Millers pull away from Hounds in opening game

By RICHIE HALL

CARMEL – Noblesville pulled away from host Carmel Tuesday in the opening game of Class 4A Sectional 8 on Bill Shepherd Court at the Eric Clark Activity Center.

The Greyhounds and the Millers were in a close battle for the first three quarters before Noblesville dominated the fourth period to get a 51-32 victory. Noblesville advances to the Friday semifinals, where it takes on Hamilton Southeastern in the first game that evening.

Carmel’s Liam Mann scored 10 points to lead the Greyhounds. (Joshua Herd)

The Millers never trailed, although Carmel kept things close for the majority of the game. Noblesville led 9-5 after the first quarter, with junior Justin Curry scoring six of those points, setting the tone for how this contest developed.

The ‘Hounds opened the second quarter with two free throws from Aidan Dickerson and a basket from Liam Mann, getting the score to its lone tie at 9-9. But Ryan Vetor drained a 3-pointer, then Curry made his first triple of the game to answer a Mann layin and put Noblesville up 15-11.

“Coming into sectionals is always a nervous feeling, but it’s a good nervous feeling,” said Curry, explaining that his team was able to turn those nerves into “positive energy.”

Dickerson hit a 3 to keep Carmel within 15-14. That was another theme of the game, with the Greyhounds coming back each time the Millers went on a run. Noblesville surged ahead 20-14, with Curry making a dunk, then Carmel came back to 20-19, with Zach Michaels made a triple for the ‘Hounds.

Baron Walker got the last basket of the half, a jumper to put Noblesville ahead 22-19 at the break. The Millers started the third quarter with an 8-1 spurt, including a triple from both Curry and Walker.

Noblesville led 30-20, but Carmel came back again with an 8-0 run. Ben Bremer hit a 3, then Mann dunked in a basket while being fouled and made the free throw. A layin by Julian Vogt brought the Greyhounds within 30-28.

Walker finished the third quarter like he did the second, making a layin. The Millers led 32-28 going into the fourth quarter, then outscored Carmel 19-4 in that period. T.J. Davidson started things with an and-1, Aiden Brewer made a layin, then Walker’s layin turned into another and-1. Curry finished the run with his third 3 of the game.

“I think the stops helped contribute to the quality shots we got in the fourth quarter,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. “I think we took some better shots, but I think some our defense enabled us to get some better shot selection, better quality shots.”

Vogt broke the run at the 2:51 mark with a layin, but the Millers responded with eight consecutive points. Curry drained another triple, his fourth of the game, and made a layin, bringing his total to a game-high 24 points.

Walker scored 15 points for Noblesville and dished out four assists. Davidson led the rebounds with six, while Curry made four steals. Noblesville is 18-5 for the season.

Mann led Carmel with 10 points and also blocked two shots. Dickerson pulled eight rebounds, with Mann collecting six. Carmel finished its season 10-13 despite dealing with injuries during the year, but coach Rayn Osborn credited his team for continuing to fight.

“The effort was never a conversation,” said Osborn. “I think that takes a lot of maturity and buy-in, and I give them a lot of credit for that.”