The Lafayette boys’ basketball team led wire-to-wire Monday night against their crosstown rivals as they rolled to a 75-48 victory over Benton inside Lafayette High School.

The No. 1 The Fighting Irish have now won five consecutive games as they improve to 16-4 and 4-0 in the MEC.  Benton had its five-game win streak snapped as they’re now 12-8 and 2-2 in league play.

Lafayette built a quick nine-point first quarter lead before leading 18-12 after one.  The lead grew to as many as 13 in the first half before taking a 36-25 lead to the locker room.

The Cardinals never got closer than nine points in the second half and Lafayette outscored Benton 22-10 in the fourth quarter to blow the game wide open.

Freshman Diego Bernard led the Fighting Irish with 15 points, while Chester Goudeau added 14 and Caleb Bennett scored 12 points.

Fabian Smith and Saxton Thuston each had 15 points to lead Benton.

Lafayette is on the road Friday when they travel to Bishop LeBlond, while the Cardinals travel to Maryville Friday.

Elsewhere Monday night, the Central girls suffered their sixth consecutive loss as they fell at Ruskin, 43-42.  The Indians drop to 5-14 and 1-5 in the Suburban League.