Carmel won a boys basketball county rivalry game at Westfield on Saturday, handing the Class 4A No. 9 Shamrocks their first loss of the season, 53-44.
The Greyhounds got out to a big lead early, going up 10-1 with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Charlie Williams was dominant for Carmel, scoring seven of those points, while Conner Gioia hit a 3-pointer during that run. Westfield was able to cut into the Greyhounds’ lead in the last couple minutes, including three free throws from Braden Smith at the end of the quarter.
Carmel led 12-6 at the end of one and continued to keep the ‘Rocks at arm’s length in the second quarter. Peter Suder scored six points in that period to help the ‘Hounds lead 25-15 at halftime.
Carmel kept its lead at around 10 points for the second half. The Greyhounds scored the first two baskets of the third quarter, from Suder and Williams, to enjoy a 29-15 advantage early in the period. Westfield twice got the lead under 10 during the quarter, on a 3 from Cam Haffner and a layin by Nic Dipasquale. But both times, Carmel answered with its own basket. A Williams layin put the ‘Hounds ahead 38-26 at the end of three.
Smith made a 3-pointer to get Westfield within 40-31 early in the fourth quarter, but the ‘Hounds made consecutive baskets (from Suder and Gioia) to push the lead up again. The Shamrocks fought to the end, getting within 49-43 after Camden Simons made a floater with a minute left. Carmel clinched it from the free throw line, making 4 of 6 in the last minute.
Four Greyhounds players reached double figures. Gioia scored 14 points, while Suder earned a double-double, getting 15 rebounds to go with 12 points. Williams and Wil Leary each had 11 points, including a 3-pointer for Leary. Williams had five rebounds and Suder made two blocked shots.
Smith led Westfield with 15 points, while DePasquale scored 12 and pulled seven rebounds.
Carmel is 7-3 and plays at Cathedral on Wednesday. The Shamrocks are 8-1 and will host Hamilton Southeastern next Friday in a girls-boys Hoosier Crossroads Conference doubleheader.
CARMEL 53, WESTFIELD 44
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Jackson Jannsen 0-3 3-4 3 2
Conner Gioia 5-6 2-2 14 3
Peter Suder 5-9 2-4 12 2
Bryce Beery 1-2 0-0 2 0
Charlie Williams 4-5 3-4 11 3
Wil Leary 4-7 2-2 11 1
Burke Weldy 0-0 0-0 0 0
Nick Frische 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 19-32 12-16 53 11
Carmel 3-point shooting (3-10) Gioia 2-2, Leary 1-4, Jannsen 0-3, Suder 0-1.
Carmel rebounds (26) Suder 15, Williams 5, Leary 3, Jannsen 1, Gioia 1, Beery 1.
Suder 2 blocks.
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Braden Smith 4-15 5-6 15 4
Benji Welch 1-1 1-2 4 1
Matt Penley 1-4 0-0 2 2
Camden Simons 2-2 0-0 4 3
Zach Byrer 0-0 0-0 0 1
Nic Depasquale 4-7 4-7 12 1
Cam Haffner 1-6 2-2 5 3
Eli Patchett 0-1 2-2 2 1
Totals 13-36 14-19 44 16
Westfield 3-point shooting (4-17) Smith 2-9, Haffner 1-4, Welch 1-1, Penley 0-1, Depasquale 0-1, Patchett 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (14) Depasquale 7, Patchett 3, Penley 2, Smith 1, Haffner 1.
Score by Quarters
Carmel 12 13 13 15 – 53
Westfield 6 9 11 18 – 44