Game Takes: Ben Davis 51, Beech Grove 48

Truly a tale of two halves, and it’s tough to resolve what happened in the second half.  Ben Davis tried to come out in the first half and assert themselves as the big school favorite they usually are.  Beech Grove withstood the defensive pressure, took the first punch then provided an analytics dream - all 3s and shots at the rim - as BD’s defense started to relent a bit.

The second half, BD’s defensive pressure didn’t relent, and BG scrambled to find shots on the perimeter.  They were getting good (though contested) shots at the rim throughout but were very rushed.  As BD got the game to one possession, it them awhile to get over the hump.  There are likely a few shots they’d like back.

BD turned defense into offense, and BG had little answer for BD in transition.  Still, with the ball under :30, BG got to the rim in transition, only to see the ball bounce out.  BD secured the rebound and iced it at the line.  BG had one final possession, but a deflected pass to Jadyn Curry threw off their possession.  They never got a shot off.

• Neither team was efficient, but BD is really young, which meant up front, while BD had length advantages, they didn’t have strength advantages.  
  • Both teams start multiple sophomores, and BD also played two freshmen.
• The first half was Jadyn Curry and Cameron Brown for Beech Grove.  The second half was Sheridan Sharpe and Clay Butler for Ben Davis.
  • Curry never really got going from outside, but he was able to penetrate and find people.  Brown hit 3 3pters in the first half, and Curry found Edward Taylor and Gavin Mitchell around paint.
  • Sharpe and Butler exchanged deflections in the second half, it seemed.  Either one was involved in the front end or finishing in the back end.  
• Zane Doughty was a big presence around the basket on both ends.  He still makes mistakes as he stretches farther out, but his motor was going last night.  
• Ben Davis didn’t get much scoring on the perimeter last night.  Sharpe hit a couple of 3s, and they were looking to get Butler involved more vs. BG’s zone.  There were a couple of others settling for or rushing shots, as BD was making their run.  Once that was curbed, BD was able to get over the hump.  
  • They let their defense do the work.