By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – University has played three basketball games this season, which means the Trailblazers have had three fine defensive performances this season.
Class 2A No. 3 University recovered from an early deficit to pull away from visiting Danville 53-39 Wednesday night at the “U” Center. With the victory, the Trailblazers are now 3-0 for the year.
“I’m just extremely thankful to be playing, honestly,” said University coach Justin Blanding. “I don’t know how much longer we’re going to be playing, so I just tell the girls before we come out, even before practice, after practice. Just be thankful that you get the opportunity to play and to practice, because you don’t know how long we’ll get to do it.”
The ‘Blazers are certainly making the most of every opportunity. They found themselves in a precarious position early in the first quarter, when the Warriors led 10-3 due to timely baskets and their own solid defense.
But University began working its way back into the game midway through the period, and cut Danville’s advantage to 13-10 by the end of the first. Kamryn Washington started things off with a 3-pointer, followed by layins from Payton Seay and Sierra Hinds.
The second quarter began with the Warriors’ Haley Ancelet making a 3-pointer, pushing her team ahead 16-10. The Trailblazers took over after that, going on an 11-0 run to take a 21-16 lead. Kelsey DuBois scored five points in that run, which gave University a lead it would not relinquish.
In fact, the ‘Blazers increased that lead to 31-21 by halftime. Hinds finished the quarter strong with a 3-pointer, while Abby Hannon came off the bench and scored three points.
“We’ve been talking about that all year,” said Blanding. “We’re not very deep. We could end up getting in foul trouble. So, we always tell everybody to be ready.”
Seay got University off to a good start in the second half, making two baskets to push the Trailblazers ahead 35-21. Hinds and Jordan Patterson both hit 3-pointers later on in the third quarter. Another Hinds jump shot gave University a 43-31 lead, but a 3 and a layin by Danville kept them within 43-36 at the end of the third.
The Warriors would get no closer. The ‘Blazers held Danville to only three points in the fourth, all of them free throws. A 6-0 run in the latter half of the period – two Seay baskets and a pair of DuBois foul shots – sealed the victory.
“We’ve been working on our defenses since we started,” said Blanding. “Our defensive coach, John Fair, he’s top notch. So the girls are always prepared. And we’re prepared to switch defenses.”
Hinds, who was honored before the game as the team’s lone senior, led the way with 17 points. Seay was next in line with 13 points, and led all the other stats: Eight rebounds, five assists and five steals. Hinds also had seven rebounds and four steals.
DuBois and Patterson both collected five rebounds. All seven players that took to the floor for University scored at least two points. Arrion Sherrod made two free throws during the Trailblazers’ second quarter run that would put University in the lead for good.
The Trailblazers begin a five-game road trip on Friday, playing at Clinton Central.
UNIVERSITY 53, DANVILLE 39
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 2-4 4-6 8 0
Sierra Hinds 7-16 0-1 17 3
Kamryn Washington 1-4 0-0 3 3
Payton Seay 6-13 1-4 13 3
Jordan Patterson 3-9 0-0 7 3
Abby Hannon 1-1 1-3 3 4
Arrion Sherrod 0-2 2-2 2 0
Totals 20-49 8-16 53 16
Score by Quarters
Danville 13 8 15 3 – 39
University 10 21 12 10 – 53
University 3-point shooting (5-17) Hinds 3-6, Patterson 1-4, Washington 1-2, Seay 0-2, Sherrod 0-2, DuBois 0-1.
University rebounds (33) Seay 8, Hinds 7, DuBois 5, Patterson 5, Hannon 4, Washington 2, Sherrod 2.