By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers opened their postseason run with a dominant performance in their first district game, defeating the Plattsmouth Blue Devils 75-41 on Thursday night at home.
Bennington jumped out to a strong start, leading 24-13 after the first quarter and extending the advantage with a commanding 30-5 second quarter. The Badgers took a 54-18 halftime lead and maintained control throughout, outscoring Plattsmouth in the third quarter 17-7 before Plattsmouth narrowed the margin slightly in the fourth (16-4). The final score reflected a convincing 34-point victory for the Badgers, who improved to 16-8 overall and advanced in district play.
Standout performances led the way for Bennington. Junior Blaize Jung paced the team with 20 points, including 2 three-pointers and efficient shooting. Fellow junior Landon McCarville added 17 points, while Kale Lamberty contributed 14 points on perfect field-goal shooting, and Jax Gifford chipped in 11 points. The Badgers showed strong team balance, with solid contributions across the roster in a game that highlighted their depth and execution.
Following the win, head coach Luke Olson reflected on the team’s momentum entering the postseason.
“We’ve had a good few weeks of practice – we’ve gained some confidence with several road wins and then were able to get healthy over the break and string together some good practices,” Olson said. “Our young players are giving us great looks at practice and our older guys continue to improve each week.”
He noted the team’s current connection as a key factor for success down the stretch.
“This time of year you need to string together high quality practices and continue to improve on the details,” Olson added. “Our guys seem to be really connected right now top to bottom and that gives us a chance to play well down the stretch.”
Olson emphasized the focus in recent practices leading into district games. Some of the things he stresses to the team include: “Details, Defense and Rebounding. Next Play mentality – we have to stay present and focus on what we can control,” he said.
The Badgers’ next challenge comes quickly with a rematch against Omaha Roncalli Catholic on Tuesday at 7:15p.m., hosted by Roncalli. Roncalli, who won their district game 71-39 over Seward, presents a tough test on the road.
“Roncalli is a good test and will be a tough place to play,” Olson said. “We need to have a great few days of prep. I think our guys are excited about the chance to play them again and are excited for the opportunity.”
Looking at the season as a whole, win or lose moving forward, Olson expressed pride in his group’s development.
“Their growth and their desire to connect with each other and play the right way,” he said. “We’ve challenged them with an incredibly tough schedule and they’ve responded really well and made really good strides.”
The Badgers will look to carry their momentum and preparation into Tuesday’s matchup as they continue their push toward a deep postseason run.
