Staff Reports
CARMEL — When Heritage Christian had to cancel Tuesday’s season opener against Columbus North, the Bull Dogs went looking for another opponent.
North found one in Carmel, where the Bull Dogs’ former athletics director, Jeff Hester, is in his first year as the Greyhounds assistant AD. The Greyhounds also had their season opener with Zionsville postponed since the Eagles are in Saturday’s Class 5A state football final.
The Bull Dogs knew Carmel, which is ranked No. 2 in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Assocation all-class preseason poll, would provide a tough test, and the Greyhounds certainly did. North hung tough for 3½ quarters before Carmel pulled away for a 61-51 victory.
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The Bull Dogs’ only lead came at 11-10 late in the first quarter. The Greyhounds scored eight in a row to take the lead, but North came back to tie it at 23-23 at halftime.
The Bull Dogs were within 41-40 midway through the fourth quarter. They had a chance to take the lead, but missed a long 3-point attempt, and Carmel finished the game on a 20-11 run.
Free-throw shooting was a big key. North made only 11 of 20 attempts from the line, while the Greyhounds went 22 of 25.
Blake Barker led the Bull Dogs with 21 points. Cooper Horn scored 11, while Jakub Trusina added eight and Reese Harmon had seven.
North will have two more road games this weekend. The Bull Dogs travel to Jennings County on Friday and Seymour on Saturday and will play their home opener Dec. 4 against Shelbyville.
