Preview: Ben Davis Giants vs. Decatur Central Hawks
Ben Davis is 9-1 against Decatur Central since March of 2017, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Ben Davis Giants will head out on the road to square off against the Decatur Central Hawks at 7:30 p.m. Hopefully Ben Davis is not getting complacent, as they presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than Decatur Central in Indiana (Ben Davis is ranked seventh, while Decatur Central is ranked 53rd).
After a string of six wins, Ben Davis' good fortune finally ran out on Wednesday. They fell just short of Franklin Central by a score of 52-49. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss Ben Davis has suffered yet this season.
Despite their loss, Ben Davis saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. K.J. Windham, who scored 12 points along with four steals, was perhaps the best of all. Windham hasn't dropped below two steals for three straight games. Another player making a difference was Tavion Williams, who scored ten points along with six rebounds and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Decatur Central unfortunately witnessed the end of their three-game winning streak on Tuesday. They took a 61-44 bruising from Warren Central. Decatur Central has not had much luck with Warren Central recently, as the team's come up short the last four times they've met.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the most dominant came from Kc Berry, who scored 19 points. He is on a roll when it comes to points, as he's now scored 15 or more in the last four games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Eric Hopson, who scored nine points along with six rebounds and two blocks.
Ben Davis' record now sits at 9-3. As for Decatur Central, their defeat ended a six-game streak of away wins dating back to last season and brought them to 7-3.
Tuesday's match will pit two of the most dominant guards against one another: Windham and Berry. Windham has been dynamite this season: he has averaged 15 points and 1.8 steals. For his part, Berry has averaged 14.7 points, 1.6 steals, and 4.2 rebounds.
Everything came up roses for Ben Davis against Decatur Central in their previous meeting back in January of 2023 as the squad secured a 82-44 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Ben Davis since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
