Benton Community boys’ hoops team rebounds after 0-4 start

VAN HORNE — A reporter phoned Larry Carlson sometime Thursday afternoon and told him he had to get hold of him for an interview since no boys' basketball team around was playing as well as his Benton Community Bobcats.

'Oh, I bet you say that to all the coaches,' Carlson kidded.

No, just the ones whose teams are red hot like this one. Benton (14-5) takes a nine-game win streak into its game Friday night at Maquoketa.

The Bobcats have won 14 of 15 and are in a tie for first place in the Wamac Conference's West Division with Center Point-Urbana. Those two play for the championship Tuesday night.

'The biggest thing is this group has figured out the formula for success,' Carlson said of his squad. 'Even when we were 0-4, the kids came to practice to keep working hard. They are committed to the mission.'

Oh, yeah, Benton began this season with four straight losses, which makes this story even better. But after dropping an 82-70 verdict to Clear Creek-Amana on Dec. 8, there have been nothing but victories, sans for a one-point loss in early January to CP-U.

Carlson has built a very solid program at Benton, but the 2014-15 season was a frustrating 8-14 mess. He was blunt when asked the difference between last year's group and this one.

'Maturity,' he said. 'We had lots of guys play last year as juniors ... Sometimes guys want to be the best player, score the most points. The most important stat for these guys is wins and losses.'

Benton has been balanced offensively, with its five starters averaging between 9.5 and 13.1 points. The 13.1 average belongs to senior guard Lathan Cooper.

The four-guard lineup also includes sophomore Spencer Touro (11.3 ppg), junior Tyler Eggert (9.8) and senior Hunter Semelroth (9.5). Six-foot-four senior Tucker Schroeder (10.4) is the only real 'big guy.'

Carlson said the bench has helped out significantly at times, pointing out Adison Steinford's 12-point game in mid-January against rival Vinton-Shellsburg.

By the way, Benton and Center Point-Urbana end the regular season against each other, then are matched in a Class 3A district opener Feb. 22 at Mount Vernon.

'I wish I could give you more, but I really believe our guys just like being around each other,' Carlson said. 'Last year, it seemed guys couldn't wait to get off the floor. But these guys we've got to kick out of the gym.'

AROUND THE HOOP

● If things fall right Friday night, Cedar Rapids Xavier could clinch outright the Mississippi Valley Conference's Mississippi Division. The Saints have a two-game lead on Iowa City High with three games to play. City High is a decided underdog in its game against Class 4A second-ranked Iowa City West. Xavier hosts Waterloo East.

● West has a two-game lead on Linn-Mar for first place in the Valley Division. Teams that have clinched conference titles are Northeast Goose Lake (River Valley North), Iowa City Regina (River Valley South), MFL Mar-Mac (Upper Iowa Large), West Central (Upper Iowa Small), Easton Valley (Tri-Rivers East), North Linn (Tri-Rivers West), Waverly-Shell Rock (Northeast Iowa) and Keota (South Iowa Cedar East). Lynnville-Sully and Montezuma shared the South Iowa Cedar League's West Division title.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com