Sharpe's career-high 21 lifts Brownsburg to 54-49 sectional win over Avon

Brownsburg pulled away late to beat Avon 54-49 in a Class 4A sectional first-round game on March 3, 2026, propelled by guard Branden Sharpe’s career-high 21 points and four steals. The victory gave the Bulldogs momentum heading into Friday’s semifinal and improved Brownsburg’s record to 14-9.

Sharpe shot 54% from the field en route to his 21-point night, handing Avon a five-point loss. Teammate Brandon Addison contributed 11 points, and the Brownsburg offense finished with 54 total points while Avon managed 49. Avon’s defeat dropped the Orioles to 11-13 on the season, and as of the game recap Avon had no additional games scheduled.

The March 3 performance continued a scoring uptick for Sharpe; his recent outputs included 18 points versus Noblesville on 02/13/26 and 15 points against Perry Meridian on 02/07/26, with earlier marks of 13 at Avon on 12/20/24 and 11 at Pike on 01/02/26. Tuesday’s 21-point outing established a new career high and was accompanied by four steals, a stat that played into Brownsburg’s late separation from Avon.

Brownsburg’s win marked the Bulldogs’ third consecutive victory over Avon, extending a short-term edge in the series. The Bulldogs will face a high-scoring Ben Davis team in Friday’s semifinal at 7:30 p.m.; Ben Davis has posted at least 55 points in each of its last five contests, a trend that presents a stark contrast to Brownsburg’s 54-point output against Avon and a clear challenge for the Bulldogs’ defense.

The immediate implication for Brownsburg is straightforward: maintain Sharpe’s scoring efficiency and take care of the ball while finding a way to limit Ben Davis’ prolific offense. Sharpe’s 54% shooting and four steals created the late-game cushion against Avon, but with Ben Davis averaging 55-plus points in recent games, Brownsburg will need similar offensive production from Sharpe and support from players like Addison to advance out of the sectional semifinal.