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INDIANAPOLIS – At 6-7, 320 pounds, to say Dawand Jones stands out on the basketball court would be an understatement.

An offensive lineman for the undefeated state championship football team, Jones is showing he belongs on the basketball court as well.

The junior center had a double-double Friday, scoring 14 points, including eight in the decisive fourth quarter, and grabbing 10 rebounds to help Ben Davis to a 61-49 win over visiting Brebeuf Jesuit.

A veteran of 36 years, Ben Davis coach Mark James has seen just about every type of player. He admits, Jones’ physical traits are unique.

“He’s getting better,” James said. “He needs to continue to work on quickness strength, and those things. He’s young and he’s made some big strides for us this last year. If he keeps working hard, he has a chance to be a pretty special player. He’s different to watch. Most people aren’t that big on the basketball floor.”

Jones scored the first four baskets of the fourth for the Class 4A, No. 6 Giants, the final one a rim-rattling, one-handed stuff that nearly brought down the house — and the goal — to open a 50-34 lead.

“(Opposing players) may think I’m just a football player,” Jones said. “Sometimes, they may think I can’t score. I just move around on the court, play and let my game do the talking.”

His teammates were all smiles on the court after the dunk. It’s that way often around Jones, whose good-natured approach was evident during pregame warmups as he cracked smiles, gave playful shoves and swished 3-pointers with ease.

“He’s one the biggest and funniest guys I know,” said Giants senior forward Aaron Henry, a Michigan State recruit who led Ben Davis with 15 points Friday. “He really jells us together. He’s not like the rest of us. He’s a little different. He’s my friend, though. I like him and I think the whole team likes him. He’s a huge piece of what we do offensively and defensively. Literally, a huge factor.”

Ben Davis (7-2) relied on balanced scoring. Jalen Windham added 13 points and Ty Nibbs scored 10.

Brebeuf (5-3), ranked sixth in 3A, kept it close throughout. The Braves led 14-13 after the first and trailed 25-23 at the half, but Henry spurred an early 13-3 third-quarter spurt for the Giants to help them pull away. Junior guard Spencer Reist led all scorers with 18 points for Brebeuf. 

“We changed our defense a little bit to start the second half,” James said. “That got us going a little. You get a couple of easy buckets and your confidence gets up. We’re happy we won, but we’ve still got a lot of things to work on. Everybody does this time of year.”

BEN DAVIS 61, BREBEUF JESUIT 49

Brebeuf      14   9    9   17  — 49
Ben Davis  13  12  17   19 — 61

Brebeuf Jeusit (5-3) — Goldenberg 2 0-0 5, Reist 6 2-2 18, Banks 3 6-8 13, Fitzgerald 4 0-0 8, Haubry 1 0-0 2, Higgins 1 1-1 3, Pressler 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-11 49.

Ben Davis (7-2) — Tunstill 1 0-0 2, Nibbs 4 0-0 10, Jones 6 2-3 14, Windham 5 0-0 13, Henry 7 0-0 15, Day 0 2-2 2, Maul 1 2-3 4, Clayton 0 0-0 0, London 0 0-0 0, Shannon 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 7-10 61.

3-Point Goals – Brebeuf 6 (Reist 4, Goldenberg, Banks 1). Ben Davis (Windham 3, Nibbs 2, Henry 1).

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