Brownstown’s Jack Benter drives to the hoop against Eastern (Pekin) last Friday night. Benter earned player of the week honors for his performances last week.
Jeff Lubker | For The Tribune
Brownstown Central sophomore Jack Benter had himself quite a week last week as the Braves played three games, winning all three, extending their win streak to seven games and improving their record to 19-3.
Thanks to some of the contributions Benter had in all of those wins last week, he was named one of the IBCA/Franciscan Health Players of the Week for week 16.
Benter started out the week better than anyone. Last Tuesday, Feb. 15, Brownstown had an incredible comeback victory over Hoosier Hills Conference winner Floyd Central inside the Highlanders’ gym. Benter scored 37 points in the contest, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from about 30 feet to send Brownstown off with a 60-58 victory. Benter also added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Brownstown trailed by 15 at halftime, but the Braves kept fighting, and Benter hit big shot after big shot down the stretch.
The Braves followed up that emotional win with another road game on Friday at Eastern (Pekin), where Brownstown had the chance to clinch a share of the Mid-Southern Conference title. The Musketeers never went away in the game, and they did everything they could to keep the ball out of Benter’s hands, but the sophomore still managed to score 21 points as Brownstown won 77-73.
Head coach Dave Benter was more impressed with Jack’s ability to make the right plays in the game, as he finished with a near triple-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Brownstown turned around the next day and played a home game against Providence. Benter mustered up 24 points in that game and also blocked five shots on the defensive end while also snatching five rebounds. Brownstown won the game 82-68.
The IBCA names three boys and three girls each week, and other individuals earning the award from last week’s slate of games were Chesterton’s Travis Grayson from District 1, South Bend Washington’s RaShunda Jones from District 1, Zionville’s Logan Imes from District 2, Lafayette Central Catholic’s Karsyn Cherry from District 2, Tecumseh’s Kaybree Oxley from District 3, and Benter won it for the boys in District 3.
This is the second time this season Benter has earned these player of the week honors, the first time coming for his play from Dec. 27-Jan. 1.
Benter, averaging 23.9 points per game this season, and the Braves will close their regular season out on Friday night at Orleans.