Benton Cardinals sophomore center, Mach Mayom, finding his role among team

By Calvin Silvers

High school basketball is a staple here in the St. Joseph community, with multiple teams in the area, both on the boys and girls side, having success in recent seasons. As the 2023-24 season rolls on, and we’ve passed the half-way point, the Benton Cardinals already matched their last year’s win total.

The onslaught of wins comes of course from the team chemistry, but also due in part to one sophomore stepping into a bigger role. Benton finished last year in a Class 4 District 16 tournament loss to the Maryville Spoofhounds, capping their season at 12 wins and a step away from the state tournament.

Flip the calendar to this season and the Cardinals are a much improved team, and a slice of the success comes from the 6 foot 9 inches sophomore center, Mach Mayom. A lot of development can happen from that freshman to sophomore season, and that was no different for Mayom.

“Developing from my freshman year, definitely getting on the court more and crashing offensive rebounds,” Mayom said. “Just getting my team open shots and just definitely a better player from last year.”

The game of basketball has a different flow depending on the level of competition, and this was no different for the center, who had to learn the pace of high school basketball. Head coach Jared Boone knew once he laid eyes on Mayom, that he could be a crucial piece in the program moving forward.

“Since he’s been here, you know, he’s the type of kid where he’s a game changer,” Boone said. “It was just a matter of how he was going to progress and how fast or how slow it was going to take him to progress, and when it did, we knew that we had something special.”

When looking to change the momentum of a game or to cause havoc down low, you have to understand how to handle yourself and your body.

From year one to year two, the maturity growth has been showcased.

“Just a growth in maturity and a better understanding of what it is that we are asking him to do,” Boone said. “His motor has picked up, which is something we’ve been on him about and he’s just flipped the switch and he’s just been locked in.”

This unfinished story of Mayom’s has the potential to be a great one, but the center almost turned away from the game, but ultimately found his way back.

“I started playing basketball around second grade and then I just kept playing, and then I stopped playing around third (grade) then I got right back into it in sixth grade,” Mayom said. “I just stopped, I was young, I never really went to tournaments or nothing, I just got right back on it and then just kept playing.”

Now back in the flow, the sky’s the limit not only for Mayom but for the entire Cardinals team. The chemistry is strong among this year’s team, and they’ve all been held accountable.

“Crazy like his work ethic lately has been amazing,” guard Myles Bachali said. “You know, he’s just been grinding in practice, like going even when he’s tired, you know, he’s just been doing great.”