By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers delivered a commanding performance on their home court in Bennington, Nebraska, on December 16, 2025, sweeping both games against the visiting Gretna East Griffins. In the girls’ contest, Bennington dominated from the start, jumping out to a 25-15 lead in the first quarter and cruising to a 69-47 victory. The Badgers’ balanced attack featured four players in double figures, led by Haydin Jackson with 16 points, while Macie Reiner added 12 and both Harper Bohaboj and Allie John contributed 10 each. Bennington outrebounded Gretna East 34-21 and shot an efficient 48% from the field.
Girls head coach John O’Connor praised his team’s defensive effort in handling Gretna East’s challenges. “Their defensive effort really was very good,” O’Connor said. “I think they bring a lot of problems with some of their zone and their press, and I thought our guards did a pretty good job of handling their press and taking good care of it. So I think our [girls] did a good job.” The win extended Bennington’s streak to five in a row, keeping them undefeated. O’Connor emphasized focusing ahead: “Enjoy it tonight and then just move on. We have the EMC tournament coming up next. That’s going to be a gauntlet, kind of a mini state tournament with how good of teams there are in that conference.”
The nightcap boys’ game proved thrilling, with Bennington rallying in the fourth quarter for an 84-79 win. Gretna East kept it close throughout, but the Badgers’ hot shooting (59% from the field and 50% from three) proved decisive in the final frame, where they outscored the Griffins. Boys head coach Luke Olson highlighted his team’s resilience and execution. “We shot it well,” Olson noted. “I thought we shared the ball well, and I thought we did a really good job of just moving on from mistakes. We made a lot of mistakes, but they moved on better than they have in the past and they made better plays after them.” On the momentum, he added, “They’re a tough matchup. They do so many things well… You win a game like this, you hope you can carry it over.”
The doubleheader sweep boosts both Bennington squads as they head into the demanding Eastern Midlands Conference tournament, showcasing their depth and ability to perform under pressure against a competitive intra-conference rival.
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*Photos By Marisa Dawson
