<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610508989819.jpeg" alt="Allan Coy (right) looks on as Kason Mauzey (30) shoots a free throw in the second half of Benton's 79-21 win over Northeast KC Tuesday night at the Cardinal Classic. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Allan Coy (right) looks on as Kason Mauzey (30) shoots a free throw in the second half of Benton's 79-21 win over Northeast KC Tuesday night at the Cardinal Classic. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt was an 8-0 run in the first two minutes. Then a 14-0 one in the first 4:13.&nbsp;Suddenly, Benton (6-3) is ahead 25-5 after the first quarter."In this era of 'we're the only ones in the gym,' you have to create the energy," Cardinals coach Gary Belcher said. "You're thinking 'we have a home game,' but you look around and it's not the normal student body. It's not the normal crowd. So, you have to kind of create that (energy), and getting off to the start we did...everyone contributed tonight which is a positive."The Cardinals coasted on their early surge and rolled in a 79-21 takedown of Northeast (KC) on Tuesday evening at the third annual Cardinal Classic hosted by Benton High School.The win was Benton's fourth straight and the 79 points are a new season-high.Sophomore Denver Domann scored the game's first six points and had 10 in the first half alone. But, junior Allan Coy hit a three-pointer in the second quarter.And then another one, and another and by the end of the night, he buried six shots from long range to end up with a game-high 27 points."(My teammates) hit me when I was open and I just kept shooting," Coy said. "We just kept hitting the open man and hitting the guys that had the best shot."All 11 of Coach Belcher's players saw significant minutes Tuesday, and eight of them got a tally in the score column."We've had a lot of close games this year," Coach Belcher said. "Our three losses were pretty much one-possession games. So, to get that sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth player on the bench a lot of minutes and involved, they work hard in practice, too. To see the starters relish and enjoy watching those guys have success, that's special too."Benton will next play either Hogan Prep or Metro Academy, who tipped off around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. The semifinal will be Thursday night at 7 p.m.Benton has already beat Hogan Prep, 53-44, on Dec. 5 in the Savannah tournament. Metro meanwhile beat Benton in last year's Cardinal Classic, 58-49.Benton 79 - 25, 21, 26, 7 Northeast KC 21 - 5, 7, 2, 7Benton scorers - Allan Coy - 27, Kason Mauzey - 17, Denver Domann - 12, Noah Roseberry - 8, Carson Newlon - 6, Kamren Caine - 4, Adrian Byrd -4, Trey Mull - 1Northeast KC scorers - Nico Bateman - 10, Malcolm Cook - 6, Michael McMillian - 3 Ariath Kon - 2You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton jumps on Northeast KC early, cruises to win in Cardinal Classic Tuesday