The University boys basketball team won both of its games at the Bedford North Lawrence Tournament on Friday.
University opened play in the tournament with a 51-45 win over Evansville Harrison. Max Greenamoyer had 18 points on six 3-pointers and Joe Martin had 14 to lead the Trailblazers in scoring.
The Blazers opened up a 10-point halftime lead and withstood a series of Harrison runs in the second half to win their fifth game in seven tries.
Greenamoyer’s third three pointer of the first quarter gave University a 13-10 lead after the first period. Harrison rallied to take a two-point lead before Korey Ash-Simpson made a steal and fed Martin for a bucket that tied the game at 15-15. Baskets by Jacob Sager and Ash-Simpson gave University a lead they would not relinquish at 19-16.
The Trailblazers stretched their halftime lead to 29-19 on a pair of baskets by Martin, another Greenamoyer 3-pointer and a Camden Brown basket and free throw.
A third quarter field goal from Martin put the University lead at 31-21 before three straight 3-pointers from Harrison cut the University lead to 31-30. Greenamoyer answered with a 3-pointer, Martin scored and Ash-Simpson had a rebound basket at the buzzer to put University up 38-32.
Baskets by Ash-Simpson and Aaron Stallings gave University a 42-32 lead with four minutes remaining capping an 11-1 Trailblazer run. Harrison answered with five straight points to pull within 42-37 with three minutes left, however, Brown scored on a rebound of a missed free throw and Martin scored off a steal with 1:10 remaining to put University back on top 46-37. Greenamoyer (3) and Brown (2) made foul shots down the stretch to close out the win.
Ash-Simpson had eight points and a team-high six rebounds. Martin had three steals and Sam Mervis had five assists.
University finished a 2-0 day at the Bedford North Lawrence Tournament with a come from behind 56-45 over the Milan Indians.
The Trailblazers used a suffocating fourth-quarter defense to hold the Indians to just four points and won going away.
Greenamoyer and Martin had 15 points each to lead University scoring.
The Trailblazers led briefly in the first quarter at 4-2 on a pair of baskets by Martin before Milan finished the quarter strong, leading 15-10 after a buzzer beating three pointer.
A basket by Brown and a 3-pointer from Mervis pulled University even at 15. Another Brown field goal tied the game at 17 before Milan ran off six straight points. A Greenamoyer 3-pointer pulled the Trailblazers close, but Milan scored the last points of the half and led 25-20 at the break.
University climbed back in the game in the third quarter. Baskets by Martin, Ash-Simpson, Brown and Jacob Sager cut the Milan lead to 32-30. Another Greenamoyer 3-pointer pulled University within one before a pair of Mervis free throws knotted the contest at 35. An old fashioned three-point play by Martin gave University its first lead since the opening moments at 38-37. Mervis hit a late 3-pointer to tie the game at 41 after the third period.
The ‘Blazers took control in the fourth quarter. Martin put University in front to stay at 43-41 before another and one three-point play, this one by Sager, put the lead at 46-41. Greenamoyer hit a three pointer for a 49-41 lead with five minutes remaining. Milan made a foul shot and their only basket of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 49-44, but Martin answered with a basket and Sager split a pair of foul shots to put the lead at 52-44 with 2:51 left.
Ash-Simpson hit both ends of a one-and-one with 1:17 left for a 54-45 lead before Greenamoyer scored on a put back after a Mervis steal with 57 seconds left to make the final 56-45.
Sager and Greenamoyer each had five rebounds, with Sager pulling down three offensive rebounds. Mervis had three steals and Greenamoyer two.
Coach Brandon Lafferman was happy with his team’s performance on Friday. “We won today’s games with effort, toughness, and staying focused for four quarters. I was really happy with how we started against Evansville Harrison, followed by how we dealt with some adversity in the second half while they worked their way back into the game. In the second win, our seniors really stepped up with great leadership and helped us mount a nice second half comeback. We were able to get wins against very good teams and coaches today and I am proud of my squad.”
University will close out pool play at 11:45 Saturday morning against the host BNL Stars. The Trailblazers are 2-0 in pool play, MIlan and BNL are 1-1 and Evansville Harrison is 0-2. Milan and Harrison will square off Saturday morning.
Final pool positioning will determine University’s opponent in Saturday night’s placement round. Fishers has won Pool B with a 2-0 record and will be University’s opponent if the Blazers win against Bedford North Lawrence. Bloomington North and New Palestine are 1-1 in Pool B and play Saturday morning. Scottsburg is 0-2 and faces Fishers.
UNIVERSITY 51, EVANSVILLE HARRISON 45
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 0-3 0-2 0 0
Max Greenamoyer 5-9 3-4 18 3
Camden Brown 2-7 3-3 7 2
Joe Martin 7-10 0-2 14 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 4-5 0-0 8 3
Aaron Stallings 1-1 0-0 2 0
Matt Jones 0-1 0-0 0 0
Larry Pierce 0-0 0-0 0 1
Jacob Sager 1-4 0-2 2 4
Totals 20-40 6-13 51 14
Score by Quarters
University 13 16 9 13 – 51
Ev. Harrison 11 8 13 13 – 45
University 3-point shooting (5-14) Greenamoyer 5-9, Brown 0-2, Martin 0-2, Jones 0-1.
University rebounds (20) Ash-Simpson 6, Brown 4, Martin 4, Mervis 3, Greenamoyer 2, Sager 1.
UNIVERSITY 56, MILAN 45
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 2-6 2-2 8 1
Max Greenamoyer 6-16 0-0 15 3
Camden Brown 3-5 0-1 6 2
Joe Martin 7-14 1-1 15 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 1-1 4-4 6 3
Aaron Stallings 0-1 0-0 0 0
Larry Pierce 0-0 0-0 0 0
Jacob Sager 2-2 2-3 6 2
Matt Jones 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 21-46 7-9 56 12
Score by Quarters
University 10 10 21 15 – 56
Milan 15 10 16 4 – 45
University 3-point shooting (6-20) Greenamoyer 3-11, Mervis 2-2, Martin 1-4, Brown 0-1, Jones 0-1.
University rebounds (22) Greenamoyer 5, Sager 5, Mervis 4, Brown 4, Ash-Simpson 2, Pierce 1, Martin 1.