By Stu Swartz
Mishawaka had the ace Tuesday night and Goshen couldn’t deal with him.
Ryan Benner, 6-4 senior for the Cavemen, scored 22 points in the first half and finished with 32 in leading his team to a 58-52 non-conference win over the Redskins at GHS.
The Redskins had some chances to cut into Mishawaka’s lead in the second half, but shot just 40 per cent from the field. Goshen could get no closer than five down the stretch.
Goshen, 6-8, hosts the Plymouth Pilgrims in a Northern Lakes Conference game Friday night. Mishawaka left town with an 8-7 record.
“It was too much Benner,” said Redskin head coach Brian Bechtel. “We couldn’t get to him and tried three different defensive schemes.
“When we adjusted and did get to him and lock him up, he used his size advantage to go inside. Benner beat us with the 3-pointer, beat us in the post and beat us at the free-throw line. He was great in this game.
“Mishawaka did a great job playing off Benner’s success. They hadn’t been shooting that good in recent games.”
The Cavemen were 6-for-8 on 3-pointers early in the game, vaulting to a 14-6 lead in the first six minutes.
Benner hit a trio of ‘3s’ in the opening period and 6-1 junior Javonte Young one.
Louis Kissinger, 6-2 sophomore, scored five points in the first quarter for Goshen and 6-7 senior Taylor Kolbus four. The Cavemen led 17-9 at the first stop.
Benner did not miss a shot in the second quarter, hitting five times from 2-point range and connecting on three free throws.
The Redskins got within 27-21 with 3:00 until halftime, but another Mishawaka spurt made it 36-25 at the intermission.
The teams traded scores in the third stanza before Kolbus popped in an eight-footer and then scored underneath to get Goshen within 41-35 with 2:41 on the clock.
Five Mishawaka points made it 46-35 heading into the last eight minutes.
The Redskins, with just one personal foul in the second half, were forced to foul repeatedly in an attempt to get Mishawaka to the free-throw line and gain some possessions.
Two free throws by Kolbus with 0:30 to play cut the Mishawaka lead to 53-48, but the Redskins could get no closer.
Kolbus had 22 points and nine rebounds for Goshen, Speicher 12 points and six rebounds, Kissinger 10 points and 10 rebounds. Carson Roberts, 6-1 junior, chipped in with six points and 6-1 sophomore Warren Kay two.
The Redskins outrebounded the visitors, 22-15, in the second half to win the board battle, 30-26.
“We had it down to 50-42 with plenty of time to play,” said Bechtel. “Then we missed a couple free throws, a post shot and had a couple more opportunities to score.
“We had some good looks, but just couldn’t convert to make it even closer.
“First-half turnovers hurt us again and we had trouble getting in the flow of an offense. Our guards must do a much better job of protecting the basketball. When we do that, we get good looks at the basket. Turnovers are a mental obstacle on offense.
“We have been trying to get Kissinger more involved in the offense, encouraging him to look for his shot. He is one of our better shooters in practice.”
Junior Varsity
Mishawaka won the JV game, 50-46, as sophomore T.J. Benner scored 18 points for the Cavemen who improved to 7-7.
Junior Adam Metzler scored 16 for 6-8 Goshen, freshman Jesse Good 11, sophomore Casey Looker six, sophomore Austin Shaffer five, sophomore Josh Gill four and Hans Singer three.
