Noblesville’s Adam Fine looks inside while being guarded by Carmel’s Cash Daniels during the Millers-Greyhounds Sectional 8 championship game on Friday, March 6. (Joshua Herd)
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The first semifinal game of Sectional 8 featured a battle between two defensive teams.
Carmel, a team that gives up 49.3 points per game, took on host Noblesville, which allows only 46.0 points per contest, at The Mill on Friday, March 6. The Greyhounds played a near-perfect defensive first quarter and used that momentum to score a 44-30 game that sent Carmel into the championship.
The Hounds didn’t get their first basket until the 5:15 mark of the first quarter, when Ben Bremer drained a 3-pointer. Bremer would make another 3, then Cash Daniels scored on a jump shot to put Carmel up 8-0.
“They made everything tough for us early, but we lean on our defensive ability and made some things tough for them,” said Carmel coach Ryan Osborn.
Baron Walker spared Noblesville a first-quarter shutout by hitting a 3 with five seconds left in the period, then opened the second quarter with a basket off a steal. That kept the Millers within 8-5.
But Carmel took off after that, using a 13-2 run to increase its lead to 21-7. Julian Vogt, Aiden Dickerson and Vince Nover all drained 3s during the run.
Vogt hit another triple to push Carmel ahead 24-10 before Max Flanagan made a traditional three-point play to finish the half. The Hounds led 24-13 at the break.
Carmel’s lead reached 30-17 during the third quarter. Noblesville made a push after that, scoring 10 unanswered points to get within 30-27. Walker led the way by nailing back-to-back 3s, then Adam Fine made two free throws and Evan Magsamen scored to get the Millers within three.
But Carmel responded, making a 14-1 run that took up nearly the remainder of the game. Nover and Daniels both scored to finish the third period, so the Greyhounds entered the fourth quarter up 34-27.
The score stayed the same well into the quarter until a Daniels floater pushed Carmel ahead 36-27. The Hounds slowly added to their lead, with Evan Harrell scoring four points to give his team a 40-28 advantage. Carmel held on from there.
Osborn credited his team’s maturity for handling Noblesville’s run.
“A couple weeks ago, we played into it and then we would shoot it quick and then before you know it, it’s tied,” said Osborn.
Daniels led the Greyhounds with nine points and four assists, while Vogt and Bremer each scored eight. Nover made two more free throws with 46.2 seconds left to finish with seven points.
“They are really locked into doing what it takes to win, and so the locker room is fun. Practices are fun,” said Osborn. “They’re locked in together. That’s what you ask for in high school basketball, is just a team that’s cohesive and they play hard.”
Walker, a strong candidate for Indiana All-Star, completed his Noblesville career with 19 points. The Butler University recruit finished his career with 1,001 points as a Miller.
“Special young man, terrific basketball player, terrific role model for our program,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. “To see him play like he has the last month is just a real testament to who he is, because he’s getting everybody’s best every night.”
Magsamen scored six points, while Luke Fogg pulled five rebounds.
Noblesville finished its season 13-11, showing toughness during the season despite dealing with injuries, including one to Valparaiso recruit Justin Curry II, a star since his freshman year.
Fine and Max Flanagan were also seniors on the team. McClelland said his seniors have been “good basketball players and they’ve been great role models and great leaders for our basketball program.”
