Carly Davison Plays Through Reinjured Ankle, Lifts Clinton Central 44-40

Carly Davison hobbled into Bethesda Christian with her left ankle taped and finished the night as the deciding factor in a sectional upset that stunned a talented Rossville squad. Davison scored 21 points, calmly knocked down late free throws and then intercepted the final inbounds pass to secure a Clinton Central victory in the IHSAA Class 1A sectional opening round.

Accounts diverge on the exact final score. The Lafayette Journal & Courier reported Davison swished two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining and then stole the inbounds pass to close out a 44-40 win, adding that she was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the second half. Clinton County Daily News and several local recaps described a 40-36 final, outlining a sequence in which Davison hit free throws to make it 38-36 with under a minute and later pushed the margin to four before intercepting the final pass. Both outlets agree on the outcome and on Davison’s late-game heroics.

Davison’s impact went beyond those final possessions. According to local coverage she also drew defensive attention throughout the fourth quarter, converting a bank shot from the right second hash line of the paint with 1:37 left to give Clinton Central its first fourth-quarter lead. One local recap credited her with six assists for the game. Teammate Addi Mounts finished with 10 points, and Hannah Jacobs supplied timely free throws that helped shift momentum in the third quarter.

Rossville seniors Ava Burkle and Addi Gorbett supplied much of the Hornets’ scoring punch. Burkle finished with 10 points in her final game, and Gorbett hit a late three to knot the score in the fourth as Rossville pushed back. Coverage of team shooting suggests Rossville’s perimeter work cooled in the second half; one report listed the Hornets 6-for-19 from three and 6-for-16 from two, numbers that undercut a 22-2 regular-season résumé highlighted by a Hoosier Heartland Conference title.

The human element elevated the game. Davison had reinjured her left ankle within 10 days of the matchup, first on Jan. 24 against Rossville and again in the regular-season finale versus Sheridan. She said, “I wasn't 100%,” and added, “The adrenaline was pumping thereafter and the pain went away.” Clinton Central coach Don Helmick celebrated more than the win; local reports note he reached 300 career victories earlier in the season and is now 6-4 in State Tournament play with the program.

Rossville coach Jennifer Jacoby praised Davison’s play and raised a broader issue about the pace of possession in Indiana basketball, saying, “Carly is a baller,” and, “She'll do things that kids wouldn't normally do. She's just a great player and they did a great job. We didn't rebound down the stretch, and whenever you get two or three chances, it's not going to bode well for you.” Jacoby also voiced support for instituting a shot clock at the high school level.

The win propels Clinton Central into a Friday sectional rematch against Frontier, scheduled at 6:00 p.m. beyond this result, and it ends a strong season for Rossville with multiple seniors graduating. Whatever the official box score ultimately confirms about the final tally and stat lines, the larger takeaway is clear: a hobbled senior’s toughness and late-game poise kept the Bulldogs alive and extended Don Helmick’s postseason momentum.