Carmi-White County’s boys basketball team finally got over the hump on Friday night, picking up their first win of the season with a 67-61 victory over Hamilton County in front of a packed house at McDougal-Evers Gymnasium. The Bulldogs showed grit, erasing two separate double-digit deficits to secure the hard-fought triumph.
Hamilton County jumped out to a quick 19-11 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 26-11 early in the second, looking to pull away. Carmi refused to roll over. The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead and entered halftime trailing by just three points, 32-29.
The third quarter saw the Foxes go on another run, building a 43-31 advantage, seemingly putting the game back in their control.
Behind a series of clutch baskets and key defensive stops, the Bulldogs closed the gap.
Carson Miller, a sophomore who came off the bench and has played sparingly this season, became the story of the night. In just his third year of organized basketball, Miller hit a string of critical shots, including five three-pointers on the night, with the most electrifying coming at the 3rd quarter buzzer to cut the deficit to 52-51.
Carmi carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, outscoring Hamilton County 16-9 to complete the comeback and earn a victory that felt like a season-defining moment for a team still searching for its identity. The Bulldogs erased not just one, but two 12+ point deficits during the game, showing a never-say-die attitude and giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about.
Hayden Sauls also played a crucial role, scoring 17 points, including four three-pointers. Dylan Winerberger added 13 points, Jaxon Bradshaw scored 9, Merick Millhorn contributed 8, Kyzen Edwards had 2, and Justus Tauiliili chipped in 1.
The win improves Carmi-White County’s record to 1-8 overall and 1-1 in the Black Diamond Conference, but more importantly, it gives the team confidence as they head into the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.
The Bulldogs will face top-seeded Carterville at 8:30 AM on Friday.