Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter makes one of his six 3-pointers during the regional semifinal game against Beech Grove at Greencastle High School. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter shoots a jumper against Northview in the sectional title game at Edgewood High School. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter drives to the hoop against Eastern (Pekin) earlier this season. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter launches a 3-pointer against Bedford North Lawrence earlier this season. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Cenral’s Jack Benter drives to the hoop against Austin earlier this season. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter lines up his shot for the first of the Braves’ 3-pointers during the game played against Trinity Lutheran earlier this season. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Brownstown Central’s Jack Benter throws a pass to Aidan Schroer during the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic championship game Dec. 30, 2021. Benter has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
Tribune file photo
Jack Benter’s name already is in the Brownstown Central record books after a memorable sophomore season.
He set four school records this season alone as he helped lead the Braves to a 22-4 record that featured a sectional championship and a share of the Mid-Southern Conference title.
Due to Benter’s play on the court this season, he has been named The Tribune’s boys basketball Player of the Year.
When asked about which part of his game grew the most this season, Benter quite literally said he grew 3 inches from his freshman year to this one, which helped.
“That always helps with the height,” he said. “I got stronger, and our whole team got better offensively and defensively and we moved the ball.”
Benter averaged 26.9 points per game this season, which is a school record, and he also led his team in rebounds with 159 and assists with 100.
Benter scored 700 points in total this season, which set the record for most points in a season by a Brave.
In a game against Orleans, Benter tied the record for most free throws in a game with 17, and against Austin, he set the record with most made 3-pointers in a game with 11. He ended with 41 points that night.
“It is pretty exciting to hit shots like that, but it wouldn’t be possible without my teammates putting me in position to do that,” Benter said.
He was selected as all-conference by the MSC alongside teammate Carter Waskom, and he also was named to the IBCA Supreme 15 for underclassmen.
Benter was faced with a lot of different defensive schemes to try to slow him down this season, but he was always ready for it.
“Just got to be mentally prepared,” he said. “We always had a good game plan going in, and you‘ve just got to trust your teammates to get you in the right spots.”
When all of his accolades and records were listed off, Benter acknowledged it was special, but he said winning sectional and trying to go farther in the postseason is more important.
The Braves didn’t win sectional when he was a freshman, so it was nice to be able to hoist that trophy up this season and get a taste of regional.
“It was very special to be able to come back and win that,” Benter said. “It was a good experience.”
With two years left in his Brownstown career, Benter believes the Braves gained a lot of confidence this season from playing against and beating some of the best teams in the state across all four classes.
“It shows just how hard we have to work and what we have to do to be able to beat the good teams and get to where we want to go,” he said.
Benter is currently playing AAU ball with Grand Park Premier, and he said a big thing he wants to work on this offseason is finishing around the rim while continuing to get stronger and more athletic.
Brownstown is graduating four seniors that contributed in a big way to the Braves’ success this year, but Brownstown’s JV team had a 17-3 record and showed some promise, so Benter is excited about what their potential could be moving up to varsity next season.
“Our JV was pretty strong this year and had a good season, so I’m hoping those guys can come up and fill the roles that our seniors had,” Benter said.
The remaining boys basketball all-county team
Carter Waskom, Sr., Brownstown Central: 17.8 points per game, MSC all-conference, IBCA Top 60
Marcus Brooks, Sr., Seymour: 10.4 points per game, HHC all-conference
Mitchell Hackman, Sr., Trinity Lutheran: 14.7 points per game
Aidan Schroer, Sr., Brownstown Central: 5.7 points per game
Landon Fritsch, Jr., Seymour: 11.0 points per game, HHC honorable mention
Jacob Conrad, Sr., Trinity Lutheran: 9.2 points per game
Parker Hehman, So., Brownstown Central: 5.5 points per game
Eli Meyer, So., Seymour: 9.0 points per game, HHC honorable mention
Shepard Earl, Jr., Medora: 15.8 points per game
Zach Helt, Sr., Crothersville: 8.6 points per game
Charlie Longmeier, Jr., Seymour: 6.0 points per game
Carson Darlage, Jr., Brownstown Central: 3.8 points per game
Braxton McCory, Jr., Medora: 13.3 points per game
Casey Regruth, Sr., Seymour: 4.9 points per game
Preston West, Jr., Crothersville: 16 points per game