SHS had a bye to enter sectionals. Tuesday came and the Cards knew they had to play the number 12 ranked Ben Davis Giants, who thrive on low scoring, defensive showcase style games. The Cards beat the Giants, 45-27.

The score at the end of the first quarter was 8-5 Cards lead. Defense on both sides of the ball were keys to the game, at halftime the score was 21-13.

Senior Malik Bennett had 21 points in the effort, and hit his back on the ground hard. He was out for less than a minute and came back in for the cards.

“It was painful, everything hurt,” Bennett said. “But everything is good now.”

SHS moves on to the sectional championship round and their opponent, Pike. Pike beat Perry Meridian 67-40.

The Cards lost to Pike in last year’s sectional championship in OT and lost in this year’s Marion county tournament in 4OT. The Cards know that this is the game that matters.

“(Paul and I) thought we let the team down because we fouled out that game,” Bennett said.  “And we were disappointed.”

The Cards play at 7:30 at Perry Meridian.