4A No. 2 Carmel had to crawl out of a 14-point hole in the third quarter to beat 1A No. 1 Barr-Reeve on Wednesday. 

 

The Vikings started hot as junior guard Hagen Knepp blew by his defender to score, then Brycen Graber made a spot-up three. Carmel took a minute to find its footing without Connor Gioia and Charlie Williams. Pete Suder scored the first four points for the Greyhounds as Carmel rattled off 10 straight points. 

 

To end the first quarter, Curt Hopf knocked down a three for Barr-Reeve. The Vikings used the three-ball to build a lead in the second quarter. Tommy Kidwell came off the bench to boost Barr-Reeve with two triples. 

 

In the second and third quarters, Carmel's offense stalled as Suder and Brian Waddell were passive. It was Will Leary, Sam Orme, and even Jared Bonds that were looking to be assertive. Those three accounted for all eight of Carmel's second-quarter points. 

 

Leading by five at the break, Josh Thompson's squad took things to a different level in the third. Hopf scored six quick points and Knepp added another three to push Barr-Reeve's lead to 32-18 three minutes into the half. The Vikings were clicking.

 

To stem the tide, Leary splashed two more threes for Carmel, and Bonds scored inside. That kept Carmel within 10 points heading to the fourth period.

 

Orme, a sophomore that played in the junior varsity game, stepped up for Carmel. Down 10, Orme hit a three to begin the fourth. After a couple of stops, Leary connected on yet another three for Carmel. Suddenly, the Greyhounds were within four points. 

 

Like any good team, Barr-Reeve answered back. Hopf scored after grabbing an offensive rebound then Devin Graber knocked down a three. 

 

Midway through the fourth, turnovers began to haunt Barr-Reeve. Carmel applied full-court pressure, and the Vikings did not handle it well. They had five turnovers in the final four minutes of the fourth. More often than not, Leary and Orme capitalized on the turnovers for Carmel. Orme scored 10 points in the stanza, including a three that gave Carmel a 45-43 lead.

 

Trailing for the first time since early in the second quarter, Barr-Reeve was able to get Knepp downhill, and he pull-up for a 14-foot shot to tie the game. Carmel was able to get Leary a look at the end of regulation, but it was off the mark.

 

In the extra frame, Suder stepped up for the Hounds. He broke down his defender to shake free for a 16-footer. Moments later, he stole a pass and converted it at the other end. Carmel's lead swelled to seven when Orme connected on another three. 

 

Once again, Barr-Reeve bounced back. Brycen Graber hit a three, then Hopf finished a three-point play on BR's next possession to make it a one-point game.

 

Suder and Josh Whack each went one of two at the line before Brycen Graber banked in a three to tie the game.

 

Tied at 55 with 16 seconds to play, Carmel did not call a timeout. Suder pushed the ball up the floor and banked in a runner from just outside of the lane. Barr-Reeve called time with 2.8 seconds left.

 

The Vikings were able to get Knepp heading up the court for a decent look, but it was off the mark.

 

Carmel held on, 57-55. Will Leary finished with 18 points; Orme came off the bench for 16 in the win; Suder finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and four steals.

 

Bellarmine signee Curt Hopft tallied 21 points and 15 rebounds in the loss; Knepp finished with 11 points and eight rebounds; Brycen Graber had 10 points and four assists.