By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Here’s a lesson for all basketball players: It’s always a good thing to trust your teammates.
Trust became a big intangible for the Noblesville boys team Friday at the end of the Millers’ game with Carmel in front of a large crowd at The Mill. Noblesville had the ball out of a timeout with 4.8 seconds left and the score tied at 42-42.
When play resumed, Luke Almodovar had the ball at the top of the key, but he sent it to Cooper Bean, who was just beyond the 3-point arc to Almodovar’s right. Bean got a 3-point shot off before the buzzer and it went in, giving the Millers a 45-42 victory over the Greyhounds.
“The play was for me to drive and go downhill,” said Almodovar. “But he told me that he was going to be ready. In the back of my mind, I knew that I had him, pass it to him and trusted him, and he made it.”
Bean was aware of how much time was left on the clock when he got the ball, and saw Carmel’s defense coming at him, “so I just pump-faked and then I let it go,” he said.
“I trust the kid with my life,” said Almodovar. “The last play, I’m giving him the ball every time.”
“When we knew we were going to have a last-second shot, I said ‘I’m ready’ before the timeout,” said Bean. “And then after the timeout, I told him again. I said, ‘I’m going to be ready, pass me the ball.’ And I was ready.”
Friday’s win marked the first time Noblesville had beaten Carmel since Dec. 2, 2011 – exactly 11 years and one week ago.
“Proud of our guys,” said Millers coach Scott McClelland. “This is a huge confidence boost. Just a big win for our program.”
Noblesville came out blasting through the first quarter, at one point leading 14-4. Almodovar made a traditional three-point play just 11 seconds into the game, then later nailed two more 3s. Aaron Fine hit a triple as well, and Hunter Walston’s floater gave the Millers a 10-point lead.
The Greyhounds came back, of course. Carmel sailed through a 15-2 stretch that lasted over eight minutes and gave the ‘Hounds a 19-16 lead. Jake Griffin got hot during that time, pouring in nine points, including two 3s.
Almodovar had the last word in the first half, sinking a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 19-19. Fine opened the second half by making a floater for a 21-19 Noblesville lead.
Carmel took the lead on a Spencer White layin and a triple by Alex Couto, but Bean answered that with a 3. Almodovar got going again with eight points in the quarter, but a putback by Sam Orme at the buzzer tied things up once more at 32-32.
There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter before the final basket. Fine made a layin to start the period, then Griffin drained another 3 to put Carmel up 35-34. Noblesville surged ahead 39-35 with a Bean 3 and two Fine free throws.
The Greyhounds came back to lead 40-39 after Ryan Clevenger hit a 3 and Orme made a layin. Fine then converted an and-1 to put Noblesville on top 42-40, after which Griffin hit two free throws. That tied the game, and the Millers were able to hold on until the final shot.
Ryan Clevenger came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer for the Greyhounds. (Kirk Green)
“In regards to the last play, the idea was to try to get them to switch, or a misread with Aaron and Almo,” said McClelland. “They played it right, and Almo didn’t force it, made a great play, trusted his teammate. He made a huge shot.”
Almodovar finished the game with 22 points, while Fine scored 12. Both Almodovar and Bean hit three 3s, giving Bean nine points. The Millers were perfect from the line, making all 10 of their free throws.
Griffin led the Greyhounds with 14 points, also making three 3s. Orme scored 13. While it was a tough loss, Carmel coach Ryan Osborn said he wasn’t discouraged after the game. The past three games the ‘Hounds have played in were all decided by three points or less.
“While there’s a lot of heads down and I feel bad for the outcome, I feel really good about our progress,” said Osborn. The coach said it’s been “an incredible start to the year. I think they’re competing, we watch film, they work hard, they fix it.”
Noblesville is 3-0 and hosts Anderson tonight at The Mill. Carmel is 4-2 and plays next Friday at North Central.
NOBLESVILLE 45, CARMEL 42
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Jake Griffin 4-4 3-4 14 2
Alex Couto 1-1 0-0 3 0
Spencer White 1-2 0-0 2 2
Sam Orme 5-14 2-2 13 2
Jared Bonds 3-6 1-3 7 1
Ryan Clevenger 1-2 0-0 3 2
Owen Huber 0-0 0-0 0 1
Logan Reinhart 0-2 0-0 0 0
Totals 15-31 6-9 42 10
Carmel 3-point shooting (6-15) Griffin 3-3, Orme 1-7, Clevenger 1-2, Couto 1-1, White 0-1, Reinhart 0-1.
Carmel rebounds (22) Orme 8, White 7, Bonds 4, Reinhart 2, Griffin 1.
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Luke Almodovar 6-12 7-7 22 1
Aaron Fine 4-11 3-3 12 1
Cooper Bean 3-6 0-0 9 0
Aiden Brewer 0-0 0-0 0 0
Hunter Walston 1-3 0-0 2 4
Will Smits 0-0 0-0 0 1
Justin Curry 0-0 0-0 0 0
Luke Etchison 0-0 0-0 0 1
Preston Roberts 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 14-32 10-10 45 8
Noblesville 3-point shooting (7-14) Almodovar 3-5, Bean 3-4, Fine 1-4, Walston 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (13) Almodovar 3, Bean 3, Walston 3, Roberts 2, Fine 1, Brewer 1.
Score by Quarters
Carmel 8 11 13 10 – 42
Noblesville 14 5 13 13 – 45