Bender capped off his high school career with a stellar season at Lake Mills. Former Capitol North Player of the Year was amongst the top scorers, averaging 19.2 points per game. The 6’3” guard contributed 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. His leadership and consistent performance were pivotal in Lake Mills’ success.​

Bender’s continued health is of absolute utmost importance to Lake Mills the rest of the season. The NCAA Division II recruit for Minnesota State Mankato missed three games earlier in the season and the L-Cats lost two of those. Bender is 7-0 when in the lineup and he was his usual productive self against Edgewood, scoring 14 points and anchoring an outstanding Lake Mills defense with his athleticism, quickness and mobility. Bender has some impressive stats on the campaign, averaging 19.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for one of the state’s top Division 3 teams.

Lake Mills is expected to have one of the state’s better teams at the Division 3 level, and the presence of Bender in the lineup is a big reason why coach Steve Hicklin’s squad is looking for big things in 2024-25. Bender’s athleticism and aggressiveness are apparent each time he has the ball in his hands, and he’s able to score from all three levels. He can post-up smaller opponents, drill three-point shots and take defenders his size off the bounce with his quick burst. Defensively, Bender can match-up with bigs and perimeter players due to his mobility, strength and get-it-done mentality. The NCAA Division II recruit for Minnesota State Mankato has scored 1,616 points in his three years of varsity hoops and is coming off a junior season where he averaged 22.0 points and 4.7 rebounds.