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WSN15: Boys Basketball Top Teams #15 -- 2009 Benton Zephyrs

02/15/2018, 11:00am CST
By Mark Miller

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017). 

The WSN15 boys' basketball series continues with the Top 15 Teams of the WSN Era.

With a total enrollment of just 86 students, there wasn't much room for error for the 2008-09 Benton boys' basketball team. 

An injury or suspension could do major damage to a team lacking depth beyond its talented five starters and one top reserve.

But the Zephyrs put it all together under coach Jim Blaine that winter, winning 25 of 27 games and capping off the most successful season in school history with a 55-43 victory over Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the WIAA Division 4 state-title game at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Benton won the Six Rivers West title with a 12-0 mark, notched impressive non-league victories over Dodgeville, Southwestern, Iowa-Grant and Bethlehem Academy of Minnesota, among others, and breezed to wins over Madison Abundant Life, Shullsburg and Monticello in regional play.

Blaine and his charges turned back spirited efforts from both Burlington Catholic Central and Sheboygan Christian to win the sectional crown and advance to the WIAA State Tournament for the first time in school history.

With a huge throng of Benton fans in the stands, the Zephyrs parlayed a 24-9 scoring edge in the second period into a 61-49 victory over Blair-Taylor in the Division 4 semifinals, setting the stage for the title confrontation with Assumption, a team that entered the championship game with 24 victories. 

The two Division 4 powers battled to an 8-8 deadlock after the first period before Benton went into intermission with a 19-16 lead thanks in part to nine first-half points from junior center Mike Droessler. 

A three-point basket with just four seconds left in the third period by senior Jordan Hendricks, the team's leading scorer at just under 15 points per game, gave Benton big-time momentum and a 36-27 lead heading into the fourth period.

With their large cheering section providing impressive support, Benton led by double digits for all but the first few seconds of the fourth period. The lead grew to as many as 17 points with just under five minutes left as the Zephyrs gained complete control of the the most important game in school history.

Droessler led Benton with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Hendricks and sophomore Matt Savatski each contributed 13. The team was all about balance, ball handling, passing and shooting, and it showed in the title game win over Assumption.

The Zephyrs finished with 15 assists on 18 made field goals while also making 15 of 19 foul shots. 

Benton rode the momentum of its 2009 title to sectional appearances in 2011 and 2012, but the Zephyrs have won just one playoff game in the past five seasons, proving that the margin for error for schools with enrollments of under 100 students is mighty thin.  

WSN15 Top Moments Countdown:

#15 - Tiny Benton bucked the odds to win 2009 Division 4 state title
#14 - Coming Soon...
#13 - Coming Soon...
#12 - Coming Soon...
#11 - Coming Soon...
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#9 - Coming Soon...
#8 - Coming Soon...
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#1 - Coming Soon...

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark at wbnews@yahoo.com.

Tag(s): News Archive  BBB News  Mark Miller  WSN15