Hey Rick-

Hero bets to protect and for value. W/O reads, BB could have anything. Even facing 2 overcards you often still have the best hand here. If you check you may lose the whole pot by allowing BB to improve cheaply. By betting, you may even pick up the pot right here. You were the preflop aggressor so if you do not bet it is a sign of weakness. If you get check-raised it sucks but it is part of the game.