By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – After two straight close losses, the Westfield girls basketball team was due for a win – close or otherwise.
The Shamrocks got their win on Tuesday, against a big county rival. Westfield beat Carmel 51-48 at the Greyhounds’ Eric Clark Activity Center, marking the first time the ‘Rocks defeated the Greyhounds since Feb. 8, 2013.
Once the tense victory was completed, Westfield was in celebration mode. The ‘Rocks snapped a three-game losing streak with the win.
“The kids really responded today, so I’m super proud of them,” said Westfield coach Ginny Smith.
The Shamrocks jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first quarter before Carmel came back and made it a back-and-forth period. The ‘Hounds led 15-14 once the quarter was done, with senior Fatima Valiente scoring six of those points. Meanwhile, Alyssa Crocket had seven points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer.
Crockett’s layin midway through the second quarter got Westfield ahead 21-19, but Valiente responded with a three-point play to push the ‘Hounds back ahead. But Ashtin DeCraene nailed the first of her 3-pointers to get the Shamrocks back up 24-22.
Even though Westfield would not trail again, Carmel kept fighting back to tie the game. Valiente scored off a steal to knot things up at 24-24. But the Shamrocks finished the half strong, with Crockett making two free throws and Olivia Robey hitting a 3; that sent Westfield into halftime up 29-24.
In the third quarter, Valiente made a triple and a layin to tie the game again, at 29-29. The two teams matched each other basket for basket, with Crockett’s 3 answered by a Kate Clarke 3. DeCraene scored off a rebound, but Emily Roper tied the game with a hook shot.
Once again, Westfield made a strong push to end the quarter, with Crockett and Chesney Tebbe scoring on layins. That put the Shamrocks up 38-34, and they never trailed again.
Westfield managed to stay a basket ahead of Carmel in the fourth quarter. The ‘Rocks managed the clock well and held firm against the Greyhounds’ pressure. Tebbe hit two free throws with 4:38 left to give the Shamrocks their largest lead, 46-38.
Two more free throws from DeCraene kept Westfield ahead 51-45 with under a minute left. Carmel got a late basket from Clarke to cut that lead to three, but the Shamrocks were able to hang on for the win.
“Carmel really tried to start pressuring us late there down the stretch,” said Smith. The coach said her team “handled that pressure pretty well” and took care of the ball during that time.
It was a team victory for Westfield. Crockett led the way with 18 points and also added five rebounds and three assists.
“That’s probably the best all-around basketball game that Alyssa’s had all year,” said Smith. “She didn’t force anything.”
DeCraene finished with 16 points, including her three 3-pointers, and also collected six rebounds.
“She hit some big shots tonight,” said Smith. “She certainly rose to the occasion. She defended really well, she rebounded really, really well and I was super proud with her effort.”
Ava Henson led the rebounding with seven.
“She does such a good job defensively as well,” said Smith.
Valiente and Clarke both scored 18 points for Carmel, with Valiente also getting five rebounds.
“Give credit to them, they hustled, they got loose balls.” said Greyhounds coach Erin Trimpe. “They outrebounded us. They were ready to play and were the aggressor today. I’m waiting for us, and I think we’re all waiting for us to come out and be that aggressor every game.”
Westfield is 5-5 and plays Friday at Zionsville in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game. Carmel is 3-6 and also plays Friday, at Brownsburg.
WESTFIELD 51, CARMEL 48
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Olivia Robey 3-7 0-0 7 2
Alyssa Crockett 5-9 6-6 18 0
Ava Henson 0-5 0-0 0 2
Jessica Castor 1-4 1-1 3 2
Ashtin DeCraene 5-6 3-6 16 4
Emily Robinson 0-0 0-0 0 1
Chesney Tebbe 2-3 3-4 7 2
Ashley Black 0-0 0-0 0 0
Madi Kerrigan 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 16-34 13-17 51 13
Westfield 3-point shooting (6-13) DeCraene 3-4, Crockett 2-4, Robey 1-3, Henson 0-1, Castor 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (27) Henson 7, DeCraene 6, Crockett 5, Robey 2, Tebbe 2, Castor 2, team 3.
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Kiara Gill 1-7 0-1 2 3
Bridget Dunn 1-8 2-2 4 2
Fatima Valiente 6-9 5-5 18 1
Riley Pennington 1-2 2-4 4 0
Kate Clarke 7-11 2-4 18 4
Hannah Lach 0-2 0-0 0 2
Emily Roper 1-1 0-0 2 2
Totals 17-40 11-16 48 14
Carmel 3-point shooting (3-12) Clarke 2-4, Valiente 1-2, Dunn 0-3, Lach 0-2, Gill 0-1.
Carmel rebounds (21) Valiente 5, Gill 3, Clarke 3, Dunn 2, Roper 2, Pennington 1, Lach 1, team 4.
Score by Quarters
Westfield 14 15 9 13 – 51
Carmel 15 9 10 14 – 48
Carmel’s Fatima Valiente (left) is defended by Westfield’s Chesney Tebbe during the Shamrocks-Greyhounds girls basketball game Tuesday at the Eric Clark Activity Center. Westfield won 51-48. (Richie Hall)