2009 DTHC Day #1: Benton surprises Red Bud
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Benton's surprising first day at the 3rd annual Duster Thomas Hoops Classic began with an impressive 64-54 win over newcomer Red Bud.
It's second game, however proved most disappointing as the Runnin' Rangers fell behind early and lost 52-45 to Larwenceville (1-1). At 1 o'clock Tuesday, Benton plays 2-0 Du Quoin in the final game of Pool B.
Against Red Bud (0-2), Benton had just five players score- but all three reached double digits.
Tyler Leffler led the way with 17 points while Kyler Smith (14) and Caleb Suver weren't far behind.
The rapidly-improving Rangers (2-8) also had 10 point efforts from Mason Childers and Trey Garrett.
Red Bud, which attempted a DTHC record 29 three-pointers, had 19 points each from Jake Hoffman and Adam Kunkel.
Hoffman and Kunkel each hit four shots from beyond the arc. As a team, the Musketeers hit just 6-of-28 (22%).
Larwenceville never trailed, hanging on to win after Benton closed the gap down to 44-43 with under two minutes remaining.
Free throws from Dane Kelly (15 points, seven rebounds) and Michael Leighty (nine points, seven rebounds) sealed the victory.
Nick Potts topped 1-1 Larwenceville with 18 points.
For Benton, Caleb Suver's 21 points was best. Cody Smith added 11 more.
OLNEY EAST RICHLAND-43, CARTERVILLE- 40
All-stater Brandon Berry and senior running mate Christian Kabbes fueled a huge fourth quarter rally as the Tigers (5-3) avoided what could have been the first true upset of session #1.
Trailing 37-31, Berry and Kabbes buried back-to-back three's to tie the score. Berry's slicing drive to the basket 12 seconds later gave O-ER the lead for good as 10-point Carterville was erased in a 15-4 Tiger spurt.
Berry had 22 points and Kabbes tossed in 15 more as O-ER built on its DTHC all-time best record (8-1 entering Monday's late game versus Pinckneyville).
Zach Watson (14), Ryan Bonifield (12) and Drew Bonner (12) scored all but two of Carterville's points. A field goal by Anthony Lenzini was the only other Carterville (2-7) hoop.
Carterville trailed 14-11 in a low-scoring first half, but pushed ahead 26-24 as the final quarter began and quickly built its 10-point lead before Olney caught fire.
The Lions, who leave for Carbondale's tournament in 2010, have won just once in nine all-time tournament games here.
CARTERVILLE- 62, STEELEVILLE- 49
Ryan Bonifield set a new one game DTHC record with 19 rebounds- 16 of those on the defensive end- to give Carterville its first tournament win since 2007.
Drew Bonner added 11 points and Daniel Lingafelter scored nine as the Lions (3-7, 1-1) led from start to finish and dropped Steeleville (7-5) to 0-2.
Andrew Pokrzynski (19) and Colin Smith (13) were the Warriors leaders.
Field goal shooting told the story in this one as Carterville (22-of-40) hit 55% of its attempts.
Steeleville hit only 31% (19-for-58).