Benton takes second-straight shot at first state title win
The Benton Panthers are motivated to bring home the trophy after last year’s heartbreak.
BENTON, Ark. — While there are plenty of state championship banners hanging in the Benton High School rafters, one is missing— boy’s basketball.
However, there’s a chance that will change on Friday.
“I think for the school being the first championship in school history would be awesome,” described Dexter Hendrix, the head coach. “But more importantly, we want to get this done for the guys on the team. They’ve done so much great things for this basketball program.”
Of course, it was the same story last year when the Panthers advanced to the title game, only to fall to Pine Bluff. Though you don’t have to remind the guys who were there, like senior Terrion Burgess.
“You want to win. You want to come up with it, just gotta come up with it,” said Burgess.
“There’s no secret that’s been in the back of our minds all year,” explained Hendrix. “The guys have done a great job staying hungry. They haven’t really stopped thinking about it since we left that gym last year.”
The reminders of the past are what have pushed the team toward the future.
“It’s a lot of motivation, every day. We don’t want the same outcome. We want to change,” said senior Harrison Pickett.
Harrison hopes that the heartbreak isn’t just motivation, it’s experience.
“The simple things, being in the arena before, knowing where the scoreboards are at, the media timeouts, the locker rooms, all the things we experienced for the first time last year. Now we get to go right back to it with the majority same guys.,” he added.
They’re gearing up ahead of a big game.
“Just really taking this week serious, enjoying every moment, ’cause it’s our last time,” said Pickett.
Burgess also agreed with that statement.
“Just fix the mistakes from last year, get the dub,” he added.
This time around, all the pieces are in place to try and finish the journey.
“It’s been the motto this week, to finish strong,” said Hendrix. “Let’s just go get one more and the job will be finished, that’s the mentality we’ve had.”
The Panthers take on Maumelle at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, March 14 in Hot Springs