(CJ Gunn looks to lead Lawrence North to the 4A title)

 

Indiana Basketball Source dissects the 4A 2021 IHSAA boys basketball state title game between MIC rivals – Carmel and Lawrence North.

 

This is the third straight state final appearance for Carmel, and it is the third time the Greyhounds will face a conference rival. Lawrence North is making its first trip to the state finals since Greg Oden and Mike Conley capped a three-peat in 2006.

 

Carmel ended the regular season as the No. 2 4A team behind Homestead. The Greyhounds beat the Spartans at the Logansport regional before getting a scare from Lafayette Jeff. It also took Carmel overtime to beat Gary West Side in the semi-state.

 

In the postseason, Brian Waddell and Charlie Williams have elevated their play. Waddell averages 15.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and he stepped that up a notch in the last few games. He is a lanky guard that spots up from three and attacks closeouts. Waddell moves without the ball well. The senior is ending his career on a high note.

 

Williams had a big regional to help the Greyhounds beat Homestead. His performance in that game pushed him to a Junior Indiana All-Star team nod. For the season, the thin center averages 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. A big game from Williams against Lawrence North would give Carmel a major boost.

 

Carmel’s Pete Suder also made the Junior Indiana All-Star team. He is the jack of all trades for the Greyhounds. Suder averages 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He picks his spots and fills Carmel's needs. It seems like Carmel is a better team when he is getting to the basket and finishing regularly.

 

Senior point guard Connor Gioia is a ball-handler, distributor, and defender. He is quick off the dribble and will get to the paint for a score or two, but he is usually more interested in moving the ball to others. Junior guard Josh Whack plays a similar role and is Carmel’s best defender.

 

Off the bench, Carmel has a couple of prolific shooters in Will Leary and Sam Orme. Both are nearly automatic when they are open. Leary is a senior that hunts his shot seriously. Orme is a tall sophomore that spots up for open opportunities. Each of them will knock down shots in a flurry.

 

Lawrence North saw a few close calls in each round – Warren Central had a last-second shot rim out; Plainfield gave them a run in the regional; Bloomington South had a shot in the lane to tie the game rim out. The Wildcats advanced through those near misses for Jack Keefer to reach his fifth state title game. He is currently 4-0.

 

Senior point guard Shamar Avance led Lawrence North all year. He was the MIC and Marion County player of the year. He averaged 17.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.6 assists per game. He keeps defenses honest with his three-point shooting, but Avance is best when he is getting into the lane or streaking out in transition. His decision-making will be key against Carmel’s elite defense.

 

Butler signee DJ Hughes is the rim protector and rim finisher. The senior forward averages 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Although not known for his free-throw shooting, Hughes made two clutch free throws against Bloomington South to help LN win.

 

Indiana University commitment CJ Gunn provides another perimeter scorer for Jack Keefer. In his junior year, Gunn averages 13.8 points and 4.6 rebounds. His long close-out late in the Bloomington South game led to him blocking a Panther shot into the stands. The shot could have tied the game with under ten seconds left. Gunn is a good three-point shooter and a great transition finisher.

 

Kaden Beatty and Donaven McCulley round out the LN starting lineup. McCulley had a huge game against Bloomington South. His rebounding and paint scoring pulls Lawrence North out of tough situations regularly. Beatty is a distributing point guard that will have a scoring outburst here and there.

 

David Beattie and McCoyion Brown come off the bench to add scoring and athleticism. In the postseason, LN has relied heavily on its starting five.

 

As conference rivals, these teams met in February. Carmel won 63-49. Will Lawrence North be able to change that outcome? The Wildcats will need to limit turnovers and hit the offensive glass. Hughes and McCulley can give Carmel fits on the offensive boards. If LN is getting multiple shots, it will lead to good things for the Wildcats.

 

Carmel will not beat themselves. The Greyhounds will control the pace, work for great shots, and they usually convert once they get them. Carmel will need to keep Avance and Gunn from getting into transition. Carmel usually shuts down the opponent’s running game, but they must do it in this one.

 

This one is expected to be much closer than the regular season match-up.