BENSON -- Benson held off a determined Paynesville charge for a West Central South Conference boys basketball win 90-82 Monday.
The Braves (6-6, 11-9) took a 51-38 lead into the halftime break. The Bulldogs (3-9, 4-12) whittled the lead down to six points with about five minutes left, then got as close as three points with 1:27 remaining, led by 15 second-half points from Jordan Lieser, who finished with a game-high 31.
But Benson broke the Paynesville press and scored a couple of layups to retake the momentum.
Cody Jaeger led the Braves' first-half charge with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. He led the team with 24 points overall. Sam Peterson added 21 points and seven rebounds, Brennan Kent followed with 13 points and Carter Fennell had 10 points and eight assists.
Jason Kampsen tallied 21 points for the Bulldogs and Josh Bungum chipped in 12. Lieser pulled down nine rebounds and Tanner Wendroth had eight assists.
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Benson 90, Paynesville 82
Paynesville (3-9, 4-12) 38 44 -- 82
Benson (6-6, 11-9) 51 39 -- 90
PAYNESVILLE - 27-59 FG (9-17 3-pt); 19-26 FT; 26 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Tanner Wendroth 3, Matt Currens 10, Josh Bungum 12, Dan Weidner 3, Jordan Schleper 2, Jason Kampsen 21, Jordan Lieser 31 ... 3-point shots: Wendroth 1, Currens 1, Bungum 2, Weidner 1, Lieser 4 ... Rebound leaders: Lieser 9 ... Assist leaders: Wendroth 8 ... Steal leaders: Lieser 4
BENSON - 32-56 FG (8-13 3-pt); 18-30 FT; 34 rebounds; 23 fouls ... Scoring: Cody Jaeger 24, Jed Eix 7, Jeff Berens 7, Brennan Kent 13, Carter Fennell 10, Jake Hanson 4, Sam Peterson 21, Keagan Pangrac 4 ... 3-point shots: Jaeger 5, Eix 1, Kent 2 ... Rebound leaders: Hanson 7, Peterson 7 ... Assist leaders: Fennell 8, Eix 5 ... Steal leaders: none
