Losing two Division I standouts and two more key players to graduation, defending girls basketball national champion Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) figured to rebuild somewhat in 2009-10.
Stan Benge.
Photo courtesy of Ben Davis High School
Not with Stan Benge in charge.
The Giants (28-0) simply re-charged while winning their second consecutive Indiana 4A state championship with a second straight undefeated season. They own a state-record 58-game win streak.
Because of it, Benge earned the MaxPreps.com National Coach of the Year award.
In his 25th season, Benge had Davis playing its best ball of the year late, even after two more key players, 6-foot-3 sophomore starting center Shawnece Teague and 5-11 sophomore wing Brionna Arnold, went down with ACL tears.
Once again, rather than regress, the Giants progressed, to the extent Benge called the team’s last four games “some of the best girls basketball I’ve ever seen played.”
Not just by his own squad, but by any team he’d ever witnessed.
“Everyone just seemed on the same page,” he said. “We were on the same page with a 10-player rotation, but then it was down to eight. Everyone picked up the slack and everyone just jelled.”
Those four wins came over Franklin Central (Indianapolis) 62-19, Warren Central (Indianapolis) 56-30, Floyd Central (Floyds Knobs) 65-28 and Merrillville 99-52 in the finals.
Benge had plenty to cheer about all season.
Photo courtesy of Priscilla de Castro, Ben Davis senior
“The thing that made that so impressive was it came against some very good teams,” Benge said. “I was expecting competitive games in all but suddenly we’d be up by 30. The girls just did a fantastic job.”
And they did it with a very simple yet clear philosophy – “play hard and play together,” Benge said.
The Giants did that particularly on the defensive end, allowing a school-record 34.2 points per game, while averaging 66.2. Remarkably, no one came within 12 points of the Giants all season and they did it with remarkable balance.
They were led all season in scoring by All-American candidate Bria Goss, a 5-11 junior guard who made the game-winning shot in the state finals as a sophomore. Goss, who is being recruited by everyone in the country, averaged 15.9 points per game.
The rest of the scoring came from a variety of sources, including Dee Dee Williams (9.4 ppg), Jordan Huber (9.1) and Demetria Nunley-lash (8.6). More so, everyone played tremendous defense and took care of the ball. The Giants committed just 12 turnovers a game, another school record.
“I knew at the end of last year we’d be good this season,” Benge said. “These girls seemed to get along even better, our offense was more diverse, our defense was better. Overall, I’d have to say this team was even better (than 2008-09).”
Which is why it was perplexing to Benge how the Giants didn’t repeat as national champs. They finished No. 3 in the MaxPreps Xcellent rankings and No. 6 in the MaxPreps Freeman rankings. No other national rankings had the Giants No. 1.
“We were national champions last year and we didn’t lose again,” Benge said. “It seems funny to me we wouldn’t repeat.”
Benge certainly makes a good point. Much like he and his team did all season long.
Ben Davis players celebrate their second straight undefeated state championship season.
Photo courtesy of Priscilla de Castro, Ben Davis senior
