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Pete Suder reacts to a call against Center Grove)
In a MIC match-up, Center Grove (3-2) was coming off a loss to Perry Meridian, and Carmel (8-0) was undefeated but playing its first game in 2021. It was a close game from the tip until the final buzzer.
Center Grove had a quick start as Ethan Jones, Mason Long, and Charlie Bemis scored on the Trojans' first three possessions. Junior guard
Pete Suder helped Carmel bounce back. The three-year starter was aggressive from the start and scored six points in the opening quarter.
The first half was never outside a two-possession margin. In the slow-paced half, Center Grove shot well from three. Tayven Jackson was 2-2 from deep to keep Center Grove within striking distance. On the other end, Carmel went just 1-8 from beyond the arc but grabbed seven offensive rebounds to make up for it.
Center Grove came out of the locker room with a 10-0 run. Bemis knocked down two three-pointers during that stretch. On the flip side, Carmel did not score its first basket until five minutes into the half when Connor Gioia slashed to the basket.
Brian Waddell added another bucket late in the quarter to keep the Greyhounds in it.
In the second half, Landin Hacker was fantastic for CG. His and-one finish early in the fourth quarter extended Center Grove's lead to 33-28. On the next possession, Jackson made two free throws to give the Trojans their biggest advantage of the game.
Down seven,
Charlie Williams scored an and-one for Carmel before Suder splashed a big three. Suddenly, the Hounds were right back in it. Gioia scored after driving to the lane to grab the lead for Carmel.
With 1:35 left, Hacker drove to the lane for a score to tie the game.
Carmel decided to milk the clock before finding Waddell in the corner for a three. It was off the mark.
In the extra frame, Jackson buried a three on Center Grove's first possession. From there, it was all Carmel. Senior guard Will Leary's corner three gave Carmel the lead then
Charlie Williams found space behind the Center Grove defense for a dunk.
Carmel went 5-6 from the free-throw line to seal the 51-44 victory. Suder finished with 16 points and nine rebounds; Connor Gioia added 10 points, four steals, and three assists; Waddell had nine points and six rebounds; Williams added seven.
In a losing effort, Jackson led Center Grove with 13 points; Hacker added 12, and Bemis tallied nine. Mason Long had four assists and two points.
