Sectional week is providing buzzer-beater after buzzer-beater across the state in the first two days. Sectional 8 had one of those last second shots in the nightcap.
In the Wednesday opener, Carmel used its typical stifling defense and an aggressive offensive game from sophomore Luke Heady to pull away from Westfield. Playing without leading scorer Sterling Brown due to suspension, Heady looked for his shot early and often on his way to scoring the first seven Greyhound points. Westfield forward Ian Kristensen would try to keep the Shamrocks close, scoring eight of his game-high 16 in the first half. Heady scored six more in the third quarter as Carmel built a double figure lead that was never threatened.
Carmel 12 12 14 15 - 53
Westfield 6 11 8 11 - 36
Carmel: Luke Heady 14 points (4/9 FGs, 3/5 3Ps, 3/4 FTs); PJ Baron 11 points (4/5 FGs, 3/6 FTs), 5 rebs; Alex Falender 11 points; John Michael Mulloy 5 points (1/4 FGs); Jalen Whack 4 points; Eddie Gill 2 points; Britt Beery 2 points; Mike Pitz 2 points
Westfield: Ian Kristensen 16 points (7/15 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Aaron Bennett 9 points (2/6 FGs, 4/4 FTs); Zach Banks 5 points; Jonah Welch 4 points (2/10 FGs), 7 rebs; Josh Van Dyke 2 points
In the nightcap, Noblesville rallied in the fourth quarter before senior guard Rico Duncan buried a three-pointer at the horn to give the Millers a 41-39 win over Guerin Catholic. The Golden Eagles came out firing, hitting four three-pointers in the first quarter, two a piece from Jack Hansen and Matt Godfrey. The margin stayed at six at halftime. Noblesville tied the game towards the end of the third quarter, but Matt Godfrey hit his fourth and fifth three-pointers of the night on back to back possessions to give Guerin Catholic a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded the lead in the middle part of the quarter, and Noblesville got a steal with 40 seconds left and ahead by a point. Sophomore Grant Gremel was fouled but missed the front end of a one and one. After a pair of timeouts, the ball found Luke Godfrey in the left corner with six seconds left. He shot faked, took one dribble to his right, and calmly drained a 15-foot jump shot. Noblesville immediately called timeout to stop the clock. With 84 feet to go, the Millers executed the Valpo Bryce Drew "Pacer" play to perfection, with McGwire Plumer throwing the inbounds to Nolan Ginther, who found Rico Duncan streaking down the left sideline. Duncan took the pass and hit a three pointer at the buzzer, giving Noblesville the win.
Guerin Catholic 14 9 10 6 - 39
Noblesville 8 9 10 14 - 41
Guerin Catholic: Matt Godfrey 15 points (5/9 3Ps); Jack Hansen 12 points (4/6 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 5 rebs, 4 blks; Zach Munson 6 points (3/6 FGs); Luke Godfrey 6 points (3/5 FGs), 3 ast
Noblesville: Nolan Ginther 14 points (6/10 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Rico Duncan 9 points (3/9 FGs, 2/2 FTs); McGwire Plumer 7 points (2/6 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 4 ast; Max Flinchum 6 points (3/10 FGs); Grant Gremel 5 points