BasehorInfo.com / Benton Smith

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

BLHS boys rally past Tonganoxie: By Benton Smith; February 4, 2010; It wasn’t easy, but the Basehor-Linwood boys basketball team remained undefeated in the Kaw Valley League with a 61-52 win Tuesday at Tonganoxie.
Basehor girls punish Tonganoxie with 3-pointers in 74-53 victory: By Benton Smith; February 4, 2010; The Basehor-Linwood girls basketball team buried 10 3-pointers and pasted Tonganoxie, 74-53, on Tuesday night at THS.
BLHS wins 61-52 at Tonganoxie: By Benton Smith; February 2, 2010; It wasn’t easy, but the Basehor-Linwood High boys basketball team remained undefeated in the Kaw Valley League with a 61-52 win at Tonganoxie Tuesday night.
Bobcat girls’ bombs lead to win at THS: By Benton Smith; February 2, 2010; The Basehor-Linwood High girls basketball team buried 10 three-pointers and pasted Tonganoxie, 74-53, on Tuesday night.
Bobcats hold off Chieftains in 2OT: Tonganoxie’s 2-point conversion bid falls short as Basehor escapes; By Benton Smith; October 16, 2009; Tonganoxie took a gamble in a district road game Friday night and busted.
No easy victories in Bobcats’ district: By Benton Smith; October 15, 2009; Throughout the state of Kansas this week, high school football teams will be fighting for their postseason lives in district matchups.
District up for grabs with four winning football squads: Basehor-Linwood, Bishop Ward, Piper and Tonganoxie prepare to battle for the postseason; By Benton Smith; October 13, 2009; Class 4A’s District 2 features four Kaw Valley League teams with postseason aspirations and the early-season success to bolster confidence. Basehor-Linwood, Bishop Ward, Piper and Tonganoxie all enter district play with winning records.
Aggressive THS beats Bobcats, 2-0: By Benton Smith; September 3, 2009; When Basehor-Linwood fired a shot on goal in the first minute of action at Tonganoxie High on Thursday night, it appeared the Bobcats would be the aggressors.
Pray family streamlining this year’s county fair activities: By Benton Smith; August 5, 2009; In the past the Pray family children of Tonganoxie have dabbled in just about every category 4-H has to offer.
Mill Valley Returns to top of KVL standings: By Benton Smith; July 23, 2009; Lansing High may have won more league titles, but Mill Valley returned to its place on the Kaw Valley League throne for the 2008-2009 school year, earning The World Company Newspapers’ annual KVL Athletics Department of the Year award for the fifth time in the six years of the award’s existence.

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Recent photos

Symon Seaton, Basehor-Linwood junior, worked out of an early jam and rolled to a 12-2 major decision against Turner’s James Loman in the 125-pound finals Saturday at the Kaw Valley League Championships.

Tonganoxie High senior forward Justin Jacobs attempts to score between Basehor-Linwood defenders Ryan O'Donnell and Ryan Murphy on Tuesday night. The Bobcats prevailed, 61-52, at THS.

Tonganoxie High forward Danielle Miller runs into Basehor-Linwood's defense as Courtney Poe extends her arms and Megan Bergstrom blocks a shot from behind on Tuesday during the Bobcats' 74-53 defeat of the Chieftains.

Richie O’Donnell, Basehor-Linwood senior, makes a tackle during a district playoff victory against Tonganoxie. O’Donnell forced a fumble during Basehor’s 34-21 victory over Bishop Ward.

Basehor-Linwood’s Cara McCarty tips the ball past a pair of Bishop Ward blockers during their first-round match Saturday at the Class 4A substate tournament at Piper High School. Ward won the match in three games, but the Cyclones eventually lost to defending state champion St. James Academy in the substate finals.

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