By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The University girls basketball team has gotten off to an excellent start this season.
The Trailblazers are perfect so far with a 9-0 record and have risen to No. 3 in the Class 2A coaches poll. More numbers: University is beating its opponents by an average of 69-29, and its closest game was this past Tuesday, when the ‘Blazers beat Bethesda Christian by 20 points.
University continued its flawless campaign Thursday at the U Center, when it beat Anderson Prep Academy 92-41 in its first Pioneer Conference North Division game of the season. The success of the Trailblazers has turned many heads, including coach Justin Blanding, who said he was actually surprised at the success, “because we got so many young kids.”
But University also has four seniors – Lindsey Syrek, Elise Nachlis, Maddi Sears and Lilly Fair – and they are all making their own contributions to the Trailblazers’ good start.
“So we’re doing a good job there in the leadership category and it’s really helping them,” said Blanding.
The Jets also came into the game undefeated at 7-0, and were giving the ‘Blazers trouble in the first quarter, staying within 8-6 midway through the period.
But University pulled away with a 9-0 run, giving them a 17-6 lead late in the quarter. Sears started the run with a 3-pointer, then Syrek scored on a putback. Jordan Patterson, one of three freshmen in the varsity lineup, added a layin, and Sears finished the run with a jump shot.
“We can score the ball,” said Blanding. “Our biggest emphasis is defense and doing things the right way. The first couple minutes, we weren’t doing that, so we got after them a little bit. And then once they started doing things the right way, then we started getting some stops and some steals and some things like that.”
The Trailblazers led 21-11 after the first quarter was completed. University then stormed through the next two quarters, scoring 30 points in each one. Junior Sierra Hinds went on a 6-0 run all by herself, making back-to-back-to-back layins. Freshman Kelsey DuBois had two rebound baskets, with classmate Payton Seay getting her own putback.
By halftime, the ‘Blazers led 51-22. University opened the third quarter with a 12-3 run, then ballooned its lead to 81-32 at the end of three. Syrek scored 14 points in that period alone.
“I think we’re a really young team, so we’re still putting the pieces together a little bit,” said Syrek. “But I think it’s coming along more and more every game.”
Four players scored in double figures for the Trailblazers, led by Syrek’s 26. Hinds added 18 points, with DuBois scoring 16 and Sears adding 11. Nine different UHS players scored at least two points.
Next year at this time, Syrek will be a Division I college basketball player, as she signed to play at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) next fall. NJIT is located in Newark – not too far from New York City – and is a Division I school that plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
“It’s a really good school,” said Syrek. “I love the coaching staff and I love the school and I’m really excited to go out there next year.”
The Highlanders are coached by first-year coach Mike Lane. Syrek said the coach’s system “really fits my style of play, or I think my style of play fits into it very well. I think it’ll be a good fit for me.”
University hosts International on Tuesday.
UNIVERSITY 92, ANDERSON PREP 41
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 8 0-2 16 2
Sierra Hinds 8 1-4 18 0
Lindsey Syrek 11 4-6 26 2
Payton Seay 2 0-0 4 3
Maddi Sears 5 0-0 11 2
Elise Nachlis 3 0-1 6 2
Jordan Patterson 1 2-2 4 2
Lilly Fair 1 0-0 2 2
Arrion Sherrod 2 0-1 5 1
Abby Hannon 0 0-0 0 3
Anne Gibboney 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 41 7-16 92 19
Score by Quarters
Anderson Prep 11 11 10 9 – 41
University 21 30 30 11 – 92
University 3-pointers (3) Hinds 1, Sherrod 1, Sears 1.
University’s Jordan Patterson is one of three freshmen on the varsity roster for the Trailblazers’ girls basketball team this season. University improved to 9-0 after its Thursday win over Anderson Prep Academy. (Richie Hall)