STC junior Nick Upah attempts to rebound the ball against Benton. PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT

The STC boys basketball team wrapped up their 2024-2025 regular season campaign with a trip to Benton on Tuesday, Feb. 18. It was a frustrating game for the Trojans, who hung with the Bobcats for most of the game, only to see Benton pull away for a 71-48 victory.

STC scored the first points of the game when junior Cyrell Etzen connected on a layup for a 2-0 lead. However, in a foreshadowing of the rest of the night, Benton junior Carson Pickering hit three straight 3-point field goals to give Benton an early 9-2 advantage. But the Trojans kept fighting and junior Tanner Large scored seven quick points to cut into the Bobcat lead, 19-14, at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Etzen come out and knock down five straight points to tie the game at 19-19. And after Benton took a two-point lead, Trojan sophomore Michael Henry stole the ball and broke away for a layup to once again tie the score at 21-21. But the Bobcats went on a 10-4 run to close the quarter and took a 31-25 lead into the halftime break.

STC, however, was determined to come out of the break strong and avenge an earlier loss on the season to Benton. Balanced scoring from junior Nick Upah, Large, junior Marion Harris, and Ezten kept the score close. After Etzen connected on a 3-point basket, and Large scored on a jump-shot, the Trojans had tied the game at 38-38. A moment later, with 3:37 left in the third quarter, Etzen scored again and the Trojans had their first lead since being up 2-0. But Benton quickly regained the lead when they hit four 3-point baskets in the remaining three minutes of the quarter. They carried a 50-45 lead into the final eight minutes.

When Upah scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, STC cut the lead to 50-47. But they would not get any closer and scored only one more point for the game — a free-throw by sophomore Ayden Wobeter. Meanwhile, Pickering connected on three more 3-pointers, and the Bobcats broke away to their winning margin of 71-48.

Junior Cyrell Etzen scores two of his game high 19 points to lead the Trojans against Benton. PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT

On the night, Benton was led by Pickering’s 27 points–on nine 3-pointers made. Benton hit a total of 14 three-pointers for the game, shooting 42% on the night from beyond the arc. The Trojans were led by Etzen’s 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals. Large contributed 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Upah added 7 points, and Henry chipped in 4 points.

With the regular season concluded, the Trojans turned the page to postseason play. They drew a challenging first round playoff matchup against Class 3A #6 rated Waverly-Shell Rock on Monday night, February 24. STC was looking to pull off the upset and continue their season but they found the Go-Hawks too hard to overcome.

Once again, the Trojans struggled to defend the 3-point line, giving up 16 triples to the Go-Hawks on the night. Waverly started to pull away mid-way through the first quarter and kept up their torrid shooting to roll to a 96-37 victory. For their final game of the season, Etzen once again led the Trojans in with 14 points. Large scored 7 points, while Henry (5 points), Upah (4 points) and junior Wesley Hanus (4 points) added to the scoring on the night.

With the conclusion of their 2024-2025 campaign, STC finished with a record of 1-21. Their lone win of the season came on Jan. 27 against the Meskwaki Settlement School.

STC sophomore Michael Henry looks for a driving lane while guarded by Benton's Gavin Brooks. PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT

STC junior Tanner Large shoots over Benton's Gavin Brooks. Large had 15 points on the night for the Trojans. PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT

Trojan senior guard Jerome Kapayou eyes the rim as he looks to score against Benton. PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT