By Alex Kirby
Contributing Writer
INDIANAPOLIS – Fifth-ranked Carmel cruised to a big victory over No. 11 defending state runner-up Columbus East, 66-44, in the Class 4A southern semistate at Southport.
The day’s second game was a tightly contested one early on, with Carmel scratching out a one-point lead after a quarter of play. Both teams were about even when it came to turnovers, and the one surprise was the fact that, even with the physical nature of the game, there was only one foul in the period.
“They put a lot of pressure on us,” said Columbus East coach Danny Brown. “We might have rushed some shots at times.”
For the Olympians, junior Jordan Ogle and freshman Alicia Hopkins did their part to keep it close early on, each sinking a long 3-point basket. Carmel led 11-10 after one quarter, thanks to its smothering defense.
“That’s a very potent offense we just defended there with 32 minutes of good defense,” said Carmel coach Scott Bowen.
Columbus East managed to keep the game close until the final three and a half minutes of the second quarter when the Greyhounds went on a 12-0 spurt to close out the first half.
“That was big,” Bowen said. “We went on a run and did a great job going into the half.”
Freshman Torrie Thornton and senior Chrissy Steffen paced Carmel with four points apiece, while senior Danielle Havel added six in the quarter as the Greyhounds led 32-19 at the break.
The second half was no different as the Greyhounds never looked back. The Olympians managed a couple of threes in the third while attempting to rally, but it was not enough to match Carmel’s firepower.
Carmel did not let up at any point, leading 52-34 after three quarters and 66-44 for the final score.
Steffen finished with a game-high 23 points for Carmel, while Ogle led the Olympians with 19 while senior McKayla Barber finished with 11.
For coach Danny Brown, it was a bitter ending to a promising season as well as the final game for a very special senior class.
“I can’t say enough about the seniors,” Brown said. “They’ve helped make this program one of the top two or three in the state.
“I’m gonna miss this group.”
As for the Greyhounds, they have one final step on their journey. Carmel will face top-ranked defending champion South Bend Washington, an 80-53 victor over No. 7 Fort Wayne South in the northern semistate, at Conseco Fieldhouse March 1 at 8:15 p.m. ET for the 4A state championship.
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