(Quimari Peterson scored 16 points in the loss)

 

Carmel Used timely shooting and staunch defense to hold off Gary West Side in overtime to win the 4A North semistate at Lafayette Jeff Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Connor Gioia led the Greyhounds with 16 points and closed the game out from the foul line.

 

The story of this game would be which team could control the tempo, and Carmel grinded the pace with their methodical offense and lock-tight defense as just six total points were scored in the first four minutes of play. West Side point guard picked up two fouls, the second on a charge that sent him to the bench for the rest of the first half. Carmel responded to grab the lead as Charlie Williams scored five of Carmel's seven first-quarter points.

 

Connor Gioia was able to work his way to the rim for back-to-back buckets against the West Side reserve guards, as each squad clamped down defensively. A three from Sam Orme helped give the Greyhounds some breathing room as they entered the locker room with a four-point advantage.

 

Fouls continued to mount as Charlie Williams and Pete Suder each picked up their third fouls early in the third, and Peterson was tagged for his third as well. The Carmel defense packed the lane to crowd West Side junior forward Jalen Washington, limiting his touches and pushing him off the block. West Side had chances to take control as Carmel found offensive success fleeting, but the Cougars, who shot just 1/8 from behind the arc for the game, could not maneuver their way inside as Carmel blocked off all driving lanes.

 

Carmel led until a walk-in triple from Quimari Peterson tied the game at 31 early in the third. After a Carmel score, Chrishawn Christmas followed his miss for an old-fashioned three-point play to give West Side a 34-33 lead, its first since the opening minutes.

 

Carmel would go up four after Gioia split a pair of foul shots, but Peterson would score in the lane, then Christmas would steal the inbound and follow his miss to tie the game. Carmel would come down and turn it over on a charge by Gioia with 37 seconds left, setting the stage for a last opportunity for West Side. The Cougars wound the clock down, but a 10-foot floater from Quimari Peterson missed the mark, and Pete Suder corralled one of his team-leading eight boards to snuff out any second change opportunity.

 

In overtime, Carmel grabbed the lead after Nick Frische was fouled and split a pair. The Greyhound lead was still one when the ball found Sam Orme in the corner, who nailed a huge three-pointer to give Carmel a two-possession advantage. Quimari Peterson would respond with a basket in the paint. After two Gioia free throws, Paris Roberson would follow a miss and score but hit the ground hard following the play. In the confusion, West Side stopped momentarily, and Carmel threw a long inbound pass to Gioia, who was all alone for an easy two.

 

West Side would have a chance to tie, but a pass from Peterson to Jalen Washing in the corner would bounce off Nick Frische's back and land in the hands of Gioia, who hit two free throws with 7.8 seconds left to seal the game for Carmel.

 

The 5'8 Gioia scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth, going 8/10 from the foul line. He was joined in double figures for Carmel by Brian Waddell, who scored 13 along with four rebounds.

 

West Side, who finishes the year with a 22-5 record, was led by Quimari Peterson in his final high school game with 16 points, and fellow senior Chrishawn Christmas poured in 12 to join him in double figures for the Cougars.

 

 

Carmel      7  12   7  14  13 - 53

West Side   6  10   8  16  10 - 50

 

Carmel: Connor Gioia 16pts (3/9 FGs, 10/12 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 stls; Brian Waddell 13 points (5/7 FGs, 3/5 FTs), 4 rebs, 2 asts; Charlie Williams 7 points (2/3 FGs, 3/3 FTs); Josh Whack 6 points (2/3 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 1/1 FTs); Sam Orme 6 points (2/3 3Ps), 3 rebs; Pete Suder 4 points (2/7 FGs), 8 rebs, 2 asts; Nick Frische 1 point (1/2 FTs)

 

West Side: Quimari Peterson 16 points (5/15 FGs, 1/5 3Ps, 5/7 FTs), 2 stls; Chrishawn Christmas 12 points, 7 rebs, 3 stls; Parion Roberson 8 points (4/8 FGs); Jalen Washington 4 points (2/8 FGs), 4 rebs; Paris Roberson 4 points (2/5 FGs), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Billy Muldrew 4 points (2/3 FGs), 3 rebs; Israel Hines 2 points (2/2 FTs)