The University girls successfully defended their Sectional 58 championship with a 60-39 win over the Indiana School For the Deaf Monday night.
Jhordan McGuire had 17 points, Maddi Sears 15 and Lindsey Syrek 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Trailblazers improved to 22-2 on the season. University advances to Saturday’s regional at Southwestern (Shelbyville) where they will meet Jac-Cen-Del, winners of Sectional 60 in five overtimes Monday night.
University got off to a sluggish start, with the Orioles scoring the first four points of the game. Jhordan McGuire’s basket with 6:08 left in the first quarter started an 18-0 Trailblazer run. A Syrek basket and two more McGuire buckets gave University a 8-4 lead.
The Trailblazers then scored 10 points in 34 seconds to break the game open. Syrek scored on a rebound before Jenna Blakley fed Sears for a three pointer. Lucy Snyder stole the ball and found Sears for a lay-in before Lily Snyder stole the inbound and fed McGuire for a lay-in and a free throw and an 18-4 lead.
Another McGuire basket and another Sears three pointer put University on top 23-11 after the first.
The University lead quickly grew to 21 early in to the second quarter. Blakley again assisted on a Sears three pointer. Haley Tomlinson scored her first basket of the night, Sears scored again on a put back and Lily Snyder made two foul shots at University led 32-11 less than two minutes in to the second quarter.
University controlled the rest of the game, leading 38-19 at halftime and 54-28 after three quarters.
Lily Snyder and Tomlinson each had seven points while Blakley had two to round out University’s scoring.
The 22 wins represent a program high, surpassing the 21 wins by the 2008-09 squad. University will be attempting to win their third regional and first in ten years. The Blazers won in 2008 and 2009.
The noon matchup with Jac-Cen-Del will be a rematch of last year’s regional semi-final won by the Eagles 66-57.
University 60, Indiana Deaf 39
University FG FT TP PF
Lindsey Syrek 6 0-0 12 2
Brooke Andrus 0 0-0 0 0
Lily Snyder 2 3-4 7 2
Jhordan McGuire 8 1-2 17 3
Lucy Snyder 0 0-0 0 0
Maddi Sears 6 0-0 15 1
Haley Tomlinson 3 0-0 7 0
Jenna Blakley 1 0-0 2 1
Hallie Harrison 0 0-0 0 2
Totals 26 4-6 60 11
Score by Quarters
University 23 15 16 6 – 60
Indiana Deaf 11 8 9 11 – 39
University 3-pointers (4) Sears 3, Tomlinson.
The University girls basketball team defended its sectional championship Monday night at Bethesda Christian. The Trailblazers beat the Indiana School for the Deaf 60-39 and advanced to the Southwestern (Shelbyville) regional. (Photo provided)