Summer shootouts highlight basketball offseason

Posted By: dkinnard
June 28, 2022 @ 4:24 pm
Basketball, Benton, Fairfield, Slider

Russell Conwell
Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

BENTON — The Benton Rangers welcomed teams from the River to River, Black Diamond, Greater Egyptian, and Midland Trail conferences for a two-day, boys basketball summer shootout last Thursday and Friday.

After graduating six seniors from a team that finished 16-15, Benton head coach Ron Winemiller said teamwork is his point of emphasis this summer. “To really get the guys playing together, get them used to playing with each other,” Winemiller said. “Sharing the ball, learning what everybody’s role has got to be.”

Benton boys basketball coach Ron Winemiller watches his team in the Benton Summer Shootout. Photo by Russell Conwell.

The Rangers swept their pool each day of competition. “We have to get better every game we play,” said Benton junior guard Isaac Billington. “We have to take all these summer games seriously so when the season comes, we’re ready for anything”

Summer practices and shootouts often help teams discover what their identity will be this coming season.

“To get the guys locked in their roles before we start the year, and just continue to get better,” Winemiller said. “I feel like we have made great improvements from the end of the season to now. We’ve just got to improve from the end of the summer to the start of the season.”

Benton junior Isaac Billington dribbles against NCOE in the Benton Summer Shootout. Photo by Russell Conwell.

“We have definitely seen a lot, but mainly focusing on seeing what other teams’ defenses are,” Billington said. “We have played teams who run different styles of defense, and that helps us out because we have to be ready for a full court press or a 2-3 zone come postseason.”

Fairfield was another one of the 32 teams to compete at the Benton Summer Shootout. The Mules had four senior starters graduate from last year’s team. “We have one starter back, along with my JV team,” said Fairfield head coach Scott McElravy. “So just getting to know each other a little bit, working with new guys. Our JV team was pretty competitive last year, but it’s a different deal when you play varsity minutes.”

Fairfield boys basketball coach Scott McElravy watches his team in the Benton Summer Shootout. Photo by Russell Conwell.

Summer events also provide teams with some different competition.

“We’re getting ready to play a good team in Benton, right now. We played another good River team, Massac, last week,” McElravy said. “Then we go up to Vandalia in the summers too, so we get a chance to play the T-towns, Tolono Unity, and some other northern teams too. So we try to mix it up a little bit.”

The Benton Shootout marked the end of summer events for Fairfield. Benton finishes with the Vandalia Shootout this week.