By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
CARMEL – A balanced scoring effort gave the Carmel girls basketball team its first win of the season.
The Greyhounds hosted Warren Central Tuesday night at the Eric Clark Activity Center. It was a back-and-forth game that Carmel eventually won 50-48. The ‘Hounds got off to a solid start, weathered the storm when the Warriors took a third-quarter lead, then used timely baskets in the fourth quarter to stay ahead until the end.
It was also the first win as the Greyhounds coach for Rick Risinger. The man who coached Heritage Christian to seven state titles said he was more excited for his players to get the win.
“I coach, but they’re the ones that did it,” said Risinger. “I’m more excited for their opportunity to get the win.”
Carmel led for all but a couple minutes of the game. The ‘Hounds jumped out to an early lead thanks to Isabelle Shepherd. She went on a personal 7-0 run (a layin, basket off a steal and 3-pointer) to get Carmel ahead 10-2 in the first quarter.
The Greyhounds finished the opening period ahead 18-12, with five different players scoring. That balance would continue throughout the game. Carmel led 30-24 at halftime; Keaton Gatlin scored six points in the second quarter.
The Warriors made their move in the third period, outscoring the Greyhounds 11-3 to take a 35-33 lead. Danyha Jacobs took over with nine straight points, and it was her floater that put Warren ahead. Lauren Perry put Carmel back in front with a 3 and Gatlin’s layin got the ‘Hounds ahead 38-35, but a last-second 3 by the Warriors’ Laila Mathis tied things up at 38-38 after three.
Perry
Perry opened the fourth quarter with another triple, and Carmel worked its way to a 49-42 lead. Fisher added four points, with Mackenzie Woods hitting a putback and Mallory Bourquein making a layin. Warren made things close by going on a 6-0 run, but a free throw from Woods with 3.2 seconds left was enough to clinch the win.
“We don’t talk too much about who takes shots, who’s supposed to score what,” said Risinger. “What we try to do is just run our offenses and just take the good shots. We took a couple of quick shots at times. I want shots within the offense. But they all stepped up and they all have the green light when it’s their time to shoot.”
Eight different players scored for Carmel. Perry and Bourquein both had nine points, while Gatlin scored eight. Shepherd and Fisher both finished with seven points.
Bourquein
The Greyhounds are 1-1 and host Huntington North Saturday afternoon.
CARMEL 50, WARREN CENTRAL 48
Carmel FG FT TP PF
Isabelle Shepherd 3-8 0-2 7 2
Mackenzie Woods 2-4 1-3 5 2
Lauren Perry 3-6 0-0 9 2
Taryn Fisher 3-4 1-2 7 4
Mallory Bourquein 3-9 3-4 9 1
Keaton Gatlin 3-3 1-2 8 2
Jamie Elliott 1-2 0-0 3 0
Megan Hamm 0-1 0-0 0 0
Ava Carter 1-2 0-0 2 0
Totals 19-39 6-13 50 13
Score by Quarters
Warren Central 12 12 14 10 – 48
Carmel 18 12 8 12 – 50
Carmel 3-point shooting (6-12) Perry 3-4, Shepherd 1-5, Gatlin 1-1, Elliott 1-1, Carter 0-1.