GIRLS BASKETBALL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023 | 9
Year 2 of Benson’s rebuild is underway Braves strengthen their varsity experience for another season as an independent
BY MICHAEL LYNE West Central Tribune
BENSON — The Benson girls basketball team enters its second season of non-conference play as it looks to continue to rebuild the foundation of its program. With a roster that had less than 10 players a season ago, the Braves decided to forego competing in the West Central Conference for two seasons. Benson had a 3-11 overall record in the 2022-23 season. Two games were canceled. The Braves have more games
on their schedule this season, including some independent ones against WCC teams, such as Melrose, Montevideo and Morris/Chokio-Alberta. Renee Helgenset enters her second season as Benson’s head coach and is looking forward to her Braves making progress in year two. She will be assisted by Jeff Guest. “We will have a balanced attack this season with several guards and post play,” Helgenset said. “We will have seven girls with prior varsity experience this season.” Benson returns four starters to its
lineup. They are 5-foot-8 senior forward Jordan Schmidt, 5-8 junior guard/ forward Elle Kletscher, 5-6 junior guard/forward Norah Hilleren and 5-3 freshman guard Kaida Helgenset. The latter three are listed as players to watch by Renee Helgenset. “(Elle, Norah and Kaida) are our leading scorers and persevered under a lot of pressure last year,” Helgenset said. “They set the standard for their work ethic and attitude that our program needs to be successful.”
Kaida Helgenset averaged a teambest 12.3 points per game as an eighth-grader. Kletscher followed with 10.0 points per game and Hilleren had 7.1 points per game. Schmidt was the Braves’ leading rebounder. She grabbed 11.8 rebounds per game and provided Benson a boost on defense with a team-leading 46 steals. Key roster losses for the Braves were Lauren Schmidt, Shukri Mohamed and Ashanti Blan.
Benson Braves
Girls Varsity Basketball Schedule 2023-2024 Friday, December 8
Game 7:00PM ������������������������������������������Browerville Benson High School SH Gym
Tuesday, December 12
Game 7:00PM Melrose Area Melrose Area High School
Friday, December 15
Game 7:30PM Ortonville Ortonville High School
Monday, December 18
Game 7:30PM Dawson-Boyd Dawson Boyd High School
Tuesday, December 19
Game 5:45PM Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City ACGC High School
Wednesday, December 27
Invitational 7:00PM Marshall Marshall High School
Thursday, December 28
Game 7:30PM Upsala Upsala High School
2024 Friday, January 5
Game 7:00PM ��������������������������������������Breckenridge Benson High School SH Gym
Tuesday, January 9
Game 7:30PM CCS of Willmar Community Christian School Willmar
Monday, January 15
Game 7:00PM ������������������������Heron Lake-Okabena Benson High School SH Gym
Thursday, January 18
Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
ACGC junior Mikaili Johnson, at left, and Benson sophomore Elle Kletscher battle for control of the ball during a game at Benson High School on Saturday, February 4, 2023.
Monday, January 22
Game 7:30PM Lakeview Lakeview High School
Friday, January 26
Game 7:00PM �������������������������������������� Melrose Area Benson High School SH Gym
Tuesday, January 30
Game 7:00PM �����Community Christian School of Willmar Benson High School SH Gym
Thursday, February 1
Game 7:15PM Montevideo Montevideo High School
Thursday, February 8
Game 7:30PM Morris Area Morris Area High School
Friday, February 9
Game 7:00PM �������������������������������������Dawson-Boyd Benson High School / Benson Activities Center
Monday, February 12
Game 7:30PM Lac Qui Parle Valley Lac Qui Parle Valley High School
Thursday, February 15
Game 7:00PM ������������������������������������St� John’s Prep Benson High School SH Gym
Monday, February 19
Game 7:00PM �������������������������������������������� Ortonville Benson High School SH Gym
Thursday, February 22
Game 7:00PM ��������������������������� Brandon-Evansville Benson High School SH Gym
Game 7:00PM ������������������������ Yellow Medicine East Benson High School SH Gym
Check the school’s website for an updated events list
Schedule sponsored by: BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE
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Best of Luck to all Winter Student-Athletes and Coaches!
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