GOREVILLE -- After losing an overtime thriller to eventual champion Anna-Jonesboro in the opening game of the Goreville Invitational Tournament, the Benton Rangers mowed down four straight opponents to finish second in the tournament.
A-J finished with a perfect 5-0 record while the Rangers were 4-1, including a convincing 72-46 victory over host Goreville in the Saturday nightcap.
In Benton's first win of the season -- a 61-21 blowout of Hardin County -- Coach Ron Winemiller earned his 200th career victory as the Rangers' coach.
Goreville officials presented him with the game ball.
"That's a great thing to think about the guys who played for me before in different places. It means a lot and something I'll look back on as I get older and cherish," Winemiller said.
Three players were in double figures in that victory.
Gehrig Wynn led the way with 15, Parker Williams contributed 12 and Mason Morris came off the bench for 11 points.
Benton defeated Hamilton County 51-38 on Friday.
The Rangers outscored the Foxes 15-5 in the second quarter to take command of the game.
Cade Thomas led the Rangers with 15 points and Williams chipped in 11.
On Saturday morning, Benton breezed past Johnston City, 59-20.
Hamilton Page led the offense with 11 points and Morris added 11.
In the Saturday night finale, the Rangers went on a 16-0 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter to take a 41-24 lead into the lockers.
During the run, Hamilton Page scored eight points, including a pair of long balls. Wynn, who had four treys in the game, led the Rangers with 20 points. Page added 15.
"I thought we did a good job of stringing a bunch of stops together and had some good offensive possessions, stretching the game out to where it was going to be difficult for them (Goreville) to win," said Winemiller. "We were able to finish the possession by getting some rebounds and then we could get out in transition and we could get some easy baskets."
Parker Williams hauled down 13 rebounds in the victory.
Benton was up 59-36 at the end of the third quarter, leading by as many as 28 points with 5 ½ minutes remaining in the game.
Senior guard Braden Webb led Goreville (3-2) with 12 points, although he wasn't near as effective as he was a year ago in the championship game won by the Rangers.
"He's a little more banged up too. Gehrig did a good job on him and we kept him off the free throw line and made him take some tough shots. Offensively and defensively, we were much better tonight than we've been in any game this tournament," Winemiller said.
