It was a highly-anticipated contest Tuesday night at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium in Eldorado as the Carmi-White County Bulldogs battled the Eagles.
A win for CWC would clinch at least a share of the Black Diamond East title, and Eldorado made sure the Bulldogs didn’t capture a championship on their floor.
The Dogs jumped out to a hot start, thanks to senior Bryce Conner. Conner scored 9 of Carmi’s first 11 points, including a right-handed slam dunk that forced Eldorado coach Josh Bradley to burn a timeout early in the first quarter. The Dogs captured the momentum early, leading 11-5.
After the timeout, Eldorado seemed like a different team, as did the Bulldogs.
The Eagles quickly went on a 12-2 run to take a 17-13 lead, and eventually a 21-20 lead at the end of the first half.
Both teams traded punches early in the 3rd quarter, but Eldorado grabbed a 26-25 lead midway through the 3rd and never looked back. Eldorado led 35-30 going into the 4th quarter, and they went on to win by a final score of 51-44.
The Bulldogs did not seem like themselves on Tuesday night. Everything Carmi had done well during their 12-game win streak, wasn’t there against the Eagles.
Bryce Conner led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 points.
Landon Driscoll scored 10.
Mitchel Edwards scored 5.
Tyler Goemaat and Trey Dixon both scored 4.
Gavin Holloman scored 3.
The Bulldogs fall to 21-5 on the season and 7-1 in the Black Diamond Conference.
Despite the loss, Carmi still controls their own destiny for a conference championship. The Bulldogs will host Hamilton County on Friday, and Fairfield next Friday, and they can clinch the conference title if they win both games.
