MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 28–Feb. 4)
BOYS BASKETBALL: Benton 73, #4 Monticello 64

MONTICELLO — The Benton Zephyrs boys' basketball team knocked off the previously unbeaten and Division 5 #4-ranked Monticello Ponies, 73–64, at Monticello on Monday, Feb. 3.

It took a total team effort for the Zephyrs to hand Monticello its first loss of the season. Senior guard Holden Murphy dropped in four 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 22 points to lead four Zephyrs in double figures.

Senior Will Lawrence and junior Dominick Cummins combined for a big night at the foul line– especially in the second half, to engineer a huge victory for the Zephyrs. Lawrence went 8-for-11 at the line on the night and was 7-for-9 in the second half to finish with 16 points, while Cummins scored all his points from the line going 11-for-13 for the game and 10-for-11 in the second half to help seal the victory.

The Zephyrs finished 21-of-26 at the line on the night as a team, while the Ponies went just 12-of-18 at the stripe.

Senior Caleb O’Neill tallied six points in each half to add 12 points, and senior Zander Jones nailed a pair of second-half treys on his way to eight points for the Zephyrs.

Peter Gustafson tried to rally the Ponies from a five-point halftime deficit by 17 of his game-high 29 points in the second half, but he fouled out late in the game.

Monticello’s other 1,000-point scorer, Reece Rufer, was held scoreless by the Zephyrs. 

Benton………. 29   44 – 73
Monticello….. 24   40 – 64
Benton – Tyler Walton 4, Caleb O’Neill 12, Zander Jones 8, Holden Murphy 22, Will Lawrence 16, Dominick Cummins 11. Totals – 23  21-26  73.
Monticello – Blohowiak 7, Ace 7, Gustafson 29, Holtz 3, Klitzke 6, Flanagan 2, Wicker 9. Totals – 24  12-18  64.
3-point goals– B 6 (Jones 2, Murphy 4), M 4 (Gustafson 1, Holtz 1, Klitzke 1, Wicker 1). Total fouls– B 16, M 22. Fouled out– M: Gustafson.