Wahoo vs Bennington

Wahoo opened the 2025-2026 season with a new coach and a new gym and produced a familiar result. The Warriors defeated Bennington, 51 – 38. T.J. O’Connor takes the reins for the Warriors. His debut coincides with the opening of Wahoo’s newly constructed gym that is part of an extension of the old high school (the previous high school classrooms becoming part of the WHS Middle School). Coach O’Connor reflected, “I am grateful to be coaching at Wahoo, but it is really all about the kids, and I was very happy for them to be rewarded for a great effort.” It was a tough opener for the new coach as Bennington entered the game ranked #8 in the Omaha World Herald preseason poll. The Wariors were #7.

Wahoo especially was tough on defense as they held the Badgers to 25% field goal shooting. Bennington was not proficient from the three point line, but did hit some timely treys to keep them in the game. Bennington’s Brady Nichols made a three to pull the Badgers within one at 6-5. Carson Kelly came off the bench to score on two drives to the basket to push Wahoo’s lead to 10-5. But then McCoy Haywood netted a three and Nichols swished another as time ran out to give Bennington a 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Neither team was able to claim more than a four point lead in the second quarter. With the score tied at :23, Wahoo held for the last shot and Jase Kaminski drove for the score with :07 seconds left and Wahoo claimed a 25-23 half time lead. Three point shooting was again an effective weapon for the visitors as Landon McCarville and Jax Gifford scored from deep. Landon Glock made the lone three for the Warriors.

The Warriors opened a 32 – 23 lead at the start of the second half with a conventional three-point play by Cody Hesser, a fast break lay-up as Kip Brigham found Eli Shada, and a drive inside by Jase Kaminski. Bennington then put on a seven point run of their own to close within two. Landon Glock’s second three of the game ended the Bennington run. Wahoo led 39-32 at the end of three.

Wahoo scored the first five of the period to claim their biggest lead at 44-32 half way through the fourth quarter. The Warriors coasted to the final 13 point victory.

After connecting on five three’s in the first half, Bennington only scored two in the final two quarters and finished 7/31 for the game (23%). Wahoo wasn’t any better as Glock scored the only treys for the Warriors who were 2 / 10 (20%). Wahoo controlled the boards, out rebounding the Badgers 43 – 28. Hesser led Wahoo’s dominance with 11 caroms. The senior also led the team in steals with 3 and netted 12 points. Jase Kaminski was the game’s leading scorer with 16. Kale Lamberty led Bennington with 9 points.

Coach O’Connor commented on the victory, “I loved our kids’ competitiveness, toughness and just grit to find a way. They defended with a ton of effort and ‘want to.’ I was extremely proud of our kids.

Noteworthy:
Leading Scorer: Jase Kaminski 16 pts.; Rebounds -- Cody Hesser 11 ; Assists -- Jase Kaminski 3 ; Steals-- Cody Hesser 3

Wahoo
freethrows: 15 / 24 63 % ; fieldgoals: 17 / 48 35 % ; three point: 2 / 10 20 %

Bennington
freethrows: 7 / 10 70 % ; fieldgoals: 12 / 49 24 %; three point: 7 / 31 23 %

Bennington Statistics

GAME PLAYLIST:

Q 1 7:02 Kaminski 2 drive 2-0
Q 1 6:36 Hesser 2 drive from Kaminski 4-0
Q 1 5:00 Benningtonnington 2 jumpshot 4-2
Q 1 4:16 Kaminski 2 of 2 2 FT 2 FT 6-2
Q 1 3:03 Bennington 3-pointer 6-5
Q 1 2:27 C. KELLEY 2 drive drive 8-5
Q 1 1:56 C. KELLEY 2 drive 10-5
Q 1 0:38 Bennington 3 3-pointer corner 3 10-8
Q 1 0:03 Bennington -- Brady Nichols 3 3-pointer 10-11
Q 2 7:30 Bennington 2 inside 10-13
Q 2 6:54 Shada 2 of 2 free throw 12-13
Q 2 6:33 Kaminski 2 drive drive 14-13
Q 2 5:09 Glock 3 3-pointer 3 17-13
Q 2 4:14 J. Kelley from Kaminski 2 transition from Kaminski 19-18
Q 2 4:10 Bennington 3 3-pointer Gifford 17-16
Q 2 3:39 Bennington 2 of 2 free throw 17-18
Q 2 2:42 Glock 1 of 2 free throw 20-18
Q 2 2:23 Bennington - Neuverth 2 of 2 free throw - Neuverth 20-20
Q 2 2:06 C. Kelley 1 of 2 free throw 21-20
Q 2 1:41 Hesser 2 transition coast to coast 23-20
Q 2 1:20 Bennington McCarville 3 3-pointer corner 3 McCarville 23-23
Q 2 ::07 Kaminski 2 drive 25-23
Q 3 7:29 Hessser 2 drive drive + 1 27-23
Q 3 7:29 Hessser 1 of 1 free throw 28-23
Q 3 6:29 Shada 2 transition from Brigham 30-23
Q 3 4:34 Kaminski 2 drive 32-23
Q 3 4:34 Kaminski 0 of 1 free throw 32-23
Q 3 4:17 Bennington 2 drive Lamberty 32-25
Q 3 4:01 Bennington 3 3-pointer Lamberty 32-28
Q 3 3:01 Bennington 2 drive 32-30
Q 3 2:21 Glock 3 3-pointer left wing 35-30
Q 3 1:47 Hesser 1 of 2 free throw 36-30
Q 3 1:35 Bennington 2 drive 36-32
Q 3 1:23 Kaminski 2 drive 38-32
Q 3 1:23 Kaminski 1 of 1 free throw 39-32
Q 4 7:03 Brigham 1 of 2 free throw 40-32
Q 4 5:36 Bennington 0 of 2 free throw 40-32
Q 4 4:51 Shada 2 inside from Kaminski 42-32
Q 4 4:14 Kaminski 2 drive 44-32
Q 4 4:14 Kaminski 0 of 1 free throw 44-32
Q 4 3:56 Bennington 2 of 2 free throw 44-34
Q 4 3:44 Shada 1 of 2 free throw 45-34
Q 4 3:19 Bennington 3 3-pointer Norwood 45-37
Q 4 2:05 Brigham 1 of 2 free throw 46-37
Q 4 1:13 Bennington 1 of 2 free throw 46-38
Q 4 1:02 Hesser 2 of 2 free throw 48-38
Q 4 0:47 Hesser 2 transition steal and layup 50-38
Q 4 0:28 Kaminski 1 of 2 free throw 51-38