The last thing Center Grove wanted to see Friday night was four more minutes of Aaron Henry.
Ben Davis’ 6-foot-5 left-handed swingman, signed to play next season at Michigan State, scored 28 points to rally the Giants to a 56-53 overtime win.
Henry might have been the Giants’ go-to player in handing the Trojans their fourth straight home loss in the series, but Center Grove opened the door for him.
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The Trojans led 47-40 with 1:52 remaining in regulation when the wheels began to come off what looked like a victory.
With 38 seconds left and the Trojans ahead 48-42, Henry barreled over Trojans forward Joey Klaasen on his way to the basket, but it was the latter who was whistled for a foul.
Varsity assistant Brian Keeton, coaching in place of head coach Zach Hahn who has the flu, was then whistled for a technical foul.
“We thought Joey took a charge. I threw my hands up and didn’t say a word, and he T’d me up,” Keeton said.
“(The official) said he had warned me about stepping on the floor and said I stepped on the floor.
“It’s a tough call in that situation at that time of the game. I was in the wrong there.”
Henry hit the first of two free throws, followed by a pair of charity shots from guard Jalen Windham, and suddenly the lead was down to three.
Henry’s three-point sequence with 21.5 seconds left knotted the score and sent the game to overtime. He then produced six of his team’s eight points in the extra session.
The Trojans still had time for a rebuttal, but junior guard Spencer Piercefield’s 3-point try from right of the top of the key was off target.
Another late factor was Center Grove’s inability to hit free throws that might have put the game out of reach. The Trojans attempted seven charities in the final 57.2 seconds of regulation and hit only one.
Center Grove placed four scorers in double figures, with Piercefield’s 15 points leading the way. Junior center Trayce Jackson-Davis finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Klaasen and senior guard Nate McLain scored 10 apiece.
The Trojans led nearly the entire first half and well into the second. Henry’s baseline 12-footer at 5:15 of the fourth quarter briefly put the Giants ahead before Center Grove’s 10-2 run seemed to put it in command.
“The first half was our best defensive effort of the year. They executed our game plan and did all the right things,” Keeton said. “Henry got loose on us late, but he’s a load. He’s going to Michigan State for a reason.”
Ben Davis converted 22 of 37 field-goal attempts (.595) compared to the Trojans’ 21 of 46 (.457).
Center Grove, now 11-3 overall, must regroup in a hurry as it plays this evening at Roncalli.
