MONTGOMERY–Parker Bennett and cousins Hayden and Brody Denton played countless games together growing up.

But those were often on the driveway or playground. Saturday against Millville was the first time they started a varsity game together. And what a day it was.

Bennett erupted for a career-high 42 points, Hayden and Brody set an energetic tone with their gritty play and Montgomery thumped Millville, 75-60. Bennett topped 40 points for the second straight Saturday after going for 41 a week earlier and Montgomery (5-10) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Bennett’s younger brother Chase was sidelined with an injury, but it remained a day the family will long remember.

“It’s been really cool this year having my brother and two of my cousins play with me. My cousins started with me today and that just gives me the energy,” Bennett said. “We’ve been playing together since we were very little. They and my teammates and coaches give me all the energy I need.”

Bennett seemingly has endless energy and never tires while constantly hustling up and down the court. Not just a scorer, Bennett produced a double-double, adding 12 rebounds and three steals. His cousins play at a similar furious pace and that provided a lift as Montgomery built a 19-9 first quarter lead and never let Millville pull closer than nine again.

Three straight steals and layups by Bennett and Damaj Stewart Williams (5 steals) gave Montgomery its biggest lead, 51-26 just past the third quarter’s midway point and Bennett was as potent in the first half (22 points) as he was in the second (20).

“They’re cousins and, obviously, Parker is top dog, but they don’t want to let their cousin down. It’s a dynamic that not everyone has the opportunity to have,” Montgomery coach Rivers Parrish said. “I played with my brother, and we might yell at each other, but you’re playing for your brother. That accountability is important and helps a ton.”

It certainly did Saturday.

Bennett was virtually unstoppable, scoring at least seven points in each quarter and generating 35 through three quarters as Montgomery opened a 57-35 advantage. He drained two 3-pointers, but did most of his damage attacking the basket, sometimes scoring at will off his drives.

And while Bennett finished strong around the basket, it was both he and his teammates sharing the basketball which made it all happen. Bennett was simply not just racing up court and going after the defense. He gave the ball up; Montgomery moved it around and Bennett pounced when the opportunities came.

They came a lot and by halftime Bennett produced 22 points as Montgomery seized control against a team which gave it a battle last month.

“I feel like at the beginning of the year and into now it’s been straight team. I wouldn’t have these games without everyone working together as a team,” Bennett said. “Early on I thought I’d be able to drive in there, but I knew at some point they would collapse and then at that point, I’d be able to use my teammates to their full potential, and the ball always finds its way back. Coach has been preaching that since freshman year: do the right thing and the ball will find you.”

Words became both action and reality against Millville. Getting all five players involved led to Bennett getting opportunities to use his speed, strength and agility to constantly break down Millville and score inside. At one point in the middle quarters, Bennett made six straight shots from the field, most drives and/or layups and Montgomery started breaking things open.

“I’ve been telling him since he was in seventh grade to get downhill. Get downhill, and if it’s not there give up the ball and then look to get downhill again,” Parrish said. “If Parker gets rid of the ball one more time, the defense is going to respect that he gets rid of it and then he has a wide-open lane. He’s a heck of an athlete. He’s quick, strong and can bounce. I don’t think there’s anyone this year who has stayed in front of him. Once we get all five on the same page and all five trusting each other it looks a lot better.”

Montgomery took a step toward that goal with each player embracing his role. Brody Denton scored seven points, Hayden Denton grabbed six rebounds, and James Godley scored 10 points. Jace Hanford added seven points and seven boards and his consecutive offensive putback baskets matched Montgomery’s biggest lead, 64-39 early in the fourth quarter.

It was just the kind of effort Montgomery needed following two closes, but extremely frustrating losses at CMVT and Benton. The Raiders held a reality check film session following that Benton game and all the players seemed to get the message.

Montgomery never trailed after early in the first quarter and Bennett had 12 points entering the second. He scored 10 more there, consistently splitting and/or going around defenders and using both hands to finish around the basket.

During one second quarter sequence, Bennett pulled down an offensive board and banked in a left-handed shot while falling to the ground. It was one-part athletic ability, one part fearlessness as Bennett reached 40 points off another offensive rebound, becoming the first Montgomery player in the 21st century to generate multiple 40-point games. Instead of shying away from potential contact, Bennett goes after it and often finds a way to score. That shows as he leads the area in scoring at 21.9 points per game.

Pretty impressive stuff for someone who will play college baseball at Alvernia.

“Over the summer, when I’m not playing baseball, we’d get in here and work 2-3 days a week,” Bennett said. “We’d work on little things like going through contact and finishing and all that little stuff.”

Those little details lead to big wins. Montgomery is hoping Saturday’s game can be a launching pad. Parrish constantly preaches about stacking good days together. The Raiders likely are playoff-bound, so stacking performances like this one could help them get where they want to go once there.

“I feel like we’re finally starting to mesh together,” Bennett said. “I’m excited to see where it takes us.”

MILLVILLE (60)

Shane Johnson 4 6-14 14, Logan Nemchick 0 3-4 3, Caleb Kraintz 5 1-2 11, Lucas Dildine 1 0-2 3, Jack Farrell 3 0-0 6, Landon Ellis 3 0-0 7, Neki Boyunegmez 2 0-0 4, Caleb Laubach 1 2-2 4, Xavier Hughes 1 1-2 4, Levi Dildine 1 1-2 4. Totals 21 14-28 60.

MONTGOMERY (75)

Parker Bennett 17 6-7 42, Damaj Stewart Williams 3 1-2 7, Jace Hanford 3 1-2 7, Greg Drake 0 0-0 0, James Godley 4 0-0 10, Cam Wilver 1 0-0 2, Cody Sechrist 0 0-0 0, Brody Denton 1 5-7 7, Hayden Denton 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 13-17 75.

Millville 9 15 11 25–60

Montgomery 19 16 22 18–75

3-pointers: Millville 4 (Lu. Dildine, Ellis, Hughes, Le. Dildine); Montgomery 4 (Bennett 2, Godley 2).

Records: Montgomery 5-10.