Braves have a new coach and replace four starters

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

BENSON — First-year head coach Renee Helgenset and her inexperienced Benson Braves girls basketball team have their eyes set on improvement for the 2022-23 season.

Benson senior Marley Rush (20) makes a pass on the perimeter to teammate Kaida Helgenset during a non-conference game against Osakis on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, at Benson.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Only junior Kaylin Grube and eighth-grader Kaida Helgenset return from a 3-21 squad in 2021-22.

Benson returns this season without four key pieces in Mya Kurkosky, Adysen Himley, Madi Wrobleski and Marley Rush. All of them graduated following the 2021-22 season.

Both Grube and Helgenset come with the most prior varsity experience on Benson’s young roster. The two return as the only starters on Benson’s team from the 2021-22 season.

“The majority of our athletes have had little or no prior varsity experience. As a result, we look forward to seeing individual and team improvement throughout the course of the season,” Helgenset said. “Many underclassmen will see the floor this winter and be able to help lead the future of the program.”

Benson finished the season with a 0-11 2021-22 in West Central Conference play.

Benson earned wins over Dawson-Boyd and Lakeview in the regular-season and its third victory came in the postseason. The Braves dominated Ashby en route to a 56-35 victory in the first round of the Section 6A playoffs.