history Brownstown won back-to-back sectionals. This was the seventh sectional title in school history.
“Going to the regional was special,” Allman said.
He mentioned the Braves being down by 12 at the half, then rallying to come within one point of a tie before losing to Bishop Chatard 52-47 in the Greencastle Regional.
“We were playing our best basketball at the end of the year, and we beat some good teams along the way: Jennings County, New Albany and North Harrison,” Allman said. “We had girls step up. They played hard night in, night out.”
Allman said the team overcame a lot of adversity. That included the varsity and JV teams requiring separate practices due to COVID-19. Also, Allman missed some games in December being quarantined.
He said the players didn’t get to have shootouts in the spring or play their normal summer schedule because of the coronavirus, but they were able to have some practices in the fall that helped them prepare for the season.
He encouraged returning players to work hard during the offseason.