Espinoza and Anderson lead Braves to win over MACCRAY

The Benson boys basketball team had a 2-1 week last week, beating Ortonville last Tuesday night for its first win, 77-36, and also splitting its two games at the CASE-IH Holiday Tourney, Friday and Saturday.
The Braves fell to CGB in the first game at the holiday tourney, 84-71 in overtime, but came back to edge MACCRAY in the third-place game, 75-65.
Hancock topped MACCRAY and CGB to earn the four-team title.  Five Benson players scored in double figures against CGB and another four hit double figures versus MACCRAY.
The Braves are set to host Lac qui Parle, Thursday (tomorrow) before getting ready for the RTR Holiday Tourney, Dec. 28-29.
Benson 77, Ortonville 36
Juan Espinoza and Jalen Anderson combined for 54 points to lead the Benson boys basketball team to a 77-36 victory over Ortonville last Tuesday night in Benson.
Espinoza had 24 points in the first half and ended the game with 33 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals.  He was 10-of-17 from the field, including 8-of-13 from three-point range.
And, while he was busy dominating the perimeter, Anderson had his way inside, ending the game with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.  He finished the game 10-of-10 from the field and was 1-of-2 from the line.
“The guys did a great job and came ready to play right from the opening tip,” said new Benson head coach Mike Felt, who secured his first win while leading the Braves.
Benson led 53-22 at halftime and then outscored the Trojans 24-14 in the second half.  The last nine minutes of the game went with running time due to the “mercy rule”, which has the clock continuously running once a team is ahead by 35 points.
Dylan Ascheman added nine points, four rebounds, and five assists for the Braves, while Blake Brehmer had a pair of three-pointers for six points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals, and Chaden Carroll had four points and three boards.
No Ortonville player scored in double figures.  The Trojans shot 37 percent from the field, including 5-of-17 from long range, while the Braves shot 52 percent, including 11-of-31 on three-pointers.
 
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