By RICHIE HALL
For the sixth year in a row, the Carmel boys basketball team is spending the week preparing for the regional round.
The Greyhounds will travel up to Logansport on Saturday, taking on New Haven in the second semi-final game at the Berry Bowl. That contest is scheduled to start around noon, following the first semi-final. That game starts at 10 a.m. and will see Marion play Fort Wayne Snider. The championship is set for 8 p.m.
While the two teams did not play each other in the regular season, Carmel and New Haven had two common opponents: Bishop Dwenger and Warren Central. Both teams beat the Saints, with the ‘Hounds winning 57-33 and the Bulldogs getting a 65-52 victory. Against the Warriors, Carmel fell 58-50 while New Haven lost 92-54.
Both teams have similar records: The Bulldogs are 18-6 while the Greyhounds are 18-7. New Haven was the winner in Sectional 6, beating Huntington North 68-51 in the semi-finals and toughing out Homestead 46-44 in the championship, avenging a loss to the Spartans from earlier in the season.
“They’re tough, they’re athletic,” said Carmel coach Ryan Osborn of New Haven. He gave a list of other attributes of the Bulldogs, which included that they’re physical, coached well, disciplined, they rebound well, and balanced.
Balance might be one of the key items about New Haven, as it has three players that average in double figures. Senior Donovynn Lewis scored 15.5 points per game, junior Thomas Latham contributes 14.6 points and sophomore Jakar Williams averages 11.6 points per game. Senior Jamarr Hutchins also adds 9.5 points per contest.
Those four players are solid rebounders as well: Latham collects 8.3 rebounds per game, followed by Williams (7.6), Lewis (4.1) and Hutchins (4.0). Hutchins also hands out 3.8 assists per game, with Lewis dishing out 3.2. Freshman Darrion Brooks comes off the bench as well.
With all that, New Haven is actually a similar team to the Greyhounds, as Carmel also is balanced and has a relatively young roster. Sophomore Peter Suder is the Greyhounds’ leading scorer at 11.2 points per game, followed by junior Brian Waddell with 10.4 points per contest. Not far behind are senior Jackson Jannsen at 8.8 points and sophomore Charlie Williams at 8.4 points.
“They want to compete, they want to do whatever it takes to win,” said Osborn. “They celebrate each other’s success.”
Suder also leads the rebounding with 6.6 per game, followed by Waddell (4.6) and Williams (4.2). Junior Connor Gioia is the leading assist man, with 3.9 per game.
Carmel claimed its sixth consecutive sectional title last week. The Greyhounds beat Hamilton Southeastern 50-43 in the first round, edged out host Noblesville 39-37 in the semi-finals then defeated Westfield 54-41 in the championship.
This is the second time that Carmel has won six sectionals in a row. The Greyhounds won nine in a row between 1966 and 1974, back when Bill Shepherd and Eric Clark were the coaches. Osborn said that to be mentioned with some of the best coaches that have ever coached for Carmel “says something special about our kids.”
“It’s hard to be able to see all that in the moment, because honestly, our guys are enjoying themselves,” said Osborn. “Their goal is to get better every day. They like being around each other. The results have been positive.”
“But that’s not what we strive for. Our thing is, the results are the results based on the kind of work you put in every day and we want to give ourselves a chance to compete. And if the opportunity to compete for a championship present itself, it’s awesome.”
The Greyhounds were scheduled to practice at the Berry Bowl today. Since many of the players on the team are in their first season of varsity, it will be a new experience.
“They get to experience some things they’ve never experienced and they’ve earned that,” said Osborn.
Carmel’s Charlie Williams is averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Greyhounds this season. Carmel travels to Logansport on Saturday to play New Haven in the regional semi-finals. (Kent Graham)