The girls basketball team is a staple for Benton Central sports. They are always great, no matter the circumstances. Last year, the Lady Bison were outstanding. They finished that season with a 25-4 record and capped it off with a Sectional Championship. After losing six seniors, it was going to be difficult to continue their success this season. But the girls did not disappoint.
Game By Game
They began the 2024-2025 season with games against Seeger and Clinton Praire, defeating both of them with ease. The Lady Bison were 2-0 after a strong start to the season. But then they ran into a tough McCutcheon team. Their talented sophomore Lillie Graves scored 18 and handed Benton Central their first loss. The girls quickly bounced back with a win against West Lafayette, which is always a solid team. However, their next four games didn’t go as well. They beat West Lafayette again but lost the other three. With losses to Lafayette Jeff, Park Heritage, and Rensselaer, the Lady Bison found themselves sitting at 4-4. Then they hit a hot streak winning three games in a row, beating Northwestern, Twin Lakes, and Western. The next day their streak was cut off by Kankakee Valley who beat Benton Central by 12.
When one streak ends, another one begins. The Lady Bison got hot again winning six games in a row, their longest streak of the season. But McCutcheon was up next. The girls fought hard and held the Mavericks to just 44 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory. Over their next four games, they only lost one. They defeated North Judson-San Pierre, Logansport, and East Chicago Central. Their only loss during that stretch was against Central Catholic, an annual opponent.
Special Senior Night
Then the Lady Bison hosted Harrison for their senior night. Seniors Reece Kerkhoff, Chauncey Keller, and Avery Hardebeck were all acknowledged before the game. They were escorted by their parents, as they walked to halfcourt before the game.
The Lady Bison defeated the Harrison Raiders 63-50 in an impressive win against a 4A school. Typically when Benton Central teams see Harrison on their schedule, they consider it an automatic loss because of how talented they are. But the Lady Bison beat them convincingly. Sophomore McKenna Yadon led the team in scoring with 16 points, followed by Senior Avery Hardebeck with 15 points and Sophomore Madison Minniear who scored 12.
Sectional Matchup
After an outstanding regular season, it was time for the Sectional. The girls received a bye for the first round, advancing them to the next. Their matchup was Rensselaer who was one of the best teams in Indiana. Rensselaer had a record of 24-2 and was 4-0 in conference games. When the two teams faced off in the Sectional, it was a great, hard-fought game. The Lady Bison came up short in a 47-33 loss. It was truly an emotional game and everyone in the stadium felt that. The seniors walked off the court for one last time as they received a standing ovation. Even though their season didn’t end in a Sectional Championship, it was still a successful one.
Dominating the Competition
In the girls’ 17 wins this season, most of them were by a large margin of victory. 14 of their 17 wins were by double digits, and 10 of them were by 20 or more points. They didn’t just beat their competition, they dominated them. Their final record was 17-8 with a conference record of 3-2. The Lady Bison were a good team this season, and their record proves that.
The Future of Lady Bison Basketball
The girls team consisted of only three seniors, two of whom were starters. There are also several young and talented players including McKenna Yadon, Madison Minniear, Ava Hands, Khloe Goodman, and Azlee Reynolds who will all be returning next season. The future of Lady Bison basketball is bright at Benton Central.
