The Carmel girls basketball team clinched a share of the Metropolitan Conference on Friday by beating Ben Davis 58-45 at the Eric Clark Activity Center.
The Greyhounds, ranked No. 20 in the IBCA one-class poll, finished MIC play with a 6-1 record and will share the championship with North Central.
The Giants led 13-9 after the first quarter, but Carmel would outscore Ben Davis in each of the next three periods. The ‘Hounds took a 26-14 lead by halftime. Mackenzie Thomas scored six points in the first quarter, while Emily Roper added eight points in the second period, and 10 in the first half.
Carmel led 42-37 after three quarters, then pulled away in the fourth by outscoring the Giants 16-8. Laura Valiente made three 3-pointers during the final period.
Roper finished the game with 20 points and six rebounds, with Valiente adding 12 points on four 3s. Hannah Lach scored 11 points, including two 3-pointers.
The Greyhounds finished the regular season 15-7. Carmel received a bye into the semi-finals at the Westfield sectional and will play the winner of Tuesday’s Noblesville-Zionsville sectional game on Friday, Feb. 4.
CARMEL 58, BEN DAVIS 45
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Laura Valiente 4-7 0-0 12 1
Kate Clarke 0-3 0-0 0 0
Hannah Lach 4-10 1-2 11 0
Mackenzie Thomas 3-4 0-0 6 2
Emily Roper 8-12 4-5 20 3
Mackenzie Woods 0-1 0-0 0 0
Ava Carter 3-6 2-2 9 2
Jamie Elliott 0-3 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-46 7-9 58 8
Score by Quarters
Ben Davis 13 11 13 8 – 45
Carmel 9 17 16 16 – 58
Carmel 3-point shooting (7-19) Valiente 4-5, Lach 2-6, Carter 1-3, Clarke 0-3, Elliott 0-2.
Carmel rebounds (24) Roper 6, Carter 4, Woods 3, Thomas 3, Valiente 2, Elliott 2, Lach 2, Woods 1, Clarke 1.