West Liberty’s supporting cast shines in a statement win over No. 3 Benton

VAN HORNE — The star show was a virtual wash.

The battle of supporting casts, and thus the game, belonged to West Liberty.

The Hall sisters played a stellar second and third fiddle to Kelsey Joens, and West Liberty upended Class 3A third-ranked Benton Community, 64-57, in a non-conference girls’ basketball game Monday night at Benton Community High School.

“We stayed pretty composed tonight, and sometimes we haven’t — including myself,” West Liberty Coach Courtney Joens said. “We kept pressuring their shooters, not letting them get good looks.”

The Comets (15-5) held Benton to 6-of-33 shooting from 3-point range and snapped the Bobcats’ eight-game winning streak.

A rematch could loom in the 3A regional finals.

“It’s good to get this one, but we really want the next one,” Finley Hall said. “The best thing is, we saw some tendencies, what they like to do.”

Kelsey Joens, an Iowa State University signee, posted 26 points and 12 rebounds to pace the winners. Kirkwood Community College recruit Jenna Twedt tallied 30 for Benton (17-3).

“I didn’t know her, but I knew of her,” Kelsey Joens said of Twedt. “She’s a talented player. We knew we were going to get her best.

“We knew (Benton) could shoot. We wanted to get a hand in their face and force them to drive it.”

⧉ Related article: Photos: West Liberty beats Benton Community in girls’ basketball, 64-57

Finley Hall added 15, Pearson Hall 11 for West Liberty.

“My shot felt nice and smooth,” Finley Hall said. “My teammates and coaches told me, ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting.’”

The Comets spotted Benton the first four points, but scored the next six and never trailed again.

West Liberty led 16-10 after a quarter, 31-23 at halftime.

Benton crept within 40-37 late in the third quarter, but the Comets scored the next eight points and led by six or more the rest of the way.

“We proved tonight that we can beat a very good team,” Coach Joens said. “If we play them again, it will be a good one.”

West Liberty 64, Benton Community 57

At Van Horne

WEST LIBERTY (64): Sophie Buysse 2-3 2-2 7, Finley Hall 5-12 2-2 15, Pearson Hall 3-7 4-10 11, Brooklyn Buysse 0-1 0-0 0, Kelsey Joens 6-14 10-14 26, Monica Morales 2-7 0-0 5. Totals 18-44 18-28 64.

BENTON COMMUNITY (57): Emma Townsley 2-9 0-0 4, Piper Nelson 3-5 1-3 7, McKenna Nelson 3-18 0-0 9, Addison Phillips 1-1 0-0 2, Jenna Twedt 9-20 9-11 30, Zoey Junge 2-5 1-1 5, Aubrey Kelly 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 11-15 57.

West Liberty 16 15 12 21 — 64

Benton Community 10 13 14 20 — 57

3-point goals: West Liberty 10-24 (S. Buysse 1-2, F. Hall 3-7, P. Hall 1-2, Joens 4-7, Morales 1-6), Benton 6-33 (Townsley 0-5, Kramer 3-18, Twedt 3-6, Junge 0-3, Kelly 0-1). Team fouls: West Liberty 17, Benton 19. Fouled out: Kramer. Rebounds: West Liberty 35 (Joens 12), Benton 38 (Junge 10). Assists: West Liberty 10 (S. Buysse 3), Benton 9 (Townsley, Twedt 3). Steals: West Liberty 4 (Joens 3), Benton 2 (Nelson, Twedt). Turnovers: West Liberty 9, Benton 7.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com