• Photo Showcase: Bryan vs. Benson, Feb. 7
• Video Below: See Omaha Bryan-Omaha Benson boys and girls basketball game highlights

* * *

Coach Tim Cannon has his senior trio back and his Omaha Bryan squad has that look again.

Both were evident Tuesday night as the Class A No. 5 Bears blew out eighth-ranked Omaha Benson 73-56.

Ethan Montalvo and Jake Maslo, both hampered by injuries for much of the year, went for 26 and 23 points, respectively, for Bryan. That duo combined to hit 18 of 24 from the field and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.

Add in 12 from fellow senior Joe Imig and the trio had 57 of Bryan's first 66 points.

“That's the way it should be,” Cannon said. “We can get contributions from other guys, too. But those three have been through it before. They've got good confidence. We feel like we played a pretty complete game tonight.”

Montalvo, Maslo and Imig scored all but two of the Bryan points in an 18-6 third quarter that turned a six-point halftime lead into a 21-point cushion early in the fourth.

Benson held its last lead of a back-and-forth first 11 ½ minutes at 27-26 before Bryan went on a run. Montalvo and Maslo each scored 10, and Imig and Jimma Lew both chipped in seven apiece during a 34-12 stretch.

“It started on the defensive end,” said Maslo, who added eight rebounds on the night. “And then we executed on offense.”

Montalvo missed four full games earlier in the season with an ankle injury. Just about the time he was getting back, Maslo was shelved with back problems. Tuesday night was the second game since Montalvo's injury that the two had been at full health and in the lineup together.

“Before the game we had a talk about this being our senior year and it being time to go for it,” Maslo said. “I can feel it. That feeling is there again.”

And just in time for Bryan's toughest stretch of games thus far. The Bears host Class A No. 4 Omaha South Friday night and have a road game at top-ranked and unbeaten Omaha Central next week. That's three games against ranked teams in 10 days for Cannon and company.

Benson got 22 from Tyron Criswell, including four 3-pointers. Criswell had 13 in the game's first 10 minutes, but didn't score again until nearly the midway point of the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach. Khyri Thomas added 16 for the Bunnies, who have lost three in a row after winning five straight.

“Shots didn't fall,” Benson coach Donnie Johnson said. “And when shots aren't falling, you've got to get down and guard. We didn't do that.”

Omaha Benson (11-8).............16 15 6 19 - 56
Omaha Bryan (14-6)...............15 20 18 20 - 73

OBe: Byron Snoddy 1, Mar'Shun Stewart 3, Danny Barfield 2, Khyri Thomas 16, Deion Wells-Ross 2, Tyron Criswell 22, Tyree Peter 3, Thik Bol 7.

OBr: Jacorie Tyler 1, Ethan Montalvo 26, Joe Imig 12, Joe Gonzalez-Kelso 1, Jimma Lew 7, Garyn Spurlock 2, Jake Maslo 23, Caleb Thurston 1.

Contact the writer:

402-850-0781, nickrubek@gmail.com
twitter.com/nickrubek

* * *

• Video: Omaha Bryan-Omaha Benson boys basketball game highlights:



• Video: Omaha Bryan-Omaha Benson girls basketball game highlights: