University and Cardinal Ritter have developed one of the most competitive boys basketball rivalries in Central Indiana. Entering Friday night’s contest at Ritter, the last five games between the teams had been decided by a total of 19 points and had a total of five overtime periods (including one triple overtime game).
For 30 minutes Friday night it looked like the streak of tight games between the teams would end. The Raiders jumped out to an early 11-2 lead and stretched that lead to 20 midway through the third quarter before Class 1A No. 3 University clawed back in to the game. The Trailblazers were able to pull within three points late in the game, but could no closer as Ritter held on for a 57-52 win.
University scored just two points in the first six minutes of the game before staging their first rally of the night. After Ritter took a timeout at 11-2 to celebrate their student section’s Silent Night theme, University started to get back in the game. A basket by Nate Shatkowski and two three pointers by Max Greenamoyer pulled the Blazers within 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Greenamoyer hit another deep three on the first possession of the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-13, but Ritter resumed control of the game. The Raiders led 31-22 at the half behind 18 points from 6-6 senior Nate Soltis. Ritter’s thousand point career scorer ended with a game high 25 points.
The third quarter started with more of the same as Ritter scored 12 of the first 14 points to take a 43-23 lead with 3:42 left in the stanza. Shatkowski started the Blazer comeback with a basket and free throw off a great inbound pass from Sam Mervis. Two baskets by Joe Martin and another Shatkowski field goal got University to within 46-32 at the end of the third quarter.
Ritter regained a 16 point lead at 51-35 with 5:22 left. Greenamoyer hit another three to start the Trailblazers rally. Camden Brown scored off an offensive rebound and was fouled. His made free throw cut the lead to 10. Shatkowski made two foul shots in between two Ritter made free throws and the Blazers were still down 53-43 with 2:50 left.
Martin drove for a basket with 2:06 left. After a Ritter free throw, Mervis made two consecutive driving baskets and University was within 54-49 with 50 second remaining. The Raiders again split a pair of charity tosses before Greenamoyer drilled his fifth three pointer of the night with 27 seconds left to cute the lead to 55-52. Ritter’s Marlon Anderson, Jr calmly made a pair of free throws at 22 seconds and the 57-52 final as University was unable to score on their last possession. Anderson was the foul line hero for Ritter. The 6-2 senior entered the game as a 48 percent free throw shooter on the season, but made six of seven in Friday’s game.
Greenamoyer led University with 15 points while Shatkowski added 14. Mervis and Martin each had eight points. Mervis had team highs with six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Ritter controlled the backboards, outrebounding University 39-25. The Raiders had 18 offensive rebounds.
The loss snapped University’s 13 game winning streak. The Trailblazers fall to 13-2. 3A Ritter improves to 6-5 against a Sagarin Top 50 schedule.
University is next action Friday night when travel to Pendleton to play the Pendleton Heights Arabians.
Cardinal Ritter 57, University 52
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 4-9 0-0 8 2
Max Greenamoyer 5-11 0-0 15 1
Jacob Sager 0-3 1-2 1 2
Camden Brown 1-2 2-5 4 1
Joe Martin 4-9 0-0 8 4
Nate Shatkowski 5-11 4-4 14 3
Korey Ash-Simpson 0-1 0-0 0 0
Quinn Steiner 0-1 0-0 0 0
Eric Major 1-1 0-0 2 0
Eyal Friedman 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 20-49 7-11 52 13
Score by Quarters
University 10 11 11 20 – 52
Cardinal Ritter 14 17 15 11 – 57
University 3-point shooting (5-16) Greenamoyer 5-11, Shatkowski 0-2, Martin 0-1, Steiner 0-1, Freidman 0-1.
University rebounds (25) Mervis 6, Brown 4, Greenamoyer 3, Shatkowski 3, Martin 3, Major 2, Sager 2, Ash-Simpson 2.