Benton Smith Sports writer
Benton Smith covers sports and news for The Mirror. Although he hails from the state of North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina, he assures you that neither that place nor the men's basketball team at said university have much or anything to do with him. Benton was a sports writer for the Lawrence Journal-World before coming to Tonganoxie. He is an avid basketball fan and football devotee but finds himself of late enjoying baseball more than he ever thought possible — he is 99 percent certain that is because the Kansas City Royals are actually competitive. Since joining The Mirror staff in February of 2008, Benton has learned that all high school sports, their athletes and coaches are pretty much a blast to cover.
Recent stories
- Basehor-Linwood soccer defeats THS
- September 28, 2011
- The Basehor-Linwood High soccer team held Tonganoxie in check in the second half Wednesday to beat its visiting rivals, 2-1, at BLHS.
- Tonganoxie soccer scores late against BLHS for 1st ‘W’
- September 1, 2011
- With a score in the final minutes of the second half, THS earned its first victory of the season with a 1-0 shutout of visiting Basehor-Linwood.
- Tonganoxie football coach Mark Elston resigns
- 12:05 p.m., August 31, 2011 Updated 06:56 p.m.
- Tonganoxie High football coach Mark Elston has submitted his resignation.
- THS trainer excited to see head-injury act passed in Kansas
- August 23, 2011
- Tonganoxie High athletic trainer Mark Padfield did plenty during his summer vacation this year, but the highlight of his break came almost immediately after the school year ended.
- Tonganoxie golfers represent KVL, finish 2nd at state championships
- May 26, 2011
- Golf might very well be a game in which the greatest individual garners the glory and accolades, but on Monday at the Class 4A state tournament in Hutchinson, Tonganoxie High learned just how valuable each member of its team could be.
- Bonner Springs, Tonganoxie battle to unconventional doubleheader split as both ‘home teams’ claim victories
- May 12, 2011
- The home team on the scoreboard won one game Friday at Leavenworth County Fairgrounds and the team actually playing on its home field won the other game.
- Bobcats wallop THS boys
- February 5, 2011
- Any hope the Tonganoxie High boys basketball team had of hanging around with rival Basehor-Linwood Saturday flew out the gymnasium door early.
- Turnovers costly for Tonganoxie girls in ‘L’ to BLHS
- February 5, 2011
- With more turnovers than points Saturday against Basehor-Linwood High, the Tonganoxie girls basketball team squandered an eight-point halftime lead at home and lost, 35-30.
- Williams, Pichardo catch fire, power Braves past Chieftains
- January 6, 2011
- Fueled by big nights from a couple of Braves who were due for a scoring outburst, the Bonner Springs boys basketball team held off visiting Tonganoxie on Tuesday, 75-66.
- Basehor-Linwood throttles Tonganoxie
- Football team secures berth in Class 4A state playoffs
- October 28, 2010
- The Basehor-Linwood High School football team held Tonganoxie scoreless for the first 38:54 of a district rivalry game Friday night at Beatty Field and rolled to a 41-16 victory, eliminating any chance for the Chieftains to play in the postseason.
Recent photos
Basehor-Linwood High junior Lane Young and Tonganoxie junior captain Zack Tallent watch the ball's path after Young headed it toward the goal in the second half Wednesday at BLHS. The Bobcats beat the Chieftains, 2-1.
The Bobcats' Zach Ferguson moves the ball up the field as THS senior Marcus Titterington steps in his path in the second half of Basehor's 2-1 Wednesday home victory.
With Basehor-Linwood's Sammy Seaton a step behind, Tonganoxie senior captain Matt Briggs goes for a kick while on the move in the first half of the Bobcats' 2-1 win.
As Deric Brannan closes in, Tonganoxie forward Matt Saathoff turns to find an opening late in the second half of Basehor's 2-1 win.
Basehor-Linwood senior Spencer Himpel races Tonganoxie senior Joseph Parrino to the ball in the second half of the Bobcats' 2-1 home victory on Wednesday.
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Point of View
The postal service is cutting back hours at some rural post offices. How often do you go to the post office?
“For my own personal use, I only go a couple times a year to mail gifts, usually around Christmas and family birthdays. At that time I usually buy a couple books of stamps that last for most of the year! For professional use, I go a couple times a month to check our PO Box.”
