State Finals: Carmel vs. Warren Central
Both teams seemed content to slow the game down in the early going as Warren Central and Carmel battled for the 4A State Championship. The score after one was 7-6 in favor of Warren Central but it was a sloppy first quarter. Usually both teams are pretty solid with the ball but in the first frame there was a combined six turnovers, four of them by Carmel. John-Michael Mulloy for Carmel was playing well early but Warren Central really shut down the entry pass into the post.
Carmel opened up the second quarter by getting to the line and playing really good defense. They went on a 13-0 run to get the score to 17-7 and held Warren Central scoreless through the first six minutes of the quarter. Carmel was down 7-0 to start the game before going on a 20-0 run through the first and second quarters. Both teams shot 40 percent or less through the first half and it was set to be a low scoring affair.
The third quarter was much of the same as Warren Central gained four points on Carmel to trail by four going into the fourth quarter. Carmel really struggled in the final frame and Dean Tate was money at the free throw line. Once Warren got the lead they built it up so that Carmel was never really able to get it back. Warren completes the 32-0 season.
Best Offensive Player: John Michael-Mulloy (Carmel)
Mulloy was nearly unstoppable in the paint in this one. He was bullying the Warren Central defenders down low and was getting to the line. He wasn’t as aggressive as I thought he could be inside but still played really well once he touched the ball. He was making his free throws and getting the tough boards to give his team chances at second shots. He was really good but they came up just short. He was 6/7 from the floor and 9/12 from the line for 22 points.
Best Defensive Player: Antwaan Cushingberry (Warren Central)
Cushingberry had 5 steals in the game and really forced the Carmel guys to slow it down. He was all over the floor tonight communicating and flying into the face of the ball handlers. He got the ball and pushed it up the floor after the steals and on his rebounds he was great at getting the ball down the floor. He really upped the tempo on defense.
Biggest Surprise: Both teams looked to slow the pace down
Early on this game was moving very slowly. Warren Central and Carmel both seemed content to let it go that way. There were 42 total combined points scored in the final frame compared to 60 in the first three which is a testament to how slow this game progressed. I thought they would try and run a bit more with the ball but it ended up working in Warren Central’s favor.
Top Performers:
Warren Central:
Dean Tate – 22 points
Antwaan Cushingberry – 10 points
Joe Rush – 8 points
Carmel:
John Michael-Mulloy – 21 points, 8 rebounds
Cole Jenkins – 8 points, 6 rebounds
Eddie Gill – 8 points
Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
Warren Central | 7 | 14 | 28 | 54 |
Carmel | 6 | 22 | 32 | 48 |