The Carmi-White County Girls Basketball team saw their season come to a close Thursday night, falling 50-42 to Olney in the IHSA 2A Eldorado Regional Championship Game.
The Lady Bulldogs were tested early by an Olney team that came out sharp on both ends of the floor. Carmi struggled to find consistent offense in the opening quarter and trailed 14-9 at the end of the first. The defensive battle continued into the second quarter. At halftime, Carmi found itself facing an 18-11 deficit, needing a spark to keep its season alive.
That spark came immediately after the break.
Carmi erupted in the third quarter, delivering its most complete stretch of basketball of the night. The Lady Bulldogs attacked the paint, knocked down timely shots, and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities. The surge resulted in a 20-8 advantage in the quarter, flipping the game entirely and giving Carmi a 31-26 lead heading into the fourth. The momentum swing energized the Carmi crowd and put the Lady Bulldogs firmly in control with eight minutes to play.
However, Olney responded.
The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth battle, with Carmi working to protect its slim lead while Olney steadily chipped away. The Tigers eventually tied the game at 38-38 before burying a clutch three-pointer to take a 41-38 advantage with just under three minutes to go.
The Lady Bulldogs turned it over on their ensuing possession, and the Lady Tigers were able to play keep-away and hit their free throws in the final minutes to secure the regional title.
Following the game, head coach Eric Dixon praised his team’s fight while acknowledging Olney’s execution in crucial moments.
“We battled back. They had some girls that hit some big shots,” Dixon said. “They beat us twice this year, and both times they hit big threes down the stretch.”
Despite the loss, the Lady Bulldogs close the season with a 19-11 record. After starting the year 11-0, the Lady Bulldogs hit a rough patch around Christmas time, which included losing 9 out of 13 games from mid-December to early February. Carmi however found their groove at the perfect time, winning four of their final five regular season games and then upsetting the 2-seeded Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs in the regional semifinals.
Seniors Caroline Simmons, Jaya Smith, Addi Elliott, Natalie Goemaat, and Torrie Rider conclude their high school basketball careers having played key roles not only in this season’s success, but across multiple years of competitive play.
Coach Dixon reflected on the significance of the senior group and their lasting impact on the program.
“It’s rare to have a group with all the success that they’ve had with volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. Just a talented group of athletes,” Dixon said. “It’s something special that our fans got to watch for four years.”
Congratulations to Coach Dixon and the Lady Bulldogs on a great season.