A strong second half propelled the University boys basketball team to their seventh consecutive win, 65-45 over Indianapolis Shortridge.
Max Greenamoyer scored 15 and Joe Martin 11 to lead the Trailblazers. University shot the ball well from deep (63 percent on three pointers) and moved the ball (15 assists on 21 made baskets) while turning the ball over only five times.
“I thought we had another good second half. The starters came out and really set the tone and when we went to the bench we didn’t drop anything” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “I just told the team that I thought everyone did their job tonight on both ends of the floor. We had a bit of a slow start defensively tonight but we made some shots to stay in the game.”
“I thought Joe Martin did a great job defensively tonight, which is why we did not take him off the floor. We’re excited to be 7-1,” Lafferman continued. “Hats off to Andre Dickerson of Shortridge. It’s been awhile since we gave up 31 to a player.”
University started the game hot, jumping to a 10-2 lead behind a pair of baskets from Sam Mervis and two three pointers from Greenamoyer. Dickerson then got hot, scoring 11 points in the quarter to give the Blue Devils a 16-13 advantage after the opening period.
Eric Major opened the scoring in the second quarter with a basket off a Martin feed, then Nate Shatkowski’s three pointer put the Trailblazers in front to stay at 18-16. University scored the last five points of the half at the free throw line and took a 27-21 lead to the half time locker room.
University scored 13 of the first 15 points of the third quarter to take command of the game. Jacob Sager had a rebound basket and a pair of free throws. Greenamoyer hit back to back three pointers before Camden Brown hit a three from the top of the key. Martin’s steal and lay-in gave the Blazers a 42-23 lead.
Shortridge made a brief run early in the fourth quarter to get within 47-35, but Quinn Steiner hit a pair of three pointers to quell the rally and University cruised home.
Mervis and Brown led the Blazers with five rebounds each. Mervis had a team high eight assists and four steals.
The third-ranked Class 1A Trailblazers will next be in action Friday night at The U Center when they host Class 1A No. 14 Traders Point Christian (4-1).
University 65, Shortridge 45
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 2-5 2-6 6 2
Max Greenamoyer 5-7 0-0 15 1
Jacob Sager 2-3 2-4 6 0
Camden Brown 2-3 3-4 8 2
Joe Martin 3-9 5-8 11 1
Nate Shatkowski 1-2 0-0 3 1
Eric Major 2-2 1-1 5 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 0-1 0-0 0 2
Quinn Steiner 3-5 0-0 9 0
Asher Thompson 0-1 0-0 0 0
Faizan Eskar 0-1 0-0 0 0
Matt Jones 0-0 0-0 0 0
Larry Pierce 1-1 0-0 2 0
Totals 21-40 13-23 65 10
Score by Quarters
Shortridge 16 5 7 17 – 45
University 13 14 20 18 – 65
University 3-point shooting (10-16) Greenamoyer 5-7, Steiner 3-5, Shatkowski 1-2, Brown 1-1, Ash-Simpson 0-1.
University rebounds (24) Brown 5, Mervis 5, Martin 3, Sager 3, Major 3, Steiner 2, Ash-Simpson 2, Shatkowski 1.