On Saturday, March 11, the Benet Academy Boys Basketball team faced Moline High School in the IHSA 4A State Championship. However, victory was not in the cards for the Redwings as they fell to Moline 59-42. Despite this, the Benet Academy boys led a successful season, ending in second place with a 35-2 record. 

Benet Academy started the game with a 5-0 run, showing off their strong offense and equally talented defense. However, that would be Benet Academy’s only lead, as Moline would hold score control for 86% of the game. The first quarter was the best Benet Academy showed, going 5-10 on field goals and 2-3 beyond the arc. Moline led 17-15 at the end of the quarter. Benet Academy was outscored 27-15 in the second and third quarters extending Moline’s lead to 14 as the game headed into the fourth quarter. Benet Academy could not manage a comeback, and Moline ended victorious. 

At the postgame press conference, Head Coach Gene Heidkamp said, “he couldn’t be prouder” of the team and that “they gave [the community] an unbelievable season from start to finish.” He also said, “We lost to a great team. I just want to congratulate Coach Taylor and his team. They are worthy Champs”.  

When senior Brayden Fagbemi was asked to comment on the season and what it meant to him, he said, “I’ll remember the family we built in the locker room, the nights we spent eating out, the practices, and the games we played. The brotherhood. That’s definitely the stuff I’ll remember”. 

Congratulations to the Benet Academy Boys Basketball team on a great season!