By MATT PIKE
The Benton Cardinal boys basketball team regrouped and bounced back from a heartbreaking semifinal loss, claiming a third place finish in a thrilling overtime win over Vashon 84-81.
Not only was it redemption for the Cardinals to earn the win after falling just short of tying up the game on Friday morning against Clayton and falling to the third place game, but it was also redemption from last season, when Vashon defeated Benton in the state championship game 81-45 in the program's first trip to the tournament since 1992.
After the Wolverines took a lead to start the game, the Cardinals tied things up with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Zaidyn Woodward gave Benton the lead on a fastbreak, but Vashon tied the game again just over a minute later, before the Cardinals started to pull away, pulling out to as much as a nine point lead with 29 seconds remaining in the frame. Vashon cut that lead to six at the end of the quarter, and Benton led 20-14 at the end of one.
The Cardinals continued to control the game through the second quarter, extending the lead even 13 points three different times. With 2:02 remaining a three points hot from Xavier Warner made the lead 39-26. Free throws cut the lead to 11, but Jason Simmons jumper pushed the lead back to 13 again with 1:28 in the half. Then, Vashon cut the lead down to 10, but another three from Warner with 1:02 left pushed the lead to 44-31. The Wolverines made two more free throws, following a foul on Woodward, and Benton held a 44-33 lead at the halftime break.
Vashon started the third quarter cutting the Cardinal lead down to five points. Just over five minutes left in the quarter was plenty of time however for Benton to push the lead back to 12, a free throw from Simmons putting the Cardinals up 51-39 with 3:58 in the quarter. The Wolverines continued to cut into the lead though, battling with Benton who led by just five at the end of the third 60-55.
The Cardinals held the lead through most of the final quarter of regulation, despite Vashon battling hard, keeping at least a three point lead until 2:45 left in the fourth quarter, when the Wolverines converted an and one to tie the game. Benton took the lead back on a dunk from Lincoln Goodwin, but again Vashon tied it up, and then with 1:24 left pushed their own lead to three points on free throws. The Cardinals eventually tied up the game on free throws of their own from Goodwin with 15 seconds left in regulation, tied up at 70.
After a Benton timeout while tied, the Wolverines converted two free throws with 13 seconds left, then with two seconds remaining in regulation Xavier Warner wasn't ready to let the game end, coming up with an offensive rebound and tipping the ball back in to tie up the game, sending it to overtime tied at 72. Head coach Jared Boone says that's just southside mentality.
"No quit, no give up, no waiver, all out toughness until the very end," Boone tells reporters after the game. "X he made a heady play, he put himself in rebounding position and he went up strong, didn't rush it and he was able to make it and sent it to overtime, it was big play by him."
"I just saw the ball go up with a second left and got the ball and went up with it," Warner says.
"Got that dog in him" Goodwin adds"
Things were back and forth in the overtime period, with the lead changing hands five times and the game tying up five times as well. The Cardinals started out with the lead on free throws from Mach Mayom, before Vashon took a two point lead, two different times. Benton took the lead back again thanks to Mayom on a layup with 57 seconds left in the period, but then after the Wolverines took the lead on free throws, Goodwin would be sent to the line for free throws on a shooting foul, first tying the game and then giving Benton the lead with 21 seconds left, and after a missed layup from Vashon Goodwin nailed two more free throws to put the game away 84-81.
Goodwin led the team with 40 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Xavier Warner added 10 points while Jason Simmons chipped in nine points. Jamarion Warner also scored nine points, while Mayom scored six points.
In his final career game, while scoring 40 points, even with the personal accomplishments Goodwin more focused on the team and it's achievements.
"I'm just out there with my brothers and doing what we've practiced all year and just having fun with it, and there's no better way to go out than getting a W with them," Goodwin says.
Benton graduates five seniors from this squad with Goodwin, Mayom, Koby Groce, Deontre Howard, and Kruz Bigham. Boone says Benton is not where they are at without those guys.
"They've come in and definitely made their mark on this program, whether it's pushing us to get to this point on various levels, they've went through a lot of ups and downs but they come in every single day and they bust their butt, work, push each other, challenge each other, argue with each other, I mean these guys are brothers, so for them to go out with a win in their last game it means a lot," Boone explains. "These guys are definitely going to be special to me for a long time and they won't realize now the mark that they've left, but when they get together years from now and talk about their four years in high school, it's memories like this that they'll cherish forever."
The future remains bright for the Cardinals though, minus those five seniors, with eight returners next season along with a class of freshman and sophomores that could step in, along with new players with the shift in high school model. Players with significant minutes this season, such as Jason Simmons, Xavier and Jamarion Warner, along with Carter Esely off the bench return next season.
Benton finishes the season 30-2.
Postgame Press Conference (Audio Courtesy of Clifton Grooms)
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.