CARMEL — Brownstown Central’s boys basketball team concluded its Indianapolis barn-storming tour with a twisting, turning one-point overtime victory over Carmel on Saturday night.
Senior Jack Benter scored 35 points, made two late free throws to force the game into overtime and then staked the Braves to a seven-point lead with a scoring burst in the opening minutes of OT.
It was junior reserve Pierson Wheeler, however, who sealed the 60-59 win with clutch foul shooting in the final 30 seconds.
“I was just thinking, ‘Calm down and make them,’” Wheeler said after making three of four late free throws. “It felt good. It was a good win for the team, a good win for the school, everything.”
Eight days ago, Brownstown let a 19-point second-half lead slip through its fingers and was stunned in a loss to Jennings County.
The Braves (12-4) have since rebounded with consecutive wins over Jeffersonville, Silver Creek and Carmel. All three are storied programs that boast a combined eight state championships.
The drive for a state title stirred Class 2A Brownstown to upgrade its schedule this season with a collection of games against top Indianapolis-based Class 4A teams Lawrence North (ranked No. 2 in the state), Brownsburg, Attucks (No. 9) and Carmel.
Injuries to Benter and fellow starter Micah Sheffer caused the Braves to play those four contests at less than full strength, but the Braves still managed to come through the series with a 2-2 record.
Ultimately, the absence of key players against top competition may have amplified the desired effect.
“We played all of these big teams during the summer, but we were healthy,” BC head coach Dave Benter said. “With the injuries, our guys have been forced to step up and play some roles they haven’t had to play before. Once we’re fully healthy again, more of our guys will be comfortable with the ball in their hands. It’s good for their confidence.”
On Saturday, with Sheffer already out due to injury, the next unexpected departure was senior point guard Parker Hehman, who fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Benter then fouled out with 67 seconds remaining in overtime.
Recognizing Brownstown’s best ball handlers were on the bench, Carmel tried to create chaos with an intense full-court press. It worked initially, but the Greyhounds never wrested the lead from the Braves.
“Jack and Parker haven’t fouled out all season, and suddenly, they both fouled out in the same game,” coach Benter said. “We were a little rattled at first, but after a timeout, I thought we were much better. Pierson stepped to the line and made some big free throws.”
Wheeler knocked down two foul shots with 27 seconds left to bump the Braves’ lead to 59-55. After a Carmel free throw cut that lead to three, Wheeler made one of two foul shots with 10.9 seconds on the clock to restore the four-point advantage, which allowed BC to survive a last-second 3-pointer by the Greyhounds’ Alex Couto.
“We stayed strong and kept our confidence,” Wheeler said. “We powered through the game and got the ‘W.’”
Saturday’s contest provided the kind of intensity and pressure Benter hopes will fortify his team. The game featured five ties and 13 lead changes. Except for a brief six-point lead by Carmel and a momentary seven-point lead by Brownstown, the two teams were never separated by more than four points.
“Any time you play better competition, it makes you better,” coach Benter said. “When you’re up 30 or 40 points, you can get by with taking bad shots or being lazy on defense. You can’t get by with that when you play good teams. From that standpoint, games like this are huge for us.”
Jack Benter’s 35 points led all scorers and came on 10-for-23 shooting, including 4-for-9 from 3-point range and 11-for-11 from the foul line. None of the senior’s shots was bigger than his 3-pointer to open the overtime period.
“I thought the play of the game was Adam Stahl’s offensive rebound where he kicked it out to Jack for that 3,” coach Benter said. “We were struggling to score at the time, so that was a huge play.”
Benter followed with four free throws to give BC a 57-50 lead with two minutes left in overtime. Thanks to Wheeler’s foul shots, that lead held up.
“We had a lot of adversity tonight, but we stepped up big and got the job done,” Jack Benter said. “This is a good sign for the postseason. If a team takes me or Parker away, other guys can step up and take a bigger role.”
Benter’s career scoring total stands at 2,136 points following Saturday’s game, moving him two points past Shawn Kemp and into the No. 43 spot on the all-time Indiana high school boys basketball scoring list. Kyle Macy is one point ahead of Benter at No. 42.
Wheeler and Hall each scored seven points for the Braves on Saturday. Chace Coomer made two 3-pointers for six points.
Carmel (4-9) countered with three double-digit scorers, led by Couto’s 17. Evan Harrell followed with 16, while Ryan Clevenger added 14.
Carmel head coach Ryan Osborn, who led the Greyhounds to state titles in 2019 and 2021, said he sees promise in the Braves and hopes his rebuilding team enjoys a similar progression.
“We’re playing a bunch of young guys who are inexperienced,” Osborn said. “We have a difficult schedule, and it’s testing us. (Brownstown) had to build up to where they are. They’ve been through a lot in four years. Their leadership, their experience showed tonight. They’re well-coached. They know how to make each other better. They play to each other’s strengths. It’s fun playing teams that are tough and execute, that make winning plays at the right times. They’re going to have a good run in March.”
Brownstown Central 60, Carmel 59, OT
Brownstown;12;15;13;10;10;—;60
Carmel;11;15;16;8;9;—;59
Brownstown Central (12-4): Jack Benter 10 11-11 35, Colby Hall 3 1-1 7, Pierson Wheeler 1 4-6 7, Chace Coomer 2 0-0 6, Parker Hehman 1 0-0 3, Adam Stahl 1 0-0 2, Greg Hutcheson 0 0-0 0, Lane Pendleton 0 0-0 0, Totals 18 16-18 60.
Carmel (4-9): Alex Couto 4 5-5 17, Evan Harrell 5 6-6 16, Ryan Clevenger 5 2-2 14, Mitchell Mulloy 1 0-0 3, Jamie Whack 1 0-0 3, Ben Bremer 1 0-0 3, Aiden Dickerson 1 0-0 2, Quinn Murphy 0 1-2 1, Totals 18 14-15 59.
3-point shots: Brownstown 8 (Benter 4, Coomer 2, Hehman, Wheeler), Carmel 9 (Couto 4, Clevenger 2, Bremer, Whack, Mulloy)
Rebounds: Brownstown 31 (Stahl 6, Hehman 5, Benter 5, Hall 5, Wheeler 3, Coomer 2, Hutcheson, Team 4), Carmel 25 (Harrell 7, Couto 4, Dickerson 4, Murphy 3, Clevenger 2, Bremer 3, Whack, Mulloy)
Turnovers: Brownstown 10, Carmel 10
Fouls: Brownstown 18, Carmel 18
Junior varsity
Brownstown Central 39, Carmel 37
Brownstown Central (10-0): Carter Covert 20, Owen Wischmeier 7, Linkan Brittain 6, Lane Pendleton 4, Preston Garrison 2