 03/04/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE – The Benton Rangers overcame an inauspicious
beginning of their super-sectional contest on Monday night against
Teutopolis.
With
2:46 left in the first quarter, 6-foot-8 junior forward Docker
Tedeschi picked up his third personal foul.
With
their top scorer, rebounder and defensive shot blocker on the
bench for the remainder of the first half things didn't look
good for the Rangers.
But
Coach Ron Winemiller's club proved once again that they're not
a “One-Man Show.”
The
Rangers outscored the Wooden Shoes 22-7 the remainder of the
half and they held off a late second half rally by Teutopolis
to claim their first super-sectional championship since 1992
with a 43-36 triumph in front of a large crowd at SIU's Bantera
Center.
The
win put Benton into the Final Four where they will face 30-2
Byron in the second 2A semifinal game on Thursday at the State
Farm Center in Champaign.
Ironically
the last time the Rangers were in the Final Four the game was
played in the then name Assembly Hall 32-years ago.
“This
was a great team win for us. The guys off the bench were good
tonight. They have confidence in themselves,” said Coach
Winemiller. “We had guys make some shots and make some
plays. I couldn't be happier for them.”
With
Tedeschi sitting on the bench, his teammates picked up the slack
as they led 27-12 at halftime.
Six-foot-one
senior guard Isaac Billington led the Rangers with 13-points
in the low scoring contest.
In
fact he was the only player on either team to reached double-figures
in scoring.
He
and seniors Luke Melvin and Evan Munoz along with junior guard
Grant Owens each hit 3-pointers in the victory.
Melvin
hit his long range shot to start the second quarter in which
the Rangers outscored the Wooden Shoes 18-5.
It
was also the beginning of a 9-2 run.
In
the Tedeschi absence, key reserve 6-2 junior Kyle Thomas stepped
in and made an impact.
Thomas
picked up a pair of nice assists on baskets by Billington and
Owens and Melvin closed the run on an assist by Munoz as Teutopolis
needed a timeout at 18-9 Rangers at the 3:58 mark.
The
Rangers added to the onslaught with three more 3-point bombs.
Owens,
Munoz and Billington each hit from the arc to close out the
half.
Owens
canned his shot from the left corner, Munoz from the right wing
and Billington from the top of the circle.
The
Billington trifecta closed the half and the 9-1 run putting
Benton up by 15 at the break.
For
the Wooden Shoes and head coach Chet Reeder the season ended
abruptly at 24-11.
After
winning the super-sectional last March in overtime over Pinckneyville,
the Wooden Shoes fell short of the state finals.
The
top scorer for T-Town was 6-foot-5 senior Joseph Niebrugge,
who ended up with seven-points.
Five-foot-ten
senior Mitch Koester finished with six-points while two other
Shoes; junior Alex Kremer and senior Tyler Pruemer scored four-points
apiece.
Teutopolis
did rally in the second half.
(CONTINUED)
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An
11-3 run to begin the third quarter got the Wooden Shoes back
into contention as the Coach Reeder had his club employ full-court
zone pressure.