By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
When the 2A state tournament tips off in Manhattan on Wednesday, the Bennington Boys’ basketball team will have an opportunity to make history as the third Bulldog team to ever make the dance will look to become the first to ever advance past the first round.
While a Bulldog run like this would be unprecedented, this year’s squad is more than up to the task, carrying a 19-4 record, and #6 ranking into this year’s bracket as the 4-seed.
“It’s pretty exciting and it comes for a group that’s been dreaming about this and really didn’t have anyone in front of them do this,” Bennington head coach Curtis Pickering said. “To have these boys grow into young men and accomplish all this has been really cool to see.”
Coming on the heels of a successful 13-9 campaign, the Bulldogs reloaded, added a key piece in Mister Smith from Minneapolis, and prepared to run it back in 2022-23.
In no time at all, the Bulldogs were ranked in the top ten of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, and were well on their way to achieving some of the things they set out to do.
“We knew what kind of foundation we had laid and we knew that this could be the year for us,” Pickering said. “We wanted to win league, we wanted home-court at sub-state and we wanted to get to state.”
Now, with all of those goals checked off, Bennington is fast approaching uncharted waters, but is a truly scary team not only in their ability to put points on the board, but in their ability to keep opponents off of it.
“The grit and the determination to get better on the defensive end and commit to the little things that we’ve tried to iron out have been the best things that I’ve seen from these guys this season,” he said. “We start three juniors and two sophomores so we need to stay patient with them while keeping expectations high.”
The Bulldogs have relied on a big three this year of Eli Lawson, Mister Smith and Talan Pickering, who have combined to post 44 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists on any given night.
“Eli has been our horse,” Pickering said. “We go as he goes, and he’s battled a ton on the inside this year. Mister has been a huge piece to our puzzle on and off the floor, he’s a special soul and he played with us during the summer, so he was already a part of our family. Talan has been huge for us all season and Kian really has come on in this home stretch as well.”
While many stand by the claim that veteran experience rules the day in state tournaments, Bennington sees it’s youth as a real advantage, and will put an emphasis on staying relaxed when the tourney tips off on Wednesday.
“I think it’s best to play loose and take in the moment,” he said. “Getting to this tournament is so big for experience, for the kids and for the program, especially with how many of these guys we’ll be returning next year. Our kids are taking things one day at a time and I think their youth is actually an advantage here.”
The Bulldogs will begin their state run on 4:00 on Wednesday when they take on the 5-seed in 17-6 Medicine Lodge at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
For continuing coverage of Bennington all throughout the state tournament, stay tuned to the Salina Post.