Ben Davis survived a hot start from the Class 4A defending champions and a technical foul against coach Don Carlisle to continue its magic season with a 63-53 win over Cathedral Saturday at the Southport regional.

The win improves the Giants to 30-0 and moves them into the Class 4A semistate this weekend at New Castle. Next up is a Bloomington North squad that is making its second straight trip to semistate, having lost to Cathedral 61-55 last season.

Carlisle received his technical midway through the third quarter and after Cathedral made both free throws, BD faced a 35-31 deficit that was quickly erased.

“We stepped it up,” senior guard Sheridan Sharp said.

The Giants outscored Cathedral 32-18 the rest of the way to avenge a regional championship lost to Cathedral last season.

The final run was keyed by sophomore Mark Zachery, who hit a three-pointer from the corner and then stole the ball and made a layup that gave BD a 45-39 lead that would never get closer. Senior center Zane Doughty led the way with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. He also had zero fouls while guarding Mr. Basketball candidate Xavier Booker, a Michigan State recruit who gave Cathedral a first quarter lead with nine points and two huge dunks. Doughty held him scoreless over the last three quarters.

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