By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
2021-22 has been a season of runs for the Bennington boys basketball team, who opened their campaign at 5-2, went on a five-game skid, then bounced back to win three of their last four.
The Bulldogs enter the final two weeks of their regular season at 8-8, with a few more tough tasks ahead before the sub-state tournament.
“I have loved watching our guys compete this year,” Bulldog head coach Curtis Pickering said. “We have played some tough teams in some tough places but I feel we have taken another step forward this year.”
Much of Bennington’s success this season has rested on the shoulders of sophomore superstar Eli Lawson, who has averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game.
“Eli has been a beast for us,” Pickering said. “Even though we knew what he could do, he has taken it to a higher level than maybe some expected this year.”
While Lawson has terrorized opponents on the inside all year, his supporting cast has improved greatly throughout the season, settling into their roles as the team puts the pieces together.
“Cayden Bauer has been a great leader for us,” he said. “Ben Stanley is shooting better than he ever has, Talan Pickering is handling the ball with great security, Kian Wilson has great vision of the floor, and Dalton McDowell has found a way to use his skill set to fit in and help the team.”
While the team has started to settle in on both sides of the ball, youth remains one of the biggest question marks for a Bulldog team that has just two seniors on the roster.
“Offensive execution, defensive pressure, and ball security are things that I would like for our guys to improve on down the stretch,” Pickering said. “We are really young through our lineup which makes it a challenge to keep them confident and positive when negativity happens.”
Bennington will have two very winnable games and two challenging games to close out their season, taking on 2-14 Ell-Saline, 11-4 Berean Academy, 10-5 Solomon, and 1-14 Hutch Trinity before the sub-state tournament.
These contests provide the Bulldogs with an opportunity to sharpen their skills and gain some momentum before the postseason.
“I think if we are able to fire on all cylinders on both sides of the floor then we can compete with anybody,” he said. “Our goal is to get through a tough sub-state and get to state.”
Bennington will be back in action on Tuesday night when they take on the 2-14 Ell-Saline Cardinals for the third time this year.
For more on both Bulldog basketball teams in 2022 stay tuned to the Salina Post.