Shamrocks make history

Westfield holds off Carmel to win first-ever sectional title

By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – After 104 years, the Shamrocks are finally sectional champions.
The Westfield boys basketball team entered the winner’s circle for the first time in school history Saturday by claiming the Class 4A Sectional 8 championship at The Mill in Noblesville. The Shamrocks held off Carmel, the two-time defending 4A state champions, 59-54 in an exciting game in front of a standing-room only crowd at The Mill. Westfield took a big lead by halftime, weathered an inevitable Greyhounds comeback in the third quarter, and surged ahead in the fourth quarter by making big plays and free throws at the end of the game.
When the game was over, the Shamrocks players were cheering, and soon the floor was filled with Shamrocks fans. Some of them had been waiting decades for this moment.
“There’s people that played here 50 years ago coming up to me after the game crying, because they know what we’ve been through and we’ve never won one of those before,” said ‘Rocks senior Braden Smith. “It’s something we’ve all worked for and put work in for. It’s exciting and we’re super, super excited.”
“This sectional title’s for every player that has ever played at Westfield, every coach that’s ever coached, our entire school and our entire community,” said Shamrocks coach Shane Sumpter.
Even those that played back in 1918.
The Shamrocks, ranked No. 11 in the IBCA coaches poll, and the ‘Hounds, rated No. 3 in the Class 4A Associated Press poll and No. 4 IBCA, spent most of the first quarter trading the lead. Nic Depasquale got Westfield on the board first with two free throws just 20 seconds into the contest. Carmel then made back-to-back baskets, with Sam Orme connecting on a layin and Jared Bonds making a dunk.
A layin by Charlie Williams later put the Greyhounds up 8-6. That’s when the Shamrocks went on a run, a 10-0 spurt to get them ahead 16-8. Cam Haffner hit a 3-pointer, Alex Romack was good on a traditional three-point play, then Smith made consecutive baskets.
“It’s taken us two years to get here, and just the amount of emotions right now is overwhelming,” said Romack. “It’s really exciting to finally win this.”
Peter Suder hit a jumper to finish the quarter, keeping Carmel within 16-10. Smith opened the second period with a triple, and Westfield stayed in front by a relatively comfortable margin for the remainder of the first half, never letting its lead dip below six points. Smith scored eight points during the quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers. A 3 from Haffner was the last word of the half, which finished with the ‘Rocks up 33-23.
“That was our main goal from this whole sectional,” said Smith. “Just start off strong, go quick and then play from there, because we can play with the lead.”
Smith scored the first basket of the second half, which was a 3-pointer (of course). That gave Westfield its largest lead of the game at 36-23. After that, the Greyhounds dominated the third quarter, going on a 19-4 run to take the lead. Williams played brilliantly during the run, scoring nine points. Garwey Dual was just as good, with seven points. Both Carmel players made and-1s during the course of the spurt.
Not to be left out, Suder nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 40-40, then a Greyhounds steal led to a basket by Dual that put the ‘Hounds in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Carmel led 44-43 after three periods, then Orme made a layin to push the Greyhounds ahead 46-43.
But Westfield responded with an 8-0 run and would not trail again. Haffner scored all eight of those points, draining two 3s before scoring off a steal. With that, the Shamrocks led 51-46.
“It’s a game of runs,” said Haffner. “We knew being up 10 that it wasn’t over. Our coach always says it’s a 32-minute game. It’s not over till it’s over. We came back and we ended up on top.”
Carmel kept battling, but Westfield would answer each Greyhounds score with a basket of its own, and Carmel would answer back. Depasquale made a layin with just over a minute to go that put the ‘Rocks up 55-49, but Suder hit a 3 to cut the lead in half.
Bonds got Carmel within 55-54 with a layin, after which Westfield called a timeout. Haffner was fouled right out of the timeout and put on the line in a one-and-bonus situation, and made both free throws with 23.3 seconds left.
The ‘Rocks would get the ball back and Depasquale was fouled with 3.4 seconds on the clock. Thus, the game ended where it began: Depasquale made two free throws, and the Shamrocks celebration was on.
“I’ve played with these guys for my whole life, since fourth grade,” said Depasquale. “I just want to do it for them. All that momentum, the crowd was cheering. I knew if I hit those, we’d win, and that was just carrying me to hit those. And I knew I was not missing those.”
“You just knew this game was going to come down to that,” said Sumpter. “It wasn’t going to be a lopsided affair either way. I’ve got all the respect in the world for (coach) Ryan Osborn and Carmel. I think it’s fitting that you just have to go through Carmel. A lot of respect for them and really proud of these guys.”
“We gave everything we had and they were the better team tonight,” said Osborn, whose team finished the season 18-6. “They did a good job and they hit big shots. They did a good job of closing the game. Wouldn’t do anything differently and I wouldn’t ask my kids to do anything differently. Special group of kids and I’m so proud of them, love all of them.”
Smith made four 3-pointers on his way to 22 points, and also had six assists and five rebounds. Haffner added 18 points, including three 3s. Depasquale led the rebounds with six.
“Those three guys have started since they’ve been sophomores,” said Sumpter. “Those are the guys that made the plays down the stretch.”
Romack added 13 points and made three blocked shots; both he and Trey Dorton collected three rebounds. Sumpter said Romack was “easily” the most improved player for the Shamrocks this season.
“From the Hall of Fame on, he just turned it on and he’s huge for us,” said Sumpter.
Suder, a varsity player since his freshman year, led the Greyhounds with 14 points.
“Pete is a special dude,” said Osborn. “He means a lot to me. He’s given everything unselfishly and he’s one of the most amazing kids I’ve ever coached.”
Williams added 11 points, while Orme collected eight rebounds. Dual and Bonds both pulled five rebounds. Dual made three blocks and Orme had two blocks.
Westfield is 21-6 and advances to the Logansport regional, which takes place next Saturday at the Berry Bowl. The Shamrocks play Homestead in the second semi-final game, which will tip off around noon. The first semi-final starts at 10 a.m., with Kokomo facing off against Fort Wayne Snider. The championship is set for 8 p.m.

WESTFIELD 59, CARMEL 54
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Josh Whack 1-2 0-0 3 1
Peter Suder 6-17 0-0 14 2
Sam Orme 3-11 1-2 7 1
Charlie Williams 5-7 1-1 11 3
Jared Bonds 3-8 0-0 6 1
Garwey Dual 3-4 1-1 7 3
Spencer White 1-3 0-0 3 1
Jake Griffin 1-2 0-0 3 0
Josh Rauh 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 23-54 3-4 54 12
Carmel 3-point shooting (5-20) Suder 2-10, White 1-3, Griffin 1-2, Whack 1-1, Orme 0-3, Williams 0-1.
Carmel rebounds (29) Orme 8, Dual 5, Bonds 5, Whack 3, Suder 3, Williams 3, White 2.
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Braden Smith 9-13 1-2 22 1
Cam Haffner 6-11 2-2 18 2
Trey Dorton 0-2 0-0 0 2
Nic Depasquale 1-4 4-4 6 1
Alex Romack 5-11 3-3 13 2
Totals 21-41 10-11 59 8
Westfield 3-point shooting (7-12) Haffner 4-7, Smith 3-4, Dorton 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (20) Depasquale 6, Smith 5, Haffner 3, Dorton 3, Romack 3.
Score by Quarters
Carmel 10 13 21 10 – 54
Westfield 16 17 10 16 – 59