Benson Defeats Nelson in a Highly Competitive Preseason Opener

Friday night, No. 6 Nelson hosted No. 4 Benson, in what proved to be one of the most highly competitive games of the season. This game attracted crowds from all over the community. It was an exciting and talented anticipated matchup. Some were calling it a “family feud”, with Benson's coach, Precious Alex, having nieces on both sides of the competing teams. Both teams had been preparing for this night for weeks. From the jump, it was off to the races! This game was fast, physical, and super intense. Benson was able to keep the lead by a tiny margin for the majority of the game, but Nelson kept on the gas and was not letting up all the way to the finish. Benson ended up winning by 6. If you had the chance to witness these two teams battle it out, it was a joy to watch women's basketball rise to such incredible levels of athleticism. Now, let's recap some of the incredible talent from this matchup.    [player_tooltip player_id='1013457' first='Jayla' last='Lackey'] led the way for the Benson Astros with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. Lackey is a 6'3 sophomore and no stranger to the world of basketball. She's been working extremely hard in the offseason and grinding 2-3 times daily in training and practices. She understands what it takes to compete at the higher level, and she's determined to make a huge impact for her team this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='832599' first='Samara' last='Massey'], a strong senior combo guard for the Astros, helped keep pressure on Nelson from the jump. She led the team in attacking the rim on offense. With 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, her presence on the floor was a big factor in how Benson kept the lead. In such a physical matchup, Massey went down just before the half, after colliding with the opposing team. It was her heart and determination that gave her the willpower to get back in the second half and finish the game strong, pulling out a victory.     London Dyton is a junior combo guard for Benson and brought speed and relentless defense to the matchup vs Nelson. She's been working hard in the offseason to polish her offensive skills of driving to the hoop and shooting, to be a threat on the outside.   While known for her speed and defensive skills, she is truly becoming a well-rounded player. Tonight, she truly showed how aggressive she can be by attacking the rim and getting into the lanes quickly to score. Dyton's encouragement towards her teammates and her fierce competitive driving force out on the court were also contributing factors in their win. When mistakes happened, she reminded her teammates to get back out there and get after it. This season, Dyton is definitely taking on more leadership roles, and it's going to help Benson's level of success.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223909' first='Simone' last='Sideris'] is a senior combo guard for Nelson, and she truly kept on the gas pedal for the Hawks. Her aggressiveness on offense is what made it challenging for Benson's defense to get stops when she drove in the paint and got to the free-throw line. Sideris also had some knockdown shots throughout the game. She was great at dishing the rock to her fellow teammates for a shot when Benson would double down. Her speed helped Nelson get some steals on defense. Her relentless competitiveness kept Nelson close during the entire stretch of the game.     [player_tooltip player_id='1264933' first='Payton' last='Webster'] truly stepped up during the night as a freshman combo guard for Nelson. She had some key turning point moments that helped keep Nelson within inches of an upset. She knocked down a three-pointer in the first half, which helped chip away at the Astros' lead. In the second half, she had a phenomenal rebound and reverse layup put back, which got the crowd back on their feet. Once again, Webster tightened the gap and kept pressure on. Payton definitely brought intensity and heart to this matchup. As the niece to the opposing team's coach, she put it all on the line in the family competition. In the end, there was a lot of love out on that court with hugs and strong emotions. It was truly something special to witness. I can say with confidence that we will most likely see these two teams again in the playoffs.

Friday night, No. 6 Nelson hosted No. 4 Benson, in what proved to be one of the most highly competitive games of the season. This game attracted crowds from all over the community. It was an exciting and talented anticipated matchup. Some were calling it a “family feud”, with Benson's coach, Precious Alex, having nieces on both sides of the competing teams. Both teams had been preparing for this night for weeks.

From the jump, it was off to the races! This game was fast, physical, and super intense. Benson was able to keep the lead by a tiny margin for the majority of the game, but Nelson kept on the gas and was not letting up all the way to the finish. Benson ended up winning by 6. If you had the chance to witness these two teams battle it out, it was a joy to watch women's basketball rise to such incredible levels of athleticism. Now, let's recap some of the incredible talent from this matchup.