It’s Friday after the Varsity basketball game. I’m angry, cold, hungry, tired…and I had to drive home. I was in no position to drive home, but I had to do so anyway. As I get off Keystone and attempt to merge over so I can make a left, a guy honks his horn and attempts to tailgate me. I look in my rearview mirror at the driver, who has his dome light on, and I instantly recognize the North Central hat. I think to myself, “Dude, I know you won, but we have to follow the rules of the road.” I merge over anyway just to spite him.

I’m practically fighting to retain my sanity. On the other hand, somewhere else in Carmel, several Carmel fans are getting ready to press the panic button. Carmel lost on a last-second layup to North Central. After the game, the North Central student section broke through the barrier, and it took several North Central administrators, along with 2 Carmel cops, to force them back behind the barrier. Not to be outdone, the North Central student section began to chant “We hate Carmel” over and over. Finally, in disgust, I left for my car.

But, after not getting any sleep this past weekend, one has to wonder: Is it truly time to press the panic button on Carmel Boys Basketball?

Several fans are arguing that we should press the panic button. After all, we lost Ryan Cline, Keegan Culp and a very talented senior class, and we could not contain a very aggressive North Central team…and we may see North Central again in the postseason.

But I think we should not press the panic button. Why, you might ask?

Well, look…we’ve only had 4 games, and North Central was practically the only very aggressive team that we’ve faced thus far. However, North Central’s aggression has gotten them in a lot of foul trouble, and this game could not have demonstrated it more perfectly, with 2 players getting 4 fouls, and North Central had 1 technical foul, albeit in the JV game.

So, no, it is not time to press the panic button. We’ve yet to see the best of this team, and I firmly doubt that 1 loss will do anything to help or hinder their playoff run. After all, the postseason is like a new season in the IHSAA.

Carmel basketball is still successful. 1 game will not be the deciding factor in their postseason. Catch you all next semester.