Ten Best: Carmel vs. McCutcheon
A rematch of McCutcheon and Carmel is always a good way to spend a Saturday and this one was no different. However, Carmel got out early and McCutcheon made a ton of runs but was never really able to get…
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Continue ReadingA rematch of McCutcheon and Carmel is always a good way to spend a Saturday and this one was no different. However, Carmel got out early and McCutcheon made a ton of runs but was never really able to get over the hump and take the lead. Partly because Carmel went 9/15 from behind the arc. Carmel will now face Fort Wayne North tonight in the Regional Championship.
MVP: Luke Heady (Carmel)
The MVP of this game was Heady. He got things started with 3 triples in the first quarter and those 9 points really set the tone for how this game was going to go. He has such a calmness to him and a sense of awareness that it helps to put Carmel in good spots. His 14 points and 3 assists were huge as well.
Play of the Game: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
The play of the game had to be Phinisee’s second block of Mulloy. He skyed into the air and swatted it away from the weak side. The ability to get that high in the air was impressive. Equally so was his ability to just make the play without fouling. Great play in the middle of a tough outcome.
Best Offensive Performance: P.J. Baron (Carmel)
Could have easily went with Phinisee and his 30 points but Baron scored 18 points on just 5/8 shooting. He didn’t take away from the offense but added to it. Baron has been playing extremely well and is so versatile and productive that it just makes this team go. He also added 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
Best Defensive Performance: John-Michael Mulloy (Carmel)
The best performance on defense was John-Michael. His 14 rebounds were huge because McCutcheon is a pretty solid rebounding team and when their buckets weren’t going in, they weren’t getting second chance points. They had 10 all game in a game where they shot only 36% from the field all day. Mulloy’s defense of the rim and rebounding was huge in this win.
Best Guy Off The Bench: Rowen Ferrell (McCutcheon)
This was a game where the starters did most of the damage but Ferrell was able to help in key spots. He’s such a good shooter and that has been a luxury for McCutcheon all year. He scored 5 points off the bench and looked good in the first half helping to keep McCutcheon right there. He’s going to be a guy to watch in the years to come for McCutcheon.
Best Intangibles: Robert Phinisee (McCutcheon)
Robert Phinisee was unstoppable and had they won, he would have easily been the MVP because while the rest of his team struggled a bit, he was great. Rob got whatever he wanted and was going right at Carmel every chance that he had. He finished with 30 points on 10/21 shooting, grabbing 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks.
Best Under-The-Radar Performance: Cole Jenkins (Carmel)
In most games the last few weeks, Cole Jenkins play has kind of been under the radar but very vital to the teams success. He’s making winning plays and a lot more of them. He’s not vying for the spotlight, but rather, finding his role and executing it. Today he got hot and went 4/6 from the field and 3/4 from behind the arc. He scored 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Best Underclassmen: John-Michael Mulloy (Carmel)
We talked about his game today but his upside down the road is really solid. He has so much more that he is going to be able to bring while in high school. So much that he’s probably going to be a kid that actually develops more in college. His frame is still light but it’s strong and he doesn’t back down. That attitude should allow things to really get going for him when the strength does come.
Best Player College Coaches Need To Watch: Jalen Whack (Carmel)
Whack is one of those players that just makes play after play without having to have the ball in his hands. That is a valuable commodity. He showed today though that he could score if he is needed to as he poured in 10 points on 4/7 shooting to go along with 6 rebounds. He’s a guy that all NAIA/DII programs should track for 2018.
Best Storyline Moving Forward: With the win, Carmel will now face Fort Wayne North and their stellar program tonight. It will be a test of styles for both teams but the biggest factor is getting Sterling Brown back. It could throw off Carmel who seems to have hit their groove in his absence or it could be a huge offensive weapon and floor general that could make plays. How he fits in tonight will be the biggest thing to watch maybe in the entire state.