In the Marion County Tournament first round, Ben Davis erased a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Beech Grove. The Giants trailed for most of the game before escaping with the victory.

 

The first quarter pace was quick. Beech Grove used the three-point line to its advantage. The Hornets went 3-7 from deep as Cam Brown connected on two. Ben Davis had success going to the basket. 

 

After a 13-13 first period, Beech Grove began the second with a 9-0 run. Senior forward Jordan Murphy started to make his impact in the lane. Ben Davis' offense fell apart in the quarter. The Giants only scored four points. 

 

From the start of the second half, Ben Davis increased its aggressiveness on both ends. The Giants had a balanced attack with Clay Butler and Trevor Nibbs scoring at the basket and Sheridan Sharpe creating off the dribble for others. Out of the locker, Ben Davis was a different team. 

 

Beech Grove held its lead thanks to a few timely baskets from Jadyn Curry and Damon Thompkins. Curry, the Hornets' leading scorer, was held in check before the third period. 

 

In the fourth, Sharpe started making plays left and right. He was great off the bounce for himself and others. Zane Doughty benefitted from Sharpe's aggressiveness as he finished in the lane for Ben Davis. 

 

Beech Grove senior Gavin Mitchell had a quiet offensive game until the final quarter. Mitchell entered the game averaging 11 points. His bucket off a feed from Curry extended Beech Grove's lead to 48-45 with 3:25 to play. 

 

Those were the last points for Beech Grove in the game. Sharpe answered with a quick score, and Clay Butler converted in the lane to give Ben Davis the 49-48 lead. After turnovers by both teams, Butler added two more free throws for Ben Davis. 

 

Leading by three points with 14 seconds left, Ben Davis did not even allow Beech Grove to get a game-tying shot off. The buzzer sounded with the Hornets scrambling around the perimeter.

 

Sophomore Clay Butler led Ben Davis with 16 points and five rebounds. Fellow sophomore Sheridan Sharpe added 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals; Trevor Nibbs had nine points; Doughty recorded eight points and nine rebounds.

 

Cam Brown led Beech Grove with 11 points but did not score in the second half. Jordan Murphy finished with eight points and seven rebounds; Mitchell added six points and seven boards.