Giants begin sectional play

Junior+Sheridan+Sharpe+looks+for+an+opening+against+Tech.

Yanelis Rivera

Junior Sheridan Sharpe looks for an opening against Tech.

Jalen Flowers, staff writer

The Ben Davis boys basketball team will put its Class 4A No. 5 state ranking on the line tonight as the IHSAA boys basketball state tournament begins statewide.

The Giants take their 18-6 record into tonight’s second game against Roncalli ((7-14). Tonight’s first game pits Pike against Southport. All games are at Ben Davis.

“There’s gonna be an unparalleled level of competition in this tournament,” Ben Davis coach Don Carlisle said. “We want to stay focused.”

The Giants have won six of their last seven games and have risen to No. 5 in the state polls. They did not play Roncalli during the regular season. Their last game was a thrilling 63-60 overtime win against Tech on senior night.

“Our win over Arsenal Tech should set the tone for the rest of the postseason,” Carlisle said.

The Giants have received consistent play from juniors Sheridan Sharp and Zane Doughty and sophomore KJ Windham all season. They play a rotation of 8-9 players each game. The winner of tonight’s game will take on Decatur Central in Friday’s second game.

“We expect guys like KJ Windham and Sheridan Sharp to continue to dominate as playmakers,” Carlisle said. “The Arsenal Tech game showed me that we can be active defensively.”

The Giants have won four of the past five sectionals.