Friday night, Sterling Brown hit a last second shot to beat Warren Central. Warsaw is familiar with Brown’s last second antics as he knocked down a shot to give Warsaw its first loss last season. This year’s game came down to the final possession as well.

Carmel’s first possession lasted 45 seconds. That was the pace throughout the game as neither team minds a slow tempo. There were under 50 possessions for each team in the game. Both offenses were quite efficient as well. Each team was scored more than 1.1 points per possession.

Kyle Mangas was smooth and efficient in the first half. He handled the Carmel pressure well as a ball-handler. In the halfcourt, Mangas finished around the lane with great finesse. His lone miss of the first half was a last-second shot at the end of the first quarter. He tallied 13 points.

Carmel opened the second half with an 8-0 run. Sophomore Luke Heady was responsible for six of those points with two triples. It took Warsaw over five minutes to score in the second half. Carmel wasn’t able to expand its lead beyond eight points, though.

Warsaw regrouped to go on a 15-1 run from the end of the third quarter to the midpoint of the fourth period. The Tigers had a six-point lead after the spurt. Sterling Brown buried back to back three-pointers to tie the game. Kyle Mangas answered with four straight points.

Warsaw held a one-point lead when Cole Jenkins hit an elbow jumper to give Carmel the lead with 65 seconds left. Mangas got into the lane with 35 seconds left but was blocked by John Michael Mulloy. Brown converted two free throws to push Carmel’s lead to three points.

Jack Rhoades attempted just two shots against Carmel. They were both three-pointers and he made both. The second one tied the game with 18 seconds left.

Carmel put the ball in Brown’s hands for the final shot. Warsaw’s defense was tough and Brown’s shot was off the mark. Warsaw grabbed the rebound and called for a time out with just over a second to play.

Unfortunately for Warsaw, the Tigers were out of time outs. That resulted in a technical foul – two free throws and the ball. Brown made one free throw to give Carmel the lead then Warsaw had to foul again. Brown made the first and missed the second on purpose. Brown did not hit the rim on the second attempt, though. Warsaw was able to throw a deep pass but a fight for the ball ensued as time expired.

Carmel won 54-52. Sterling Brown led Carmel with 21 points. Luke Heady added 12. Kyle Mangas led all scorers with 26 points and six rebounds.