Sheridan Sharp scored a career high 31 points in the morning game and Shaun Arnold keyed an impressive second half defensive effort in the nightcap. The result: a trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and a date against Kokomo for the 2023 Class 4A state championship.

“It’s every basketball player’s dream to play in the state championship,” Sharp said after a 66-38 win over Brownsburg in the championship game of the New Castle semistate Saturday night. “I’m excited and looking forward to it. I want to make sure we go 33-0 to make history.”

The Giants can become the first team in state history to win 33 games when they face Kokomo at 8:15 p.m. this Saturday. Kokomo features a top 5 national player in junior Flory Bidunga. Ben Davis beat Kokomo 58-51 way back on Dec. 3.

The Giants started Saturday’s semistate with a 78-55 dismantling of Bloomington North in the second day of the game. Brownsburg opened the day with a 51-47 win over Jennings County, setting up the rematch of the westside rivals.

Brownsburg played Ben Davis point-for-point in the first half and led 20-19 at halftime before Arnold got BDs defensive pressure rolling. The Giants took a 40-30 lead into he final quarter before clamping down and pulling away.

Saturday’s state championship game will the second in coach Doin Carlisle’s five years at BD. The Giants won the 2017 state championship under former coach Mark James and Carlisle took the Giants to the state championship game in his first season in 2019 before losing to Carmel.

History awaits.

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