‘Hounds roar back to beat Heritage Christian

By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Basketball coaches always say they’ll never forget when they win a milestone game.
Carmel girls basketball coach Tod Windlan will definitely never forget his 200th win. It was one of the more dramatic victories in recent history for the Greyhounds, one where they came back from an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat Heritage Christian 88-77 Thursday at the Eric Clark Activity Center.
“The schedule we play, we’re going to be in some holes like that,” said Windlan. The coach hopes it won’t be another 18-point hole, but he is “super proud” of how his team came back in the second half to dominate and win.
“The kids are all excited to win 200 tonight for me, but I told them that my 200, that’s probably the proudest I’ve ever been of a team coming back and winning a game,” said Windlan.
This was a game between a Carmel team that is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and a Heritage team that is trying 4A for the first time after years of success in 2A, then 3A. The Eagles’ reputation preceded their trip into the biggest class, as they are ranked No. 10 in the coaches’ poll. Both teams were 2-0 coming into the contest.
For the first half, Heritage Christian played like a No. 1 team. The Eagles scored the first two baskets of the game for a 4-0 lead and never trailed in the half, which saw exceptionally torrid play from both teams.
Heritage led 28-19 after the first quarter, then stretched that advantage to 52-34 by halftime. The Eagles were finding the basket with ease, scoring quickly in transition. Windlan admitted that HC was the more aggressive team in that half.
“We didn’t play the style we normally play,” said Windlan. “We gave up a lot of transition baskets off of turnovers. I just call it lack of focus and effort to get back.”
There was a harbinger of things to come, though: Carmel’s Tomi Taiwo scored 13 points. That was a warm-up for a sensational second half by the senior, who recently committed to the University of Iowa.
The ‘Hounds began the second half the way the Eagles did, scoring two baskets, one each from Reagan Hune and Amy Dilk. Heritage Christian answered with a 3-pointer, but then Taiwo drained a 3. Dilk made it back-to-back 3s with her downtown shot, and suddenly the Greyhounds were within 55-44.
“We talked about, there’s no 18-point shot, just keep chipping away at it,” said Windlan. “Get back on defense, quit giving up the transition points. And then move the ball on offense and we’ll start hitting shots. I had faith that we’d start hitting some shots.”
The chipping became shattering as the third quarter continued, as Carmel went on a 15-0 run that lasted about three minutes from the 5:56 mark. With her team down 57-44, Taiwo began the run by making two foul shots.
Dilk got the Eagles’ lead down to single digits with a putback, then Taiwo poured in seven consecutive points – a layin, two free throws and a traditional three-point play – to get the ‘Hounds within 57-55. Hune then tied the game on a rebound basket, and Jasmine McWilliams put Carmel in front for the first time, 59-57, with a layin.
“The coaches really just emphasized that we need to rebound, that we just need to work together, move the ball and get other players on the other team in foul trouble,” said Taiwo. “I thought that we were more aggressive, and we attacked the basket more, and we looked at the open shooters, and we hit shots.”
The two teams traded baskets until the end of the third quarter, at which point the score was 63-63. Hune scored two more buckets, giving her eight points for the period.
While the score was tied going into the fourth, the momentum had irrevocably shifted into the Greyhounds’ favor. Carmel opened the period with a 9-0 run; Taiwo’s third 3-pointer of the night came within six points from Blake Smith.
A late 3-pointer kept the Eagles within 78-74 with 1:05 left, but the ‘Hounds finished the game on a 10-3 run. Carmel did its part from the line, going 8-for-8 during the run. That included six more free throws from Taiwo, who finished the game a perfect 15-of-15.
Taiwo scored 34 points, a career-best for her.
“It was a really close game coming down the stretch, and obviously it’s the little things that are a deciding factor when you’re trying to figure out who wins the game or loses the game,” said Taiwo. “Our team came together.”
Dilk finished the game with 16 points. In the “little things” contest, both Dilk and Taiwo were winners: Amy had eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, while Tomi had five rebounds, four assists and four steals. McWilliams was Carmel’s leading rebounder with nine boards, Smith totaled six and Hune grabbed five.
Taiwo announced her commitment to Iowa early last week.
“I just loved the coaches and the team,” said Taiwo. “The environment is just so beautiful, and I’m actually studying Pre-Med and they have a great Pre-Med program. So I’m excited.”
The Greyhounds, now 3-0, will get another tough team for their next game: No. 5 Zionsville will come to the Eric Clark Activity Center on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

Carmel’s Tomi Taiwo scored a career-high 34 points for the Greyhounds in their comeback victory over Heritage Christian 88-77 Thursday at the Eric Clark Activity Center. Carmel trailed 52-34 at halftime. (Kirk Green)