The University girls saw their season come to an end in the Jasper semi-state for the third time in four seasons, dropping a 53-44 decision to Forest Park.
The Trailblazers scored a season low 11 first half points to fall in to a deficit that they were unable to overcome. University trailed 28-11 at halftime and 32-13 early in the third quarter before rallying to within 34-29 late in the third period before Forest Park scored the last five points of the quarter to take a ten point lead to the final period. University was able to get no closer than seven points in the final quarter as the Rangers made 12 foul shots in closing out the game.
Forest Park came out in a 3-2 zone and their length disrupted the University offense in the first half. All five Rangers starters stand 5-9 or taller. The Blazers started out in a 7-0 hole before Kamryn Washington got University on the board with a foul line jump shot. Forest Park led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started as a defensive slog. Forest Park scored the only basket of the first five minutes. Payton Seay pulled University within 19-11 with a three pointer with 3:07 left. But the Blazers did not score the rest of the half and Forest Park ended on a 9-0 run to take a 28-11 lead to halftime.
Kelsey DuBois scored to open the third quarter for University but the Rangers scored twice in 20 seconds to take a 32-13 lead. The Blazers then went on a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to pull within 34-29. Seay scored three straight baskets to start the run. Jordan Patterson made a three pointer off an inbound pass to cut the lead to 10. Seay made a defensive play by taking a charge then came back and scored.
Patty Chikamba cut the lead to seven when she was fouled while scoring on a rebound basket. DuBois ended the run with a basket to make it 34-20 with 2:25 left. Universiy had two possessions to pull closer, but they ended with a turnover pass out of bounds and a missed shot. Forest Park made a three pointer and scored again at the buzzer to restore the lead to 10 points at 39-29.
Chikamba ended with 12 points, six rebounds and six steals. Seay added 11 points and six rebounds while DuBois had eight points and five boards.
Amber Tretter, a 6-1 junior, led Forest Park with 17 points and 5-9 Carley Begle added 13.
University ends the season 23-5 while Forest Park advances at 25-3 to face Frankton in the Class 2A state championship game.
The Trailblazers end the season with regional and sectional championships and also won the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference title and the Monrovia Holiday Tournament.
FOREST PARK 53, UNIVERSITY 44
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 3-6 2-2 8 5
Patty Chikamba 3-18 5-5 12 4
Kamryn Washington 2-6 0-0 4 2
Payton Seay 5-12 0-0 11 1
Jordan Patterson 2-3 0-0 5 3
Emily Adamowicz 2-7 0-0 4 4
Taylor Seay 0-2 0-0 0 2
Totals 17-54 7-7 44 21
Score by Quarters
University 8 3 18 15 – 44
Forest Park 17 11 11 14 – 53
University 3-point shooting (3-16) Chikamba 1-7, P. Seay 1-5, Patterson 1-1, Adamowicz 0-2, Washington 0-1.
University rebounds (22) Chikamba 6, P. Seay 6, DuBois 5, Washington 2, Patterson 2, Adamowicz 1.