BENTON – Benton center Brad Mueller sank the game-winning free throw with six seconds remaining to lift the host Zephyrs to a thrilling 47-46 Six Rivers West victory over Belmont on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
    Trailing 43-37 following a lay-up by Benton’s Laine Carver with five minutes to play, the Braves (1-12 overall, 0-5 in SRW) fought their way back to even when forward Brandon Wedig put back a rebound with 1:37 remaining to tie the game at 46 all.
    Wedig had a chance to put the Braves into the lead when he was fouled on the play, but he missed the free throw to keep the score tied.
    Benton (3-10, 1-5) stopped another Belmont chance to gain the lead when they forced a turnover with 46 seconds left.
    The Zephyrs got the ball to Mueller for a final shot, but instead he was fouled on the play. After missing the first free throw, the Benton senior swished home the second to break the tie.
    Belmont freshman Lane Kamps had a chance to win it at the end, but his shot at the buzzer hit off the front of the rim.
    “It was an exciting finish to the game. I thought our kids really did a nice job of fighting back to tie the game. We were just not able to make enough plays early in the game to put us over the top,” said Belmont head coach Dave Michalkiewicz. “Benton did a nice job of running their sets and making some tough shots.”
    It didn’t look like there would be a need for any late-game heroics early on after the Zephyrs dropped in the first five points of the game and held the lead the entire first half.
    “Our shooting percentage has been something that we have struggled with all year. We need to continue to work and execute on the offensive side of the ball. If we continue to get good shots I believe our percentages will continue to improve,” Michalkiewicz commented.   
    However, the Braves fired out of the locker room after the intermission, scoring the first nine points of the second half to grab a 21-19 lead.
    “The way that we played in that third and fourth quarter is the level that we are capable of playing at. Though we need to find a way to play at that level consistently,” admitted Michalkiewicz.
    The Zephyrs regained their lead on back-to-back baskets by Mueller in the final minute of the third quarter.
    Wedig finished with 15 points and six rebounds to lead Belmont. Bahr added nine points and two assists, while Jeremy Richardson tallied eight points. Justin Nodorft and Kamps chipped in with six points apiece.
    Senior Nick Soppe sank four treys on the way to a game-high 16 points for Benton. Carver chipped in with 12 and Mueller netted nine for the Zephyrs.
    Belmont closed last week by falling to Six Rivers East rival Albany, 56-51, at home on Friday, Jan. 11; and then the Braves opened this week with a 45-37 loss to another East foe in Argyle on Monday, Jan. 14.
    Wedig led Belmont with 12 points against the Comets (5-8) and 17 against the Orioles (6-8), while Bahr and Richardson added 10 each against Albany.
    Belmont hosts league-leading Cassville on Thursday, Jan. 17, and heads to Potosi for a SRW game on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Benton 47, Belmont 46
Belmont…   9   3  14  20 - 46
Benton….. 12   7  11  17 - 47
    Belmont – Lane Kamps 6, Justin Nodorft 6, Raine Voigts 2, Jon Bahr 9, Jeremy Richardson 8, Brandon Wedig 15. Totals – 19  5-10  46.
    Benton – Carver 12, White 5, Dixon 3, Soppe 16, Bartell 2, Mueller 9. Totals – 16  8-9  47.
    3-point goals – Bel 3 (Kamps 1, Nodorft 1, Bahr 1), Ben 7 (Carver 2, Dixon 1, Soppe 4). Total fouls – Bel 9, Ben 14.

Albany 56, Belmont 51
Albany…... 13  21    5  17 - 56
Belmont…   6  16  15  14 - 51
    Albany – Dahl 11, Schoenenberger 5, Trow 5, Kauk 10, Shell 25. Totals – 25  3-14  56.
    Belmont – Kyle VanBogaert 4, Lane Kamps 5, Raine Voigts 6, Jon Bahr 10, Logan Voigts 4, Jeremy Richardson 10, Brandon Wedig 12. Totals – 21  7-14  51.
    3-point goals – A 3 (Schoenenberger 1, Trow 1, Shell 1), B 2 (Bahr 2). Total fouls – A 16, B 19. Fouled out – B: VanBogaert.

Argyle 45, Belmont 37
Belmont…. 7  12  10   8 – 37
Argyle…… 8  24    8   5 – 45
    Belmont – Kyle VanBogaert 4, Lane Kamps 5, Justin Nodorft 3, Jon Bahr 2, Jeremy Richardson 6, Brandon Wedig 17. Totals – 17  5-6  37.
    Argyle – Ploessl 6, Ostby 15, Emberson 6, Treuthardt 2, Vives 5, Severson 11. Totals – 21  7-14  45.
    3-point goals – B 2 (Kamps 1, Nodorft 1), A 4 (Severson 3, Ostby 1). Total fouls – B 13, A 12.