Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael puts on a show in Quaker Valley’s friendly confines

By: Chris Harlan
Saturday, January 4, 2025 | 12:05 AM

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Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael can make a basketball court seem small with long 3-pointers.

But Quaker Valley’s gym actually is tighter than most with only seven rows of bleachers on each side. That coziness can give visitors a sense that the court is even smaller than it is, said Carmichael, who’d never won there.

He’d lost as a sophomore and junior.

“It’s a small court, a small gym, and the atmosphere is really good,” said the senior, who finally solved the small gym with a big game Friday night. “It wasn’t as good (of an atmosphere) tonight because we got off to a really hot start.”

With six 3-pointers, a couple of dunks and a few layups after steals, Carmichael scored 35 points for top-ranked Avonworth in a 67-42 section win over Quaker Valley that ended under the mercy rule. He scored 25 points in the first half alone, and the Antelopes led by 20 at the break.

Losses here the past two winters weren’t forgotten by Avonworth since Carmichael is one of four senior starters.

“We were talking about it before the game: taking this game personally,” Carmichael said. “I’ve never won here. I don’t want to go out never winning here. It’s a big win for us.”

The win keeps Avonworth (8-1, 2-0) undefeated in Section 2-4A. The section loss was the first for Quaker Valley (6-2, 1-1).

Sparked by its defense, Avonworth closed the first half with a 17-2 run. Carmichael accounted for 15 points in the stretch, growing a five-point lead to 39-19.

Carmichael had two steals and dunks, a three-point play after another steal and a couple of traditional 3-pointers – all within a 4-minute span to push the lead to 20.

“He’s just a competitor,” first-year Avonworth coach Joe Frank said. “If you come to practice, he’s the guy who’s always getting the guys to play hard. He’s a leader, not just the best basketball player.”

A 6-foot guard, Carmichael has scored at least 30 points in every game this season. He twice topped 40.

“He’s at such a really good level,” said Quaker Valley coach Mike Mastroianni, who was also quick to credit the teammates around Carmichael for helping him find success

“I think they’re just an outstanding team,” Mastroianni said. “He’s a senior. He’s playing with his classmates, his best friends. … He’s always been their best guy, and they want him to be the best guy. There’s something to say for that in high school basketball.”

Avonworth’s Noah Goetz added 12 points with two 3-pointers included. The Antelopes went 13 for 21 from beyond the arc led by Carmichael making six of his eight.

Six Avonworth shooters made at least one 3-pointer.

“We’ve actually been shooting the ball pretty well all year,” Frank said. “If you go back and watch the film, we get a lot of our 3s in transitions – a lot of getting into the lane with a kickout. Anytime the ball comes from the inside out, the percentages go up.”

Sam Chapman led Quaker Valley with 13 points.

Avonworth’s lead reached 61-30 after three quarters, making the clock run continuously in the fourth under the mercy rule.

“We’re going to move on right away,” Mastroianni said. “No excuses. … They punched us early and they won.”

Avonworth led 16-10 after one quarter with only seven points from Carmichael, but he added 18 points in the second as the Antelopes pulled away. Carmichael made a couple of 3s from well beyond the 3-point line just before halftime.

Big gym or small gym, he has the freedom to shoot.

“If he has the ball and he’s in the gym, it’s in his range,” Frank said. “He’s just as smart of a basketball player as I’ve been around, and I’ve been around high school basketball for the last 20-some years.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Avonworth, Quaker Valley