By RICHIE HALL
The destination is a familiar one for the Carmel boys basketball team: The Class 4A state championship game.
For the second consecutive year, the Greyhounds will play in the biggest game of all. No. 1-ranked Carmel will play its old Metropolitan Conference rival Ben Davis for the 4A title, which tips off around 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The ‘Hounds and the Giants have been playing each other every year for decades, even prior to the start of the MIC, which formed in 1996. In this year’s regular-season game, played on Jan. 25, Carmel beat Ben Davis 49-39. The Greyhounds went on to win an undefeated conference championship.
The Giants finished tied for sixth in the MIC with a 2-5 record. After a loss to Lawrence North on Feb. 8, Ben Davis was 12-7 for the season. But the Giants caught fire at the right time, and are on an eight-game win streak that has propelled them into the state title game for the second time in three years. Ben Davis beat Fort Wayne North Side 55-52 to win the 4A state championship in 2017.
“Ben Davis is a very talented basketball team that returns key pieces from last season,” said Carmel coach Ryan Osborn. “They are well coached, physical and do a great job playing to their strengths.”
Under first-year coach Don Carlisle, the Giants began their run with a win at the Perry Meridian sectional. Ben Davis toughed out a 52-50 win over Pike in the semi-finals, then took care of Decatur Central 69-51 in the championship game.
At the Southport regional, the Giants upset No. 2 Lawrence Central 75-65 in the semi-final game, and followed that with a 53-47 championship win over New Palestine. That sent Ben Davis to the Washington semi-state, and the Giants defeated Center Grove 67-61 to punch a ticket to the state finals. Ben Davis comes into state with a 20-7 record.
Two Division I seniors lead the way for the Giants. Dawand Jones is a 6-9 center, built like a lineman because he is one: Jones has committed to play football for Ohio State as an offensive lineman. On the basketball court, Jones averages 18.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jalen Windham, a 6-5 guard/forward that is headed to Georgia State, is scoring 17.7 points per game. Senior Cameron Maul, a 5-10 guard, averages 3.8 assists per contest. Two other seniors, Dominic Day II and Jeffery Clayton, rounds out the Giants’ starting lineup.
Carmel comes into the game with a 25-1 record. The Greyhounds began their run with two wins at their own sectional, beating Fishers 62-52 in the semi-finals and Hamilton Southeastern 45-39 in the championship.
That sent Carmel to the Logansport regional for the fifth year in a row, where it took care of Fort Wayne Northrop 58-42 in the semis and Zionsville 53-39 in the championship game. The Greyhounds then crushed Penn 71-42 to win the Lafayette Jefferson semi-state, thus sending Carmel back to the state finals for the fourth time in eight years. Osborn was an assistant for the ‘Hounds in their 2012 and 2013 state title victories.
“I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to lead the young men in this program,” said Osborn. “They are a ton of fun to be around, enjoyable to coach and I believe we have all enjoyed every step of the way.”
Three seniors are averaging in double digits for Carmel. John Michael Mulloy, a 6-10 forward and Butler commit, pours in 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Karsten Windlan, a 5-10 guard contributes 11.9 points per game. Andrew Owens, a 6-6 forward headed to the University of Findlay, scored at an 11.8 points per game clip. Senior Luke Heady, who has committed to Marian University, adds 7.5 points and leads in assists with 2.5 per contest.
“The seniors, spearheaded by John Michael Mulloy, have done an outstanding job leading this team,” said Osborn. “They practice hard, they’re coachable and they look forward to competing every day. I can’t remember a bad practice all season….that is a testament to what their leadership brings.”
The fifth starter for Carmel is a freshman, Peter Suder. A 6-2 guard, Suder is averaging 6.0 points per game and had a solid performance in the semi-state with 15 points.
“Peter Suder has been great,” said Osborn. “He’s taken the year in stride and seems to be absorbing everything thrown his way.”
Carmel’s Andrew Owens is averaging 11.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season. The Greyhounds will take on Ben Davis Saturday night for the Class 4A state championship. (Kent Graham/File photo)