Bennie basketball takes the court in Hawaii over break

The CSB basketball team got a taste of warm weather and victory over winter break as they traveled to Hilo, Hawaii for a pair of games in the Big Island Holiday Classic. In both their matchups, the team won comfortably as their point differential was +31 in the tournament. They beat Worcester State University 64-44 and DePauw University 69-58.

“I think the trip really helped build confidence amongst our team,” senior post Tori Szathmary said via email. “Both teams we played were talented, and they both tested us in a different way, so it was nice to rise to the challenge in both occasions.”

When asked about the Hawaii trip, junior guard Carla Meyer backed up Szathmary’s statement and thought the trip was key in furthering the development in the team’s chemistry. The team has found success throughout the 2022-2023 season as they have a record of 12-4 overall and 9-4 in conference play. They currently sit in fourth place in the MIAC behind Gustavus, Bethel and Concordia with nine games remaining in the regular season. Head coach Mike Durbin said that playing good defense has been a key to their success so far this year. The players agree.

“My team has been able to find success this year through our defense and playing together. We have really improved at the defensive end this year by playing in our gaps and getting to the help side,” Meyer said via email.

Another factor contributing to this team’s success has been their ability to share the basketball and play as a team.

“Our team has been able to find success whenwe play together. We have been sharing the ball really [well] in the past couple of weeks,” Szathmary said.

Again, Meyer backed this statement up.

“We have been unselfish, share the ball better with teammates and work well together,” Meyer said via email.

This team’s defense has come up clutch in close games this season. Durbin’s team has a record of 6-2 in games that are decided by seven points or less. This team has high hopes for the rest of the season. St. Ben’s will take on each of the teams ahead of them in the conference standings (Gustavus, Bethel and Concordia) on the road for three of their nine remaining games. They are only two games behind first-place Gustavus as they look to make a push toward a regular season MIAC Championship. After the regular season, the focus is on the MIAC tournament, where the most important games of the season will be played.

“I hope that we continue to play well together as a team and try [to] limit our turnovers. I think if we make smart decisions, continue to play tough defense, communicate and rebound, our team will have a strong chance in the playoffs,” Meyer said.

Durbin acknowledged that their remaining schedule will be tough no matter the opponent, but he has a lot of confidence in his team.

“I would never sell us short,” Durbin said.

The Bennies are back in action at home on Jan. 28, starting at 3 p.m.