The University boys lost for the second time this weekend on Saturday, dropping a 53-48 contest to Westview in the Champions of Character Classic at Grace College in Winona Lake.
For the second consecutive night the Trailblazers found themselves behind by double digits and mounted a stirring comeback, only to come up short.
Saturday’s contest started well for University as baskets by Jacob Sager and Max Greenamoyer put the Trailblazers up 4-0. Joe Martin scored for a 6-5 University lead and Sam Mervis had a basket for what turned out to be the last Blazer lead of the night at 8-7.
University had no answer on the night for Westview’s Indiana All-Star candidate Charlie Yoder, who had game-high honors with 32 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-4 senior scored 13 consecutive Westview points to give the Warriors a 25-13 advantage early in the seocnd period. University got the lead down to seven, but Westview’s Brandon Egli hit a 3-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer to make the halftime score 33-23 Westview.
Yoder’s basket with 5:24 left in the third quarter restored Westview’s lead to 10 at 37-27 before University began the long climb back. Greenamoyer made a 3-pointer before Sager scored to cut the Westview advantage to 37-32, but Yoder answered with a 3-pointer. A pair of Sager baskets, off assists from Mervis and Martin cut the lead to 40-36 with 99 seconds left in the third quarter. University had three possessions to close out the third period to get closer, but was unable to score.
Martin scored in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter to bring the Trailblazers within two at 40-38. After a defensive stop, University turned the ball over. Yoder made a pair of foul shots on each of the next two Westview possessions to put the Warriors ahead by six. University’s Camden Brown collected an offensive rebound and found Martin for a bucket to cut the lead to 44-40.
University got within 46-44 with 2:14 remaining on a pair of Martin free throws, but Westview’s Egli delivered the backbreaker, drilling another 3-pointer from the left corner for a 49-44 Westview lead. University missed shots on its next two possessions and the Warriors made four of six foul shots to close out the game.
Martin had 17 points to lead University. Sager had 13 and Greenamoyer 12 as the Trailblazers fell to 4-2. Westview improved to 4-2.
University is next in action Monday afternoon in a Pioneer Conference North game against Seton Catholic at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. The contest will follow the University girls 12:45 p.m. game against Randolph Southern.
WESTVIEW 53, UNIVERSITY 48
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 2 0-3 4 2
Max Greenamoyer 5 0-0 12 4
Camden Brown 0 0-0 0 5
Jacob Sager 6 1-3 13 2
Joe Martin 8 1-2 17 2
Aaron Stallings 0 0-0 0 0
Larry Pierce 0 0-0 0 0
Korey Ash-Simpson 1 0-0 2 1
Matt Jones 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 22 2-8 48 16
Score by Quarters
University 13 10 13 12 – 48
Westview 18 15 7 13 – 53
University 3-point shooting (2) Greenamoyer 2.