By Parker Myers
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Walk into men’s basketball Head Coach Mark Galloway’s office and you’ll find a room dominated by Carmel basketball. One of the most apparent objects in the room is a large board that personifies Galloway’s heavy emphasis on free throw shooting. “We do a free throw ladder, and (junior Joshua) Baldridge is our number-one guy right now,” Galloway said. “He makes free throws; there’s no denying he can make 25 in a row.”

As the Hounds advance into Sectional play next Tuesday against Fishers at 7:30 p.m. , there’s no doubt that Baldridge’s ability to shoot free throws will come in good use. Many of Carmel’s games this season have come down to the wire, and the teams that win Sectional games tend to be teams that can hit free throws down the stretch.

Baldridge is averaging 6.8 points per game off the bench, along with 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals per game. He has also made 21 out of 22 free throw attempts, good for 95.5 percent, leading the Hounds in free throw percentage. Becoming the best free throw shooter on Carmel’s team didn’t come easily, however.

Baldridge said, “I used to shoot 100 free throws everyday.”

The hard work has paid off, and Galloway said he has certainly noticed. “Josh has played great. He’s given us exactly what we need off the bench,” Galloway said. “He is a tough kid; he exemplifies toughness and aggressiveness. He’s an exceptional shooter.”

Carmel takes a 13-6 record into tomorrow’s game against Brebeuf Jesuit despite owning the state’s toughest schedule according to the Sagarin Ratings. According to The Indianapolis Star, the Greyhounds have played six of the top 13 teams in the state, and their last seven opponents combine for a 71-24 record.

However, Sectional play has always come tough for the Hounds. The team has brought home a Sectional Championship only twice in the past 17 years and only one Regional Championship in the same span of time.

Nonetheless, Galloway said he believes this team has the makings of a strong contender. “You have to be able to defend. This team is capable of playing great defense,” Galloway said. “The championship teams we’ve had here have really been able to defend well, execute a game plan defensively and take things away from the other team.”

Baldridge listed the same characteristics of a Sectional Championship team. “We play well as a team. There’s not a lot of selfishness,” Baldridge said. “A team that plays good defense, good effort, is unselfish and plays well together.”

Galloway said his goal for defense has been to hold opposing teams to 55 points a game. So far, the Hounds are allowing an average of 54.1 points a game. But it may take more than strong defense to win a Sectional Championship.

Baldridge’s ability to shoot may be the key to success. In last December’s game against North Central, he hit a three-pointer with just over 40 seconds left to ice the game for the Hounds.

“He’s got a lot of confidence,” Galloway said. “If it’s a tight ballgame, we’ve got to have him on the floor.”