Benet grinds out a Pontiac win against Bloom

PONTIAC - It appeared it was still football season when Benet took a 16-13 lead into halftime against Bloom.

"It was really a struggle for both teams to score," Benet boys basketball coach Gene Heidkamp said after the Redwings returned to the historic Pontiac Holiday Tournament for the first time since 2001.

But the Redwings played well enough to dispatch the Trojans 43-33 on Monday afternoon to earn a quarterfinal date with defending champion Curie, which eased past Danville 74-45.

James Dockery and Dan Sobolewski opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to create separation for Benet (7-2).

Benet misfired on 26 of its 44 field goal attempts for the game, but its unique style of offense still created problems for Bloom (4-5).

The Redwings' admirable spacing, ball movement and unselfish play provided ample scoring opportunities. And that methodical style of play and overall steadiness was needed to combat the Trojans' athleticism.

"They do things offensively as well as anybody," Bloom coach Ron Ashlaw said of the Redwings. "What they always have is (offensive) counters. You guard seven things, and the eighth one bites you."

The Redwings did not have a free throw in the game, as their lone would-be attempt was wiped out on a lane violation.

Benet had to either use its perimeter game - the Redwings were 7-for-22 beyond the arc - or score by players cutting to the basket.

Benet's recipe for success was defense. Bloom shot 30 percent from the field for the game (12-for-40).

Colin Bonnett, the Redwings' lone returning starter from their reigning state runner-up team, and Dockery led the team with 8 points apiece.

"I have a lot more experience than the other guys in the locker room in terms of on-the-floor minutes," Bonnett said. "Last year we saw how much defense meant in our role."

Benet had its most productive output in the third quarter; the team had 2 more points than its entire first-half total.

Bloom, which was missing its three leading scorers, tallied double digits as well in the third quarter.

But it would prove to be the exception as Benet, which held the Trojans scoreless for almost 10 minutes after Bloom scored on its two opening possessions of the game, allowed only two fourth-quarter field goals.

"Defense is what we have to hang our hat on if we want to be successful as a team," Heidkamp said.

Bloom guard Rodney Hayes had four 3-pointers to lead all players with 12 points.