By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The Carmel boys basketball team may be a little young this season, but the Greyhounds are still winning the old-fashioned Carmel way.
The ‘Hounds grew up in their game last Saturday against Plainfield at the Eric Clark Activity Center. After trailing for most of the contest, Carmel surged ahead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Quakers 17-6 to pick up a 44-40 victory. It was the first home game of the season for the Greyhounds.
“We definitely grew tonight, that’s for sure,” said ‘Hounds coach Ryan Osborn.
Carmel only led once in the first three quarters. The first period finished in an 8-8 tie; Jamichael Fountain knotted the score at the quarter buzzer by hitting a 3-pointer. A free throw from Ryan Clevenger got the ‘Hounds up 9-8 early in the second quarter, but Plainfield went on a 6-0 run and would stay in front over the next two periods, leading 21-16 at halftime.
Clevenger
The Quakers were up 34-24 with 50.9 seconds left in the third. Freshman Aiden Dickerson tossed in a 3-pointer at the period buzzer, and Carmel was within 34-27 going into the fourth. That would be the start of an 18-3 spurt to get the ‘Hounds in a winning position.
“Aiden’s not blinked an eye,” said Osborn. “He hasn’t really practiced with the varsity a whole lot, but he’s a plug-and-play type of guy. You know he’s going to rebound, you know he’s going to guard people. He’s not going to try to do things he can’t do. And I thought that showed tonight. He stepped in in a tough spot and made some big plays.”
Dickerson hit another 3 to get Carmel within 36-32, then Evan Harrell made a steal out of a timeout, then dunked the ball to put the ‘Hounds within two; Osborn said that play “gave us some energy.”
Plainfield made a free throw to lead 37-34, but Carmel ran off eight straight points and never trailed again. Alex Couto and Clevenger both scored three points, all from free throws during that run.
Osborn said that “to play in games like that, that are tight and grind-it-out and you have to make plays in a pressure-packed situation I think will go a long way.”
Clevenger scored 15 points, with Harrell adding 13 points and grabbing five rebounds. Clevenger had two blocked shots.
***
Carmel’s triumph over Plainfield followed a big win the night before. The Greyhounds picked up their first win of the season last Friday night, winning an away game at Lawrence Central 52-46.
The ‘Hounds steadily built their lead during the first half, holding a 12-8 advantage after one quarter and a 29-16 lead at halftime. The Bears chipped away during the second half, but Carmel was able to hold on for the victory.
Three Greyhounds reached double figures, led by Couto’s 19 points and four 3-pointers. Harrell put together a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Clevenger added 10 points. The ‘Hounds outrebounded LC 29-15; Mitchell Mulloy pulled 10 rebounds and Fountain collected five rebounds.
Carmel is 2-1 and hosts Noblesville on Friday, then plays at Crown Point on Saturday.