By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington girls basketball team captured the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) tournament title on Tuesday, December 30, defeating Norris 53-44 in a hard-fought championship game. The victory kept the Badgers undefeated on the season and highlighted their defensive intensity and resilience against a physical Titans squad.
Bennington built a commanding lead through the first three quarters, outscoring Norris 13-11 in the first, 20-7 in the second, and 16-14 in the third to enter the final period up 49-32. Norris mounted a late run, holding the Badgers to just 4 points in the fourth while scoring 12, but Bennington’s early dominance proved too much to overcome.
Despite a size disadvantage, the Badgers neutralized Norris’ rebounding prowess. Both teams finished with identical stats in several categories: 13 assists, 17 steals, 4 blocks, 14 turnovers, and shooting percentages (37% field goal, 79% free throw, 11% from three).
Head coach John O’Connor praised his team’s effort in matching Norris’ physicality. “We had to match their physicality and rebounding,” O’Connor said. “They’re just such a physical team and they can rebound so well, and we did that okay at times. In order to be successful, we’re going to have to really work on continuing to do that better.”
O’Connor emphasized the Badgers’ pressing defense as a key factor, particularly in the fourth quarter pressure that disrupted Norris’ rhythm earlier in the game. “I think our girls just do a good job of flying around a little bit,” he said. “That’s where they can get that urgency and that energy, and I think that’s just a defense that allows us to pick up the tempo a little bit.”
When Norris went on a run in the fourth, O’Connor’s message was simple: “Obviously, they’re a great team and it’s an EMC championship game. It’s going to be a battle, so just settle down and go finish it in the fourth quarter.”
The win held extra significance for junior point guard Harper Bohaboj, who surpassed the program’s career assists record during the tournament. Following the game, Bohaboj was presented with a signed basketball from her coach and teammates to commemorate the milestone. “Wanted that to be a big goal of hers,” O’Connor noted. “And so it’s nice having a point guard who likes to dish it out like that.”
O’Connor viewed the EMC tournament as valuable preparation for the postseason. “EMC is literally treated like a mini state tournament,” he said. “There are so many good teams in there, and so it’s just a good opportunity for us this early in the season to be able to play in these types of games against a great team like Norris. It was just a good test for us.”
He also gave credit to the conference’s depth: “Credit to all the teams in the conference and just how solid they are from top to bottom. And a lot of respect for Norris, a lot of respect for all the teams on EMC. We’re just proud to come out of it on top.”
With the EMC title in hand, Bennington turns its focus to improvement areas like consistent rebounding and shot selection ahead of the state tournament push. The Badgers’ blend of high-energy defense, selfless play and clutch performance has them poised for a deep postseason run.
Photos By Marisa Dawson
