Benton High School hoops sweeps rival Lafayette at home

By: Brett Kennedy

(ST. JOSEPH, MO) – The Lafayette and Benton High School basketball teams met for what could be the final time ever on Tuesday night, with Lafayette disbanding as a high school after the semester.

In the first game, in a matchup of two top 10 girls teams in Class 4, in front of a packed house on the southside, #7 Benton defeated #3 Lafayette, 54-42.

Lafayette came out hot in the first half and led 16-5 after the first quarter, but Benton found its footing and narrowed the gap to just being down 26-25 at the halftime break. Then the Lady Cardinals took the lead and never looked back.

Senior Eliana Arambula led the way with 25 points, followed by junior Jalynn Brown with 11 points. For Lafayette, junior Emery Omon led the team with 16 points, followed by junior Katana Bigham with 9 and sophomore Rozlyn McDevitt with 8 points.

“Every school I know I was telling them pop out for this game because if you don’t go to a Southside or Northside school, you don’t really know that kind of rivalry,” said Arambula. “You don’t know unless you’re playing in this game, even if you’re in the stands and stuff, it’s still a little bit different. When you’re on the court and even in like even in the stands, it’s a crazy atmosphere.”

“There’s nothing better. I wish I had the atmosphere like this when I was playing in high school. I feel like super awesome for these kids, Northside and Southside, fans from the North, fans from the South, best fans in the world and the fans in Saint Joe,” said Benton head coach Rebecca Bailey. “I love the fact that both sides came out and supported these girls tonight and having it loud and having everyone there and cheering you on. I’m super excited for the girls they got to play in that.”

Benton girls improve to 15-6 on the season and the Lafayette girls fall to 17-3.

In the boys matchup between Lafayette and Benton, the #2 team in Class 4, the Cardinals prevail over their rival as well, winning 57-34.

Senior Lincoln Goodwin led Benton with 29 points, followed by senior Mach Mayom and junior Jason Simmons with 7 points each. Junior Jodell Redman led Lafayette with 14 points, followed by sophomore Donavyn Fonseca with 12 points.

“Obviously it’s a big rivalry around here. It means a lot to everyone, so we know every time we have to come in with our minds right, and that’s what we did today,” said Goodwin. “Even if (Lafayette) is our rival, we care about everybody, but I mean it was great. The city really showed out tonight and it was awesome. It was a good environment.”

“The rivalry has been a big part of my life, I played in it, grew up in it, still followed it even after my career,” said Benton head coach Jared Boone. “Now coaching in it, it’s been fun, it’s a lot of stories, a lot of friendships, a lot of memories.”

Benton gets its twentieth victory of the season at 20-1, Lafayette falls to 3-15.

Benton hoops next play on the road at Maryville on Friday, February 13th, Lafayette plays at Bishop LeBlond on Thursday, February 12th.