By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Both COVID-19 and winter weather tried to stop the Benton Cardinals' momentum in the last three weeks.
After a two-week quarantine in late January, Benton roared back with wins over ranked Cameron and Chillicothe teams.
Then, after snow canceled a game against Grain Valley on Saturday and practice Monday, the Cardinals (9-5) once again responded - this time beating Lafayette 50-27 at Lafayette High School Tuesday night.
"We've had some breaks in here that we were not ready for," Benton girls' coach Chris Michaels said. "We had some quarantine issues and then all of a sudden, we deal with three days of snow and no school and no practice. So, we knew coming in, it'd be a little sketchy offensively."
Because of that, Michaels, challenged his team to hold the Irish (8-9) under a certain amount of points and be extra aggressive on defense.
Challenge accepted.
Benton held Lafayette to no field goals through the first 12 minutes and just eight points through the first half.
"We came out and did exactly what we wanted to do defensively," Michaels said. "Offensively, we struggled a little bit at times. A little stagnant and just coming off of that lull of being home all day (Tuesday) and now I gotta play a basketball game. Just a little different than their normal routine."
Indeed, Benton made only four field goals through the first half and missed some open looks, leading only 16-8 at the break.
The Cardinals, once again, responded, by opening the third quarter on a 10-0 run.
Benton led 35-15 after three, outscoring the Irish 19-7 in that frame. The run was fueled in part by junior guard Jaida Cox, who had three made 3-pointers entering the fourth quarter.
"I was just trying to help the team a little bit," Cox said. "We came out a little slow, and I was just trying to pick up the intensity for the rest of my teammates."
Sophomore Kelsey Johnson contributed eight points. Kianna Herrera had seven.
While Tuesday may not have been the prettiest of performances, Benton is a team to pay attention to, winning four of their last five and racking up victories against the likes of Cameron (16-5), Chillicothe (14-4), Smithville (11-2) and St. Joseph Central (11-6) along the way.
"We've done a lot of good things and we've done them consistently," Michaels said. "Now, it kind of becomes, 'Okay. What are we doing that's not working? What are we doing that's no exactly right?' And starting to perfect some of things we do consistently well."
Benton 50 - 9, 7, 19, 15
Lafayette 27 - 2, 6, 7, 12
Benton scorers - Jaida Cox - 19, Kelsey Johnson - 8, Kianna Herrera - 7, Olivia Walters - 6, Peyton Anderson - 4, Avery Morlock - 4, Adleigh Wilkerson - 2.
Lafayette scorers - Darcy Bowlin - 9, Talicia Byrd - 7, Jazlyn King - 5, Harlea Tarr - 3, Modesta Wilhemsen - 2
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