The Benton Central boys basketball team finished their season with a tough loss to Seeger in the second round of Sectionals. The Bison fell 70-58, crushing their hopes of a Sectional Championship. But just because they didn’t come away with a trophy doesn’t mean their season wasn’t great.
Entering the season, expectations were low for the boys team. They lost eight seniors, and a few of them were starters last season. On top of that, their assistant head coach was let go. They entered the 2024-2025 season with many young players and a new Varsity assistant coach (Troy Watt). This led fans to believe they would take a step back, but the Bison didn’t deprove in the slightest.
Game By Game
Coached by Ben Lambeck, the boys basketball team finished their season with a 10-14 overall record and a 3-3 conference record. Their schedule was difficult as they faced many talented teams such as Harrison (twice), Jeff, Washinton, Lebanon, Tipton, and Central Catholic. Coach chose to give the boys a hard schedule to prepare them for Sectionals and they were still able to win 10 games.
Wins
- 74-46 vs. Frontier
- 43-28 vs. Crawfordsville
- 62-49 vs. Rensselaer
- 54-51 at Covington
- 57-44 at Central Catholic
- 66-58 at Seeger
- 52-36 vs. Fountain Central
- 61-53 vs. North Montgomery
- 69-51 vs. Tri County
- 67-63 vs. Logansport
Losses
- 74-46 at Harrison
- 54-50 vs. Central Catholic
- 67-58 at Delphi
- 80-72 at West Lafayette
- 71-32 at Jeff
- 66-39 at Washington
- 56-34 at Lebanon
- 46-33 vs. Twin Lakes
- 66-33 at Harrison
- 52-36 at Rensselaer
- 63-60 vs. North Vermillion
- 72-41 vs. McCutcheon
- 52-40 at Tipton
- 70-58 vs. Seeger (Sectional)
Sectionals
In the first round of Sectionals, the boys drew a bye. They were overwhelmed with joy at assistant coach Todd Foster’s barn when they heard the news. Then, in the second round, they matched up with Seeger.
The Bison played hard, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 70-58. Players and coaches were emotional as the clock hit zero, realizing their season was officially over. This would be the seniors’ last high school basketball game ever, and the thought of ending on a loss didn’t feel right. However, their season isn’t defined by one loss. They overcame many obstacles this season and were still successful.
Hunter Sisson’s Historic Season
The Bison were led by Senior Hunter Sisson who averaged over 20 points per game. Hunter became the 10th Benton Central basketball player to score 1,000 points in his career and is now third on the all-time scoring list. He’s a phenonmenal player and his talent is undeniable. He will go down in the record books and be remembered forever.
The Seniors
There were just five seniors on this year’s team, but they were a talented group. Hunter Sisson and Colby Dixon were the primary scorers, providing a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball. They are both excellent shooters and can get hot at any moment. Hunter’s dominant presence in the paint and Colby’s aggressive drives helped them succeed as well.
Austin Kuckartz was the ultimate team player. A truly unselfish teammate who was constantly looking to get others involved. However, don’t let his passive nature fool you, because his three-point shooting ability is impressive. Austin knocked down several triples this season to help the Bison on offense.
Kolton Watt was the defensive specialist for the Bison. He was a tenacious on-ball defender and never shied away from a challenge. When the coach needed someone to guard the other team’s best player, Kolton was always the man for the job.
Ian Metzinger was one of the toughest players I’ve watched. He is a very strong individual and wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line. I remember Coach Lambeck putting Ian into a game because he wanted someone who wasn’t afraid and would be physical. That’s exactly the type of player Ian is.
Not Just A Team, But a Family
What the boys basketball team did on the court is impressive, but they were more than an ordinary team. They were a family. After every practice and every game, the players would gather in a circle and shout “Family on me, family on three. 1. 2. 3. Family!” This mantra is what Bison basketball is all about.
I had the pleasure of playing with this group of guys and managing the team this season. They are the most connected team I’ve ever been around. The tight-knit relationships and family environments they share are special. No single player is above anyone else and they’re willing to battle for one another. They even named their basketball group chat “Family” to fully embrace their team’s culture.
It’s often a cliche that every sports team is a family, but the Bison truly feel like one.
Future of Bison Basketball
Since there were only five seniors on this year’s team, the future of Bison basketball is bright. Several underclassmen received Varsity playing time last season including Bennett Senesac, Adam Foster, Rowan Heim, Andrew Plassard, Myles Cooley, Grady Rudolph, and Peyton Thayer. They’ll have to improve and gain more Varsity experience, but Bison basketball looks to be in good hands going forward.
