New coach, mostly new lineup in store for Benson

Benson’s Juan Espinoza pressure Montevideo’s Andrew VanBinsbergen at the top of the zone during a West Central Conference game on Jan. 29, 2021 at Benson High School. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

Mike Felt takes over as head coach with one returning starter

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

BENSON — New head boys basketball coach Mike Felt takes over a program with not much experience, but with hope that things will improve as the season goes on.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys with not very much experience, which is tough,” Felt said.

The experience comes primarily from Jalen Anderson, a 6-foot-3 senior forward who was a key component in last season’s 8-11 squad that went 3-9 in West Central Conference play.

“Juan Espinoza played a little bit, too,” Felt said. “But after that, it’s not much.”

Espinoza is a 6-4 junior guard who will have an expanded role. The Braves plan to play the entire court for the most part and continue to go up-tempo as they did under former head coach Adam Jensen, who is Felt’s brother-in-law and still on the staff as an assistant. Also on the staff is Brady Dokkebakken.

Felt, who had a successful run as head coach at Parkers Prairie after playing at North Dakota State and a standout career at Redwood Falls, has a lineup that includes Isaac Minchow, Dylan Ascheman and Blake Brehmer. Minchow and Ascheman are 5-8 seniors. Brehmer is a 5-9 sophomore. Brandonn Traut and Chaden Carroll, both 5-11 seniors, also will be key contributors.

A key loss is Ben Peterson. The 6-2 senior guard was on the West Central Tribune’s All-Area second team after averaging 19.6 points per game. Benson opened with a 70-46 loss at Wheaton/ Herman-Norcross.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Felt, noting that Wheaton/ Herman-Norcross is an improved, experienced team. “We need to work on our decision-making. Our decision-making can get way, way better.

“We can’t take plays off. The stuff we’re going through is that there is a lot of difference between varsity and JV and we’re learning about that stuff right now.”

The Braves play Dec. 9 at Dawson-Boyd then play host to Ortonville on Dec. 14 in their home-opener. Felt is optimistic.

“We’re looking forward to the rest of the season,” he said.

Benson guard Isaac Minchow picks up his dribble during a West Central Conference game against Montevideo on Jan. 29, 2021 at Benson High School.

Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune