Benton Central holds off late Rensselaer charge to reach sectional final

OXFORD − Win ugly. Win pretty.

But most importantly, win.

Few teams in the history of Indiana high school girls basketball have done that as well in the sectional as Benton Central.

Now, after fending off Rensselaer's comeback attempt that included two missed 3-pointers in the final five seconds to win 54-51 at Arena Gymnasium Friday night, the Bison (18-8) have an opportunity to win a sixth-straight sectional title and 25th in program history.

"Whether you win beautifully or ugly, by one or 25 or 30 or in double overtime, as long as you keep winning, that's all that matters," Benton Central coach David Baxter said.

This was supposed to be a down year for Benton Central, but an 18-8 record and a return to the sectional championship game, where the Bison play Class 3A No. 1 Twin Lakes (25-0), says it was anything but.

Friday's first half couldn't have gone better.

Benton Central rode the hot hand of Rachel Tolen, who scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the opening two quarters, to a 31-13 halftime lead.

The second half was a different story.

Rensselaer trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter, but cut that deficit to two on two occasions, the first after back-to-back 3s from Carly Drone and Kamri Rowland and the second time on a pair of free throws from Rowland with 1:48 to go.

Benton Central responded with Sarah Gick beating the defense down the court for an easy layup to push BC back up 51-47.

The Bison were able to hold on.

"The amount of effort and adversity that we have faced, like when we faced Western in our Hoosier Conference (crossover) game and won in overtime, I was in tears because I felt an overwhelming sense of pride," said Gick, who had 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. "There's no other team I'd want to go into the sectional championship with than them.

"I'd take them to regional, semistate and state. Not only do they have so much talent than can be unlocked, they just play so hard. I am beyond proud to be on this team."

Taylor Van Meter led the Bombers (13-10) with 18 points and four assists, whole Rowland scored 10 to go with nine rebounds and Sarah Kaufman provided 10 points.

Along with big nights from Tolen and Gick, Benton Central won the rebounding battle thanks to 12 boards from Sienna Foster, who had eight points.

"We get an opportunity to take down Twin Lakes," Baxter said. "It's a David vs. Goliath tomorrow. They are loaded. They've got every position. They have guards who each of them can drop 30. We've got some kids who've been three-year starters, but we have a lot of youth.

"They wanted a chance to get to the sectional championship. Now we've got a huge task."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Benton Central holds off late Rensselaer run to reach sectional final