By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – University successfully defended its Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championship on Thursday, beating Shortridge 40-32 in a tough game at the U Center.
It was truly a back and forth game between the Trailblazers and the Blue Devils, with the lead changing hands several times in the first three quarters before University was finally able to pull away in the fourth quarter. It all came back to the Trailblazers’ defense, and the 32 points were the third-fewest allowed by University this season.
“Our defense was outstanding,” said UHS coach Brandon Lafferman. That defense helped the ‘Blazers to overcome shooting struggles that followed them throughout the game.
“I thought our shot selection all night was fine,” said Lafferman. “We took a lot of good shots. We just didn’t make them.”
The defense and shooting dovetailed in the first quarter, which ended with Shortridge ahead 8-5. University held the Blue Devils to two points for the first half of the period, but didn’t get on the board until the 4:20 mark, when Camden Brown muscled in a basket after two rebounds. Meanwhile, Shortridge’s Erikmycal Powell scored six points for his team.
The second quarter started out great for the ‘Blazers, as they went on a 7-0 run that ate up most of the period. Quinn Steiner nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game, then Sam Mervis scored off a steal to give University its first lead of the game. Nate Shatkowski added a putback, and the Trailblazers were up 12-8.
Andre Dickerson got the Blue Devils on the board in the period with a 3, and that opened up a 7-1 run to finish the half. Shortridge led 15-13 at the break, and Dickerson drained another triple to open the second half, putting his team up 18-13.
University’s Max Greenamoyer answered that with a 3, then Mervis wowed everyone with a cool reverse layup to tie the game at 18-18. The back and forth continued: Ogden hit two free throws, then Steiner hit his second 3 of the game.
The Blue Devils led 24-21 late in the third, but the ‘Blazers took the lead for good on a 9-0 run that carried into the fourth quarter. Joe Martin finished the third period with two floaters to put UHS up 25-24. Steiner then opened the fourth with his third 3 of the game, then Brown hit a pair of foul shots.
“We talked at halftime,” said Lafferman. “Hopefully we’ll shoot better in the second half, but if we don’t, we got to make hustle plays, loose balls, cause some turnovers and do what we can to get an extra possession and an easy shot when they had to set their defense. We were able to do that through offensive boards and good ‘D.’
With that, the Trailblazers led 30-24. Shortridge made consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 30-28, including a steal and score from Powell. But University made a 6-0 run to seal the game. Greenamoyer made a second 3, Jacob Sager hit a free throw, and Mervis hit a layin.
Steiner’s three 3-pointers added up to a team-leading nine points, with Mervis contributing seven points. Eight different Trailblazers players scored.
“They did everything they had to do to win in a tough game,” said Lafferman.
University is 18-3 and hosts Greenwood Christian on Tuesday in its Senior Night game.
University 40, Shortridge 32
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 3 1-2 7 2
Max Greenamoyer 2 0-0 6 0
Jacob Sager 1 2-6 4 0
Camden Brown 1 3-4 5 2
Joe Martin 2 0-1 4 2
Nate Shatkowski 2 0-0 4 2
Quinn Steiner 3 0-0 9 0
Eric Major 0 1-2 1 0
Eyal Friedman 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 14 7-15 40 8
Score by Quarters
Shortridge 8 7 9 8 – 32
University 5 8 12 15 – 40
University 3-pointers (5) Steiner 3, Greenamoyer 2.
The University boys basketball team defended its Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championship by beating Shortridge 40-32 Thursday at the U Center. The Trailblazers broke away in the fourth quarter after a back and forth game. (Richie Hall)