Braves will lean on their guards

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

BENSON — Benson enters its 2022-23 campaign with a load of youthfulness and a pair of returning starters that will look to build on the Braves’ 2021-22 season that ended with a 4-24 overall record.

“We graduated a lot of seniors last year,” said Benson head coach Michael Felt, whose team graduated five seniors. “We will be a very young team, but with a lot of potential.

“These young players will be led by two returning starters, who put up good numbers and playing time for us last year.”

Felt will look toward his two returning starters, senior shooting guard Juan Espinoza and junior combo guard Blake Brehmer, to lead the Braves.

Benson sophomore Blake Brehmer dribbles the ball inside the arc during a first-round game of the Case IH Tournament against Clinton-GracevilleBeardsley on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at Benson.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Espinoza is coming off a junior season where he was honored as an All-West Central Conference member. He led Benson in scoring, averaging 14.1 points and 33 minutes per contest.

Brehmer is fresh off his sophomore campaign, where he was named a West Central Conference honorable mention after averaging 7.8 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Felt mentioned Espinoza and Brehmer are Benson’s players to watch.

Felt is in his second season leading the Braves. He’s a former West Central Tribune All-Area Team player from Redwood Valley who played four seasons at Division I North Dakota State. One of his assistants is former Benson head coach Adam Jensen, who is Felt’s brother-in-law.

The Braves opened their season Dec. 1 against Border West and were scheduled to open conference play Dec. 9 at Montevideo. ◀