By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

In a historic year that saw both the Benton boys and girls basketball teams compete for a state title, both are returning to St. Joseph with second place finishes in the Class 4 Show Me Showdown. 

The boys faced a tough test against a Vashon team that coming into the game had won four straight state titles.  The Cardinals though didn’t waiver through the first quarter, shooting 5 of 12 to the Vashon’s 3 of 9 and led at the end of one 14-10. 

But the Wolverines showed in the second quarter why they’ve won so many titles in a row, and shot a blazing 11 of 15 in the quarter, outscoring Benton 30-10 and pushing their lead to 16 at the halftime break.  Vashon’s Jimmy McKinney III had 11 points at the break, while Myles Bachali led the Cardinals with 4. 

Benton’s struggles continued into the third quarter while Vashon continued shooting hot, pushing their lead even farther with a 27 point third quarter.  The Cardinals did find better luck in the fourth quarter, shooting 57% from the field, but it was too little too late, falling to Vashon 81-45. 

Bachali led the Cardinals with 14 points while Lincoln Goodwin added 12 points.  The second place finish for the boys was their best finish since 1941, when they won a championship.  The Cardinals finished the season 29-4. 

For the Benton girls, it was a battle against a Doniphan team that was seeking their first ever state championship, while the Cardinals were looking for their first since 2016. 

Much like the boys, the Lady Cardinals led after the first quarter 15-10, but in the second quarter the Donettes shot 71% to Benton’s 36%, but even with that a last second shot from Eliana Arambula tied up the game at 27 a piece heading into the halftime break.  Andrea Simmons led the Cardinals at halftime with 7 points.  Carsyn Hagood also had 7 points for Doniphan. 

The Donettes pulled away even more in the third quarter, the Cardinals continuing to shoot cold.  While Benton did force seven turnovers in the quarter, Doniphan held a 10 point lead heading into the final quarter 48-38. 

The Lady Cardinals did start to push a comeback, battling and continuing to cut into the Donettes lead, eventually getting within two points with 13 seconds remaining.  But, a layup from Doniphan, followed by a missed three point shot with five seconds left, brought the game to an end and Benton fell 63-59. 

Simmons finished with a team leading 18 points, while Arambula added 12 points.  Hagood scored 31 points for Doniphan.  The second place finish was the third in the last four years for Benton.

The Lady Cardinals finished the season 24-7.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.