After first-half tie, YME pulls away in second half

The Benson boys basketball team fell for the first time last Tuesday night with an 85-75 loss at Yellow Medicine East. The Braves had started the season off with a pair of wins over Hancock (73-58) and KMS (67-27) and are now 2-1 heading into the Thanksgiving break.
The team kicked off the season with a pair of non-conference wins last week. The Braves, coming off a 12-15 season from a year ago, beat Hancock to open up the season, Thursday night, 73-58, and then routed KMS one night later, 67-27.
Benson went 8-8 in the WCC South last year to place third, losing a key game to YME late in the season to miss out on a chance for the conference title.
Next up for Benson is a game at Ortonville, Tuesday, Dec. 2, followed by a game at BOLD, Friday, Dec. 5, and a game at Melrose, Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Members of this year’s Benson varsity boys basketball team are senior Aaron Ahrndt, Aaron Szczur and Logan Flegel; juniors Andrew Lindahl, Adam Lindahl, Josh Manzke, Max McDonald, and Dylan McNeill; and sophomores Layton Connelly, Zack Sonnabend, and Max Peterson.
Later in the season, Benson has eight-straight home games from Jan. 17 through Feb. 5
YME 85, Benson 75
The Braves and Sting were tied at 35-35 at halftime before YME went on a scoring spree and added 50 more points in the second half to win 85-75.
Layton Connelly led a quartet of Benson players scoring in double figures with 21 points, while Aaron Ahrndt added 17 points, Adam Lindahl had 13, and Andrew Lindahl had 10 points and five rebounds.
Photo: Andrew Lindahl (20) goes in for a layup during a win vs. KMS, Nov. 21.