Fighting Irish top Raiders/Redcoats defeat Lynx
Will Benko has a new job description with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student is now being called up to be a leader after a number of players from last season graduated and the speedy guard is more than happy to take on the added responsibility.
“I know I’ve got to step up and be a leader because we lost a lot of Grade 12 guys so there’s only a few of us left,” Benko said after netting 12 points as the Irish defeated the Holy Cross Raiders 65-37 in one of eight opening round games Wednesday at the 68th Annual Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament. “I think it’s just a big part of being a leader, just lead the Grade 11 guys.”
Benko has slipped into his new role seamlessly.
“It’s pretty easy,” he said. “I think everyone’s kind of bought in so far. Everyone wants to be better so I think being a leader on this team is easy because everyone wants it just as bad as I want it.”
Notre Dame coach Andrew Lucchetta said Benko is a key member of this year’s squad.
“Will is huge for us,” Lucchetta said. “He’s that guy that just goes on the court and leads by example. He doesn’t stop fighting and playing hard the whole game. He never says anything to the ref and just plays hard to the whistle.”
The Irish played Wednesday without Grade 12 forward Trent Groulx, who was out with an injured quad, but is expected back quickly, possibly as soon as Thursday.
“Once we get him back, it’ll be way better,” Lucchetta said.
The Irish jumped out to a 44-17 at the half en route to victory.
Benko said Irish made sure not to take the Raiders lightly.
“It was about keeping up the intensity and just working on what we worked on in practice,” he said. “We’ve been focusing a lot on pushing the ball up to court and keeping the intensity high. So I think we did a good job of that and getting everyone involved.”
Lucchetta, too, liked what his charges brought to the court.
“Extremely happy with the way we played,” he said. “I thought we moved the ball well. Everyone had a chance to score, which was great.
“It was just a good overall team win to start the tournament.”
Benko has high hopes for the Irish going forward in the tournament after coming up short last year.
“We’re trying to go back (to the finals) and win it this year,” he said. “It’s pretty tough on the body so we got to make sure we rest up for tomorrow and just get ready.”
Holy Cross coach Austin Anderson said his club has been inconsistent so far this season.
“I think all year we’ve been hit or miss. We have good games, bad games, really bad games. I think that Christmas break really kind of set us back a bit and Notre Dame is a good team,” he said. “The score speaks for itself.”
STATS PACK
Irish 75 Raiders 37
Policella Homes Players of the Game: Notre Dame’s Will Benko and Joseph Young of Holy Cross.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Aiden Lucchetta 15; Will Benko 12; Re’O Damus 10; Sean Paul Imosikeme 8; David Babalola 7; Krish Basnet Nil 7; Kurt Augustin 6; Anthony Ventresca 5; Ashen Dunuwille 3; Eric Hills 2.
Holy Cross Raiders: Joseph Young 10; Hunter Herring-Dent 8; Matteo D’Aria 7; Vinny Gallicchio 5; Terrell Wallace 4; Dereon Myles 3.
Redcoats 70 Lynx 40
Noah Budgell canned 31 points to pace the Governor Simcoe Redcoats past the St. Jean-de-Brebeuf Lynx 70-40 in opening round action.
Jayden Brisebois paced the Lynx with 10 points.
Budgell and Enzo Aka were named the Policella Homes Players of the Game.
Governor Simcoe Redcoats: Noah Budgell 31; Anderson Blanchard 16; Ari Steenhuis 12; Reid Oakes 6; Emerson Wood 3;
Nate Vander Meer 2.
St. Jean-de-Brebeuf Lynx: Jayden Brisebois 10; Enzo Aka 10; Princeley Toge 9; Stephane Tambekou 2; Braven Williams 2; Harley Huibers 2; Ronan Stark 1. Four points unaccounted for on game sheet.
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