INDIANAPOLIS — The Carmel Greyhounds led from start to finish as they won their fourth boys state championship 60-55 over the Ben Davis Giants on Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. This was their 6th state title this school year when you include other sports like boys tennis, boys cross country, boys and girls swimming and girls soccer.
The Greyhounds controlled the ball game from the word go. Ben Davis never seemed to find a rhythm as Carmel clearly was the aggressor all night. The game plan was to get to the rack to try to get Ben Davis’ Dawand Jones into foul trouble as soon as possible.
Jones literally picked up his first foul just 35 seconds into the game. So the game plan worked right out of the gate. BD started the game with several turnovers as Carmel jumped out to a 6-2 lead. Ty Nibbs sparked the Giants when he knocked down a 20-footer to make it 6-4 but John Michael Mulloy wasted no time getting to the rack to answer.
He attacked the basket against Jones trying to get him to commit a foul. However, the big man headed to Ohio State to play football next year was very disciplined and didn’t get into foul trouble but had to be very careful. By the time I bit into my hot dog the Greyhounds were up 15-6 with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
Finally, Jalen Windham knocked down a huge three-pointer giving the Giants life to make it 15-9. Carmel answered but Windham was just getting started as he knocked down another jumper to end the quarter down 17-12.
Carmel played some ridiculous defense by never allowing the Giants to settle down. BD looked rattled from the opening tip.
Carmel’s freshman Pete Suder kept the game plan going with Mulloy on the bench with 2 fouls as he kept going straight to the rack past Jones.
Carmel was up 31-30 at the break. Both Jones (10 points) and Windham (11 points) had 21 of Ben Davis’ 30 points.
Coming out of the break Jones picked up his second foul within the first 17 seconds of the third quarter.
Mulloy was aware of it as he continued to go straight to the rack against Jones to get buckets. Dawand was careful not to pick up his third foul. Give him credit for playing a very disciplined game understanding that he needed to be on the floor for the Giants to have any shot at winning this game.
Carmel’s freshman Pete Suder came to play as he led the Greyhounds with 14 points. Not only was he playing crazy offense but he was doing work on defense too. Did I say that he was a freshman? He was straight ballin’!!!
Mulloy committed his third foul on Jones with 1:28 left in the third quarter. Dawand missed both free throws as Carmel decided to sit on it before missing their shot attempt. Dawand Jones hit a fade away 19-footer at the buzzer to pull the Giants to within 3 down 40-37 to end the third quarter. Ben Davis didn’t lead the entire game as the Greyhound continued to keep them at bay.
Carmel was killin’ the Giants in second chance points 11-4 a little over midway through the fourth quarter. The Greyhounds continued to be the aggressor as they extended their lead to 44-37. Every time Ben Davis made a run Carmel always had an answer.
Even though Ben Davis’ Jalen Windham led all scorers with 22 points and was perfect from the foul line. Carmel stayed in complete control of this one at they walked out of the joint with their fourth boys basketball state title.
Carmel’s squad was senior-laden but they’ll be in good hands with the freshman Pete Suder holding it down for the next three years. Congratulations Carmel on a job well done.