The Benton County Bass Anglers excelled in the Kentucky Lake tournament held at Birdsong Marina on Saturday, March 23. Two junior high and four high school teams placed in the contest.
The anglers finished strong in the High School Division, with the team of Weston Bivens, Logan Deaton, and boat captain Colin Myrick taking first place with a 5-fish total of 12.63 lbs. Brandon Hollowell, Jarett Thornton, and captain Jeff Arnold placed second with 8.75 lbs., also earning biggest fish honors with a 4.78-pounder. Ryan Baker, Hunter Sparks, and captain Tracy Baker placed fifth with 5.56 lbs., and Dylan Thornton, Jack Williams, and boat captain Shane Hodge placed 12th with 2.96 lbs.
Among junior high anglers, Bo Ezell, Payton Perry, and boat captain Chris Perry placed second with one fish weighing 4.22 lbs. Hayden Jennette, Talon Stone, and boat captain Jason Stone also placed with one fish, earning fourth place honors with 2.33 lbs. The teams of Trey Dooley, Jack Farmer, and boat captain Jody Farmer; and Drew Hardin, Alex Townsend, and boat captain Jason Townsend also represented Benton County in the Junior High Division.
The Kentucky Lake tournament marked the fifth tournament in the West Tennessee Region. Among the region’s 216 high school teams, Bivens/Deaton are ranked 13th, Baker/Sparks are ranked 21st, Thornton/Williams are ranked 46th, and Hollowell/Thornton are ranked 50th. Among the 46 junior high teams, Dooley/Farmer are ranked second, Goodwin/Sneed are ranked third, Ezell/Perry are ranked fourth, Hardin/Townsend are ranked sixth, and Jennette/Stone are ranked eighth.
The Benton County Bass Anglers will fish on their home lake again on Saturday, April 6, at Eva Beach. A state open event, the Eva Beach tournament is likely to draw more than 150 boats from across Tennessee.
In preparation for the next tournament, the anglers will hold a barbecue fundraiser on Friday, April 5. The $8 meal includes a barbecue chicken leg quarter, beans, potato salad, slaw, dessert, and a drink. Meals will be ready for pick-up at lunch or dinner, and delivery options are available.
The students also are selling raffle tickets for a prize package to be given away at the state tournament in May. The winning ticket holder will not have to be present at the tournament to win the prize.
To purchase tickets for either the barbecue or raffle fundraiser, see any member of the Benton County Bass Anglers, or contact Coach Greg Webb through the Benton County Bass Anglers Facebook page. Be sure to come out to support the anglers on April 6 at Eva Beach!
