Carmel took control of the game in the second quarter, hitting on four early 3pters, and while Westfield showed a little spark to start the second half, Carmel’s length, which was a problem the whole game, shut down Westfield down and turned defense into offense.

  • From this morning’s Game Preview to the opening part of the game, Westfield’s biggest challenge was going to be Carmel’s length.  Carmel had several second chance opportunities throughout, converting on most of them. 
  • Braden Smith, like most point guards, looks a lot better when he has a paint option to find.  He’s a brilliant passer with outstanding vision, which showed through, but Carmel took away his drift passing by cutting off the opposite corner and smothering his drop off guy after the catch.
    • Throw in that Smith didn’t shoot well this game, he was a bit stifled.
  • Brian Waddell was excellent early and the driving force of their second quarter run.  He sat with three fouls in the 3rd with Carmel in control, and he returned into the 4th to put the final nails in the Shamrock coffin.
  • Peter Suder was off his game scoring wise, and he sat the entire second quarter with two fouls.  He made up for it with is playmaking and being active on the glass.  Even if he didn’t get to a rebound, he made it possible for a teammate to get it.  Carmel own the glass on both ends. 
  • Carmel won this with Suder sitting out the second and Waddell sitting out the third.  Hitting a couple of baskets each, were Sam Orme and Will “Viking Killer” Leary.  
  • Doing an outstanding job on Smith, Carmel point guard Connor Goia scored a couple of baskets early, and with Waddell, he set the tone.  Goia is the proverbial “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, rather the size of the fight in the dog”.  His mistakes are few and very far between.

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