By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Bennington Bulldogs boys basketball team will return to their early-season tournament for an area matchup with the Ell-Saline Cardinals.
Bennington comes into this contest at 2-1 and fresh off a 55-49 win over Minneapolis while Ell-Saline, who defeated Minne earlier this week, comes in at 1-2 after falling to Solomon 70-49.
“I thought we scored the ball very well in the first half and had a couple of guys really shoot the ball well,” Cardinals coach Marty Wendel said. “Defensively we just couldn't get them slowed down enough to keep ourselves in it.”
While Bennington comes in fresh off a win, they have had some struggles from the outside in their first three games, but have been able to pound the ball to the paint with the ever-reliable Eli Lawson.
“It’s been good to see them grow and handle some adversity,” Bulldog coach Curtis Pickering said. “We were shooting pretty good from the outside against Sylvan but in the last few games a few of our guards couldn't hit the ocean but we’ve found ways to stay balanced and to score in the paint.”
Lawson has been the focal point for all opponents scouting the Bulldogs this season and for Ell-Saline it will be no different.
“They take care of the basketball and they find ways to get it into Eli Lawson inside,” Wendel said. “In the past, that’s a guy we’ve struggled to guard but we have some more length and size to match up with him.”
Beyond Lawson, Bennington is still settling into a new offensive system, but the team gets more and more comfortable with each passing game.
“We need to take care of the basketball and we have to find our rhythm in this new offense,” Pickering said. “We were more of a structured offense before but we’re trying to open things up and they’re still getting comfortable doing that.”
Both teams will be playing the final game of the tournament on short rest but the Cardinals can take some respite in the game being held in Brookville.
“As a coach though you understand how important practice time is to run through things that we are going to need to execute in the game,” Wendel said. “Fortunately, we are playing at home so we will have time after school to have a walk through and discuss what we need to do to be successful tonight.”
Tip-off between the Cardinals and Bulldogs is set for 7 pm following the girls game at Ell-Saline High School.