By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The young Carmel pups are beginning to grow up.
The Greyhounds’ boys basketball team took a big step Friday night at the Eric Clark Activity Center when it hosted Pike. Carmel got off to a fantastic start and carried that momentum to a 72-42 victory over the Red Devils.
The victory was a sure sign for ‘Hounds coach Ryan Osborn that the team is getting better, and he gives his players the credit.
“They come in every day and the things that traditionally we try to do well, we’re trying to do well with this team too,” said Osborn. “And they continue to come in every day and compete.”
Carmel had no problem competing against Pike. The Greyhounds poured in the first 16 points of the game, with Evan Harrell scoring seven of them, including a 3-pointer. Ryan Clevenger then drilled a 3 to give Carmel a 16-0 lead.
Terrencio Davis scored with 41 seconds in the quarter to get Pike on the board. The Greyhounds led 17-2 at the end of the period, then blasted through the second quarter by scoring 26 points.
Quinn Murphy made a three-point play for Carmel’s first points of the period. Harrell added five more points, then Alex Couto nailed two 3s. His second triple started an 11-0 run that took the Greyhounds to halftime up 43-15. Ben Bremer also hit two 3s during that run, with Mitchell Mulloy scoring on a layin.
Carmel continued to cruise through the third quarter, which ended with the ‘Hounds ahead 57-29. Bremer, Couto and Clevenger all made 3s, and a Bremer layin finished the period. In the fourth quarter, Harrell scored consecutive baskets on a putback and off a steal, and that gave Carmel its largest lead at 67-32. Sophomore Jamichael Fountain also hit a 3 in the fourth.
Bremer and Harrell finished with 16 points each, while Clevenger scored 10. Bremer totaled three triples, and Couto’s three 3s gave him nine points. Harrell led the rebounds with seven, while Aiden Dickerson collected six. Bremer also had four assists.
“Consistency in the lineup has helped,” said Osborn. “It’s a team game. I think the more reps you can get as a unit, the more crisp you are and the more you trust each other, and that shows on both ends of the floor.”
Carmel improved to 5-9 with the win. The Greyhounds play at Brownsburg tonight.
CARMEL 72, PIKE 42
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Alex Couto 3-8 0-0 9 1
Ryan Clevenger 4-9 0-0 10 2
Aiden Dickerson 1-3 0-0 2 1
Ben Bremer 4-5 5-6 16 1
Evan Harrell 6-15 2-2 16 4
Quinn Murphy 2-3 1-1 5 1
Mitchell Mulloy 3-4 1-2 7 1
Max Winders 0-1 2-4 2 1
Jamie Whack 0-0 0-0 0 0
Jamichael Fountain 1-1 0-0 3 1
Julian Vogt 0-1 0-0 0 0
Zach Michaels 1-1 0-0 2 1
Jack Perry 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 25-51 11-15 72 14
Score by Quarters
Pike 2 13 14 13 – 42
Carmel 17 26 14 15 – 72
Carmel 3-point shooting (11-20) Couto 3-6, Bremer 3-4, Harrell 2-4, Clevenger 2-3, Fountain 1-1, Dickerson 0-1, Vogt 0-1.
Carmel rebounds (30) Harrell 7, Dickerson 6, Clevenger 4, Mulloy 4, Couto 3, Murphy 3, Fountain 1, Bremer 1, Winders 1.