(Sheridan Sharp from the spring of 2021)

 

Decatur Central entered Tuesday’s game against Ben Davis looking for its first signature win. The Hawks were 6-5 but were handled by Southport, Tindley, and Mt. Vernon. The Giants looked to rebound from their heartbreaking defeat in Saturday’s Marion County Tournament title game.

 

Junior point guard Sheridan Sharp made sure Ben Davis started well. He scored the first five points for the Giants as they took an early 9-3 lead. After that, the signs pointed to Ben Davis on its way to another victory.

 

Decatur Central senior Javon Tracy had other ideas. The Miami of Ohio football signee's two three-pointers were the Hawks' first buckets, and then he found Eric Hopson for another three. After trailing 9-3 early, Decatur Central went on a 12-0 run, with Tracy scoring or assisting on each score.

 

Decatur Central’s zone defense gave Ben Davis trouble. As a result, the ball did not go through the net when the Giants found an open look. But Kenney Troutman came off the Ben Davis bench to snap the four-minute scoring drought.

 

DC led by five to start the second quarter and immediately scored the first six points of the frame. Tracy scored twice, and Brandon Smith converted the other basket. Tracy filled the stat sheet in the first. He tallied 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds in the first half.

 

Trailing 32-19 at the half, Ben Davis increased its defensive pressure in the second half. The first half was fast despite the low score, but the tempo went to hyperdrive in the third quarter. The enhanced pace helped Ben Davis make it a game.

 

Junior center Zane Doughty asserted himself into the action in the third. He blocked four shots, grabbed nine rebounds, scored six points in the third quarter. He was the last line of defense, and Decatur Central had a tough time finishing around him. Doughty’s defensive play helped Ben Davis hold the Hawks to eight third-quarter points.

 

Doughty’s free throw to begin the fourth ended up being a four-point possession for Ben Davis. Sharp grabbed Doughty’s miss on the second attempt before Jesse Faires found K.J. Windham for a three. The sophomore guard leads Ben Davis in scoring, but Windham was scoreless in the first half.

 

After Windham tied the game at 40, Decatur Central answered with a KC Berry score. Berry was huge for Bryan Surber’s team as he did a little bit off everything. His rebounding and passing were especially big for Decatur Central in the fourth quarter. Berry finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

 

Sharp turned up his scoring in the fourth. He scored six straight points for Ben Davis to give the Giants their first lead since the opening quarter. Sharp also grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the game.

 

Smith answered Sharp’s scoring for Decatur Central. The brick house masquerading as a power forward scored seven fourth-quarter points for the Hawks. When BD took a 49-47 lead, it was Smith’s three-point play that swung the game back in Decatur Central’s favor.

 

Following a splendid first half, Tracy went cold in the second half. However, that did not stop him from hitting one of the game's biggest shots. His first field goal of the second half came with the game tied and just over 100 seconds on the clock. Tracy hit a runner from the left side after Windham’s three on the other end tied the game.

 

Ben Davis turned the ball over on the following possession before Smith took a feed from Berry to make it a four-point DC lead. After the teams traded scores, Ben Davis trailed 58-54. Clay Butler raced the ball to the other end for an and-one with under 20 seconds left.

 

Ben Davis quickly fouled Tracy. The senior made two free throws to push Decatur’s lead back to three.

 

Don Carlisle called a timeout with 8.3 seconds left, but the Giants bobbled the ball and rushed a contested three. However, it was off the mark, and Decatur Central captured the 60-57 victory.

 

Tracy finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Smith added 16 points and ten rebounds. Eric Hopson also tallied seven points.

 

Sharp led Ben Davis with 17 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Doughty recorded a ridiculous 19 rebounds, 13 points, and five blocks in the game. Shaun Arnold also hit the offensive glass hard for the Giant, and he tallied five points and 11 rebounds. Windham ended the game with ten points.

 

Decatur Central plays Greenwood at home on Friday. Ben Davis (11-4) plays at Center Grove on Friday.