Benson boys basketball hangs on in OT to down Grant, move into tie atop PIL standings

KERNS – The ending wasn’t pretty, but Benson Tech High School boys basketball was able to survive 88-76 in overtime over Grant to move into a tie for first place in the PIL.

The Astros, leading by 14 in the fourth quarter with just under five minutes to go inside their home gym on Tuesday, watched its lead evaporate as Generals sophomore Malik Mason hit four 3-pointers to help close the gap and force overtime.

However, Benson freshman Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen scored seven of his 25 points in the extra period to help close out the game and junior Richad Hudson finished with a triple-double to lift Benson into the first-place tie.

“Just stay composed, don’t get too high or too low, that’s what our coach always tells us,” Hudson said. “If we stay locked in on defense – defense travels, we can win whenever when we play defense. They’re a great team, so now that we set the tone with that team, sky’s the limit for us.”

Grant came out firing at first, up 7-2 early. But Benson punched right back and close the first quarter on a 14-5 run led by Hudson’s seven points.

In the second, Hudson hit one from deep and senior Dache Acelar connected twice from beyond the arc to push Benson ahead 36-28 at the break.

In the first game between the two back on Jan. 13, the Generals dominated in transition and constantly got to their spots to either hit a shot or get fouled.

This time around, the Astros were quick to get back on defense and took their time on offense to prevent any big fastbreaks.

“Last game we gave up 48 points in fastbreak and free throws, so that was the emphasis,” Benson assistant coach Curtis Williams, who was filling in for head coach Earl Clark who was on the sideline recovering from a minor dental surgery, said. “We knew we’d be solid defensively if we could keep it at a halfcourt game. We were solid for about 3.5 quarters.”

The plan kept working in the third as the lead went up 55-44 at the end of the frame with Acelar hitting another three, Hudson going up to 17 points and sophomore JP Parnell-Patton chipping five points of his own.

Hopkins-McGlothen had 12 going into the fourth and added another six as Benson went up 61-47 with 4:46 to go.

However, the game was far from over as Mason started to heat up quickly for Grant.

Mason hit back-to-back triples from a little bit to the far side of the top of the key, forcing a Benson timeout up 63-54 with 2:43 to go.

Out of the break, Mason hit another 3-pointer, then was fouled as the Astros tried desperately to cover him on another attempt. Mason hit all three, but the third was waved off due to a lane violation.

On the next Grant possession, Mason fired another triple from a couple feet behind the arc and nailed it again, making it just a 65-62 Benson lead with 1:06 to go.

Benson scored to go up 67-62, but this time it was sophomore Jamarea Sanders hitting from deep for Grant, who then followed it up with a steal and was fouled going to the rim down 67-65 with 25 seconds to go.

Sanders missed the first and hit the second, then Benson sophomore Malu Niko was fouled who also went 1-for-2 to make it 68-66 Benson with 13.6 seconds to go.

Mason took a mid-range jumper and came up short, but Grant sophomore Jaylen Mills was there for the rebound and putback to tie the game up 68 and eventually go to overtime.

“We’re a young team, we only have on senior, so even though they’re talented, it’s going to be ups and downs,” Williams said. “They fought through and played solid defense, nice team defense.”

In overtime though, Benson got back to playing tough defense, forcing five Generals turnovers in the extra four minutes.

Hopkins-McGlothen had two clutch buckets and then hit three of four free throws to close the door on a Grant comeback.

“In my opinion, I think he’s the best prospect in the state,” Williams said of Hopkins-McGlothen. “My opinion, I think he’s PIL Player of the Year as a freshman, just making an impact. … Kendall, ice in his veins, he’s going to be a problem to deal with, comes from a great family and always looking to guard the best player.”

“That guy is cool,” Hudson added. “He came in with a big role as a freshman, top freshman in the state. He never disappoints us, he always stays composed and stays locked in. We trust him so much.”

Hopkins-McGlothen finished with a team-high 25 points but Hudson was everywhere with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, along with six steals.

“In my opinion, he’s probably one of the most improved players in the state and probably the best point guard in the PIL right now,” Williams said of Hudson.

Acelar finished with 15 points and five assists before fouling out, Parnell-Patton chipped in 11 points.

Mason easily led the Generals with 28 points, scoring 15 of them in the fourth quarter. Jamarea Sanders had 13, Mills had 12 and sophomore Jacob Harper-Grant had 10.

Williams called the game the biggest regular season game for Benson boys hoops in the past 15 years, and he’s not wrong. The Astros last won a league title in 2011 at the 5A level, the last highest classification title coming in 1999 in a split with Jefferson. The last outright title for Benson at the highest level was 1998.

“We just wanted to do this for coach Clark, he's a die-hard Benson person, his dog's name is Benson," Williams said. "He's been here through the ups and downs, fought through adversity, so we definitely wanted to win this one for him."

There’s still four games in front of Benson to try to clinch either a share or outright PIL title, and it starts later this week at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 on the road at Franklin.

From there, it’s at home for Cleveland on Feb. 17 followed by Lincoln at home on Feb. 20. The Cardinals won the first matchup 68-62 back on Jan. 24.

The last game of the regular season is Feb. 27 at Roosevelt.

For now, it’s a five-game win streak for Benson who hopes and looks to be peaking at the right time to not only win a league crown, but make some noise in March.

“I think we can clean it up a little bit better, turnovers and staying composed against the zone,” Hudson said. “We’re climbing up every single day we work in practice, getting better and better every day. Now, we’re working for playoffs. Finish league out and work for the playoffs.”

PIL Basketball Standings

Boys

T1. Grant 10-2, 13-7 overall

T1. Benson 10-2, 15-6 overall

3. Roosevelt 8-4, 9-11 overall

4. Ida B. Wells 7-4, 10-10 overall

5. Lincoln 7-5, 12-8 overall

6. Jefferson 6-6, 9-11 overall

7. Franklin 2-9, 2-17 overall

T8. Cleveland 1-10, 5-15 overall

T8. McDaniel 1-10, 3-16 overall

Girls

1. Benson 12-0, 18-2 overall

2. Lincoln 9-3, 13-8 overall

3. Grant 8-4, 12-9 overall

4. Jefferson 7-5, 7-12 overall

5. Cleveland 6-5, 11-9 overall

T6. Wells 4-7, 9-11 overall

T6. Franklin 4-7, 8-11 overall

8. Roosevelt 2-10, 6-15 overall

9. McDaniel 0-11, 5-15 overall

Upcoming PIL Schedule

Friday, Feb. 13

Wells girls at Roosevelt, 6 p.m.

Roosevelt boys at Wells, 7:15 p.m.

Franklin girls at Benson, 6 p.m.

Benson boys at Franklin, 6 p.m.

Grant girls at McDaniel, 6 p.m.

McDaniel boys at Grant, 6 p.m.

Jefferson girls at Cleveland, 7:15 p.m.

Cleveland boys at Jefferson, 6 p.m.