For the fifth consecutive season, University’s boys basketball team are champions of the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference. The Trailblazers earned their latest championship with a 56-45 road win over Class 2A No. 14 Park Tudor
Balanced scoring, outstanding free throw shooting and gritty defense were the ingredients for University’s sixth straight win. Sabien Cain (12), Andre Ozlowski (10) and Larry Pierce (10) scored in double figures while Seth Hogg drilled three big three pointers to finish with nine points.
The Trailblazers were 10 of 10 at the foul line in fourth quarter and made 16 of 18 free throws for the game.
University struggled out of the gate Saturday afternoon, falling behind 6-0 and 8-2 before scoring the last six points of the quarter to pull even at the end of the quarter. Ozlowski scored on a lay-in off a Hogg assist. Nate Jeffrey made a put back basket and Pierce tied the game on a nifty assist from Bryce Gray.
University used an 11-0 run midway through the second quarter to take a lead they held the rest of the game. Cain’s three pointer with 5:15 left was the go ahead basket. Jeffrey added a rebound basket, Cain had a free throw and Gray nailed a three pointer off a pass from Ozlowski. Gray ended the 11-0 spurt with a driving basket. The Trailblazers led 22-14 at halftime.
University controlled the early third quarter, stretching the lead to double digits at 27-16 in the first two minutes of the quarter. Pierce made a free throw before Cain and Ozlowski executed a perfect pick and roll with Ozlowski getting the layin. An Ozlowski rebound and outlet to Cain led a pass to Pierce for a 27-16 lead and a Park Tudor timeout.
The Trailblazers kept up the pressure and built a 33-21 lead midway through the quarter after a pair of Hogg three pointers. University led 35-29 after Park Tudor scored five points in the final 13 seconds of the quarter, including an old fashioned three point play at the buzzer.
The Panthers kept inching closer in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 40-35 with four minutes left. Gray found Hogg for a three pointer from the left corner to put the lead back out to eight at 45-37. A pair of Ozlowski foul shots at 2:17 made it 47-39. University forced a stop, but turned the ball over and Bryce Petty’s three pointer pulled Park Tudor within 47-42 with 1:20 left. Ozlowski found Pierce for a bucket before another Park Tudor three pointer made it 49-45 with 58 seconds left.
Hogg and Pierce combined on a big play after a Park Tudor timeout. Pierce streaked to the basket and Hogg hit him in stride with a three quarter court pass and Pierce was fouled as he scored to restore a three possession lead at 52-45. Ozlowski and Pierce added two foul shots each before another University stop let the Blazers dribble out the last 25 seconds for the win.
University is now 13-6 on the season. The Trailblazers travel to West Lafayette Tuesday evening to play the Harrison Raiders.
Park Tudor falls to 12-5 on the season.