SOUTHPORT — The Ben Davis Giants shocked the world as they knocked off the Lawrence Central Bears, the hottest team in the state, by a decisive margin of 71-63. Nobody gave them a shot to beat Nijel Pack and Co. because they were red hot after beating the defending Class 4A state champs a week ago. When the smoke cleared the boys from the west side of town were moving on to the regional title game on Saturday night.
Although the Ben Davis Giants were down 12-6 to start the game. The Giants dictated the tempo of the game. Dawand Jones was having his way in the paint right from the word go. Ole boy went on to score 24 points and finish with double digit rebounds. They never allowed Lawrence Central to get into a rhythm with BD’s Jalen Windham draining the three at the buzzer to end the quarter down only three 14-11.
Nijel Pack got to the rack to start the second period. Jalen Windham was shooting that thang like a G in projects keeping the Giants close. Cameron Maul dropped a three to tie it 19-19. Even though Ben Davis was controlling the tempo they made the mistake of turning the ball over coming out of a timeout.
Dre’ Davis knocked down his 8th point of the first half and before I could bite into my hot dog it was 24-19 LC. Windham missed on a three-point attempt and it was off to the races for LC in transition to go up 26-21. BD’s Windham was still launching boyz and hitting big shots to keep the Giants within striking distance. The Giants’ Kai Steiman knocked down the three to make it 28-27 Lawrence Central.
The kids from the west side of town never allowed the Bears from Lawrence Central to put on their seat belts and floor it in the first half. They totally kept Al Gooden’s squad out of rhythm.
Right out of the gate the Giants went back to having two bigs on the floor with Jeff Clayton and Dawand Jones. Clayton got to the rack right away to put BD up 29-28.
Lawrence Central was doing their best at trying to double team Dawand Jones but it mattered not. He was still able to get to the rack because he was bigger than everyone else and seemed to want it a little more. It was just that simple. However, on the other end of the floor Dre’ Davis was UNCONSCIOUS doing crazy work for the Bears.
At the 4:04 mark of the third quarter Windham was still knocking shots down pulling the Giants to within one down 40-39. Windham got to the line and knocked down both to put the Giants up 41-40 with less than 4 minutes left in the third.
Cam Maul got to the rack and drew the foul. He stepped to the free line and knocked down both to send the Giants up 46-42. At that point Lawrence Central looked way out of sync and couldn’t make plays at all.
Can you say Cameron Maul? Ole boy got to the rack and dished it out to Dawand Jones for the quick bucket. LC answers but BD was back down the floor and Windham drew the foul on the three point attempt. At the end of three the Giants led it 51-44.
Jalen Windham scored 10 of his 20 points he’d scored through three quarters. Nijel Pack was quiet for three quarters but finally started getting to the rack. However, a turnover by Laravia turns into an easy bucket for BD’s Jones to make it 55-47 with a little more than 6 minutes left to play.
Pack got to the rack to close the gap 57-52 BD with 4:36. Ben Davis holds onto the rock to burn the clock and Jalen Windham gets to the rack to again to draw the foul. BD goes up 58-52 with 3:59 left. Lawrence Central had absolutely no answer for Dawand Jones or Windham.
Here was the problem for LC down the stretch. They were merely trading baskets with Ben Davis to remain down 7 points. Did I say ABSOLUTELY no answer for Dawand Jones who finished with 24 points and double digit rebounds? Well ABSOLUTELY no answer for Dawand Jones. The Giants advance to play New Palestine tonight at 8pm.