Ten Best: HSE at Carmel

<strong>Game Recap:</strong> Hamilton Southeastern at Carmel [Sectional Championship] <em>Final Score: HSE 57 – Carmel 69</em> In a Sectional Championship Game without one of their senior leaders, Carmel seemed to be poised and under-control throughout the game. They played great team defense and limited the opportunities for the playmakers from Hamilton Southeaster. Carmel lead 15-9 at the end of the first behind a hot start from Baron. It was much of the same in the second quarter as HSE never seemed to get into any kind of a rhythm on the offensive end. HSE trailed 32-16 at the half and didn’t seem to have any response to Carmel. Coming out in the third, both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket and things started to get a little chippy on both sides. Carmel scored 11 in the quarter and HSE scored 8. HSE seemed to have a little more fire to play at a high level but it was a little too late. Carmel lead 43-24 heading into the final quarter. HSE scored 33 points in the fourth quarter and 24 in the previous three quarters. They got Zach Gunn some good looks and Davidson continued to be aggressive. They got the lead down to 8 points in the final two minutes and it seemed as though they had a chance to make a game out of it. Carmel broke the press on back to back possessions for easy buckets and that was it. Carmel won 69-57. Carmel is the Sectional Champions and will be advancing on to the Logansport Regional next weekend. <strong>MVP:</strong> PJ Baron (Carmel) PJ Baron was fantastic for Carmel last night. He was efficient from the floor and rebounded the ball at a high rate. He played every moment until the final seconds when the game was out of reach and the teams emptied their benches. Baron finished with 17 points (4-7 2FG, 1-1 3FG, and 6-8 FT), 9 rebounds (6 defensive and 3 offensive), 2 assists, and 1 steal. Baron’s leadership and timely play-making helped Carmel extend the lead and never look back. <strong>Best Offensive Performance: </strong>Jack Davidson (HSE) Odd when the best offensive performance comes from the losing team, but Davidson was doing it all last night in the championship game. Davidson had his man off balance all night and scored more than half of his points at the free throw line. Jack finished with 21 points (3-5 2FG, 1-2 3FG, and 12-13 FT), 2 defensive rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He was a bright spot in a bad offensive game from the Royals. He willed his team back into the game and gave them a fighting chance in a game where they were being dominated. Davidson showed that he has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket whenever he wants. <strong>Best Defensive Performance:</strong> Cole Jenkins (Carmel) Cole Jenkins put together a good game on both ends of the floor. Most of the night he was guarding Rotterman of HSE. He was also able to jump a few passing lanes to lead to easy baskets for Carmel in the open floor. Jenkins finished with 12 points (3-5 2FG, 1-3 3FG, and 3-4 FT), 4 defensive rebounds, 4 assists, and a game high 3 steals. Jenkins activity on the defensive end helped bring the crowd into the game and his teammates followed his example and picked up the energy and focus on defense. <strong>Best Under-The-Radar Performance:</strong> John Michael-Mulloy (Carmel) The notable performance from John was that he held Zach Gunn to five points through the first three quarters and a total of ten for the game. He was also bothersome downlow with his length. He altered the shots of the HSE guards as they came to the basket. John finished with 9 points (2-5 2FG and 5-6 FT), 9 rebounds (6 defensive and 3 offensive), and 2 assists. He gave Carmel good minutes in this one and did the things that they needed him to. <strong>Best Player Off-The-Bench:</strong> Britt Beery (Carmel) In a game dominate by the starters for both teams, Beery was the most impactful of the group off-the-bench. Britt played a decent number of minutes because of John Michael-Mulloy being in foul trouble and he came in and owned the paint. He finished with 4 points (1-2 2FG and 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds (4 defensive and 2 offensive), and 1 block. He is a strong inside presence with his wide-frame and rebounded at a high rate with good body positioning and strong hands. <strong>Best Shooter: </strong>Luke Heady (Carmel) Luke Heady came out ready to play in this one hitting a pair of threes in the first quarter. Aside from early foul trouble, he put together a strong game for Carmel. Luke also got to the free throw line at a high rate. Heady finished with 14 points (0-1 2FG, 2-4 3FG, and 8-10 FT), 2 defensive rebounds, and 1 assist. If Heady can continue shooting at the percentage that he has of late, Carmel will be a tough team to knock out, especially if they can play long enough to get Brown back. <strong>Best Intangibles:</strong> Noah Smith (HSE) Noah Smith is one of the best defensive guards in the state. The sophomore shut down Heady after the first quarter and takes defense personally. He is also a true point guard, looking to get his teammates open before looking for his own offense. Smith finished with 2 points (1-3 2FG), 4 rebounds (3 defensive and 1 offensive), and a game high 7 assists. Smith brings a level of toughness to this roster and doesn’t back down from a challenge. He will be a player to keep an eye on in the coming years as HSE looks to start building young. <strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> Zach Gunn (HSE) HSE’s All-Time Leading Rebounder for a reason. Gunn has a strong upper body and athleticism to get up quickly. His positioning under the glass is also a key reason that he pulls down all the rebounds that he does. In a game that he struggled to get going offensively, he found other ways to be an impact player. Gunn finished with 10 points (3-6 2FG, 1-6 3FG, and 1-1 FT), a game high 10 rebounds (8 defensive and 2 offensive), 1 block, and 1 assist. Gunn put together a great career at HSE and is their All-Time Leading Scorer and Rebounder. <strong>Best Underclassmen:</strong> John Michael-Mulloy (Carmel) John Michael-Mulloy has been improving at a rapid pace and colleges are starting to take notice. The 6’10” sophomore has been working on his jump shot and touch away from the basket as well as finishing at a high rate in the paint. As he continues to expand his skill set, his motor will be his best characteristic. John is never satisfied and is always playing at 100% when he’s on the floor. Keep an eye on John to be an impact player for Carmel in the Regional matchup next weekend and in the coming years. <strong>Biggest Takeaway:</strong> Carmel’s Team Defense Carmel out-worked and out-hustled HSE from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Their team defense is what won them this game. They limited HSE’s playmakers to minor impacts on the game (other than Davidson) and really made HSE work for open looks on offense. Their buy-in on defense ultimately put together one of the best defensive performances of the year, at least through the first three quarters. If Carmel’s defense can be their go to, they may be a team that can make some noise next weekend.