THE REPORTER
The Class 2A No. 5 University boys improved to 13-1 on the season with an impressive 67-51 win at Bishop Chatard.
The Trailblazers pulled away from a two-point game early in the fourth quarter to close the contest on a 23-9 run.
Sabien Cain led University with 24 points and a team-high six rebounds. The Trailblazers had four players in double figures with Kahmi Bracey (13 points), Andre Ozlowski (12) and Seth Hogg (10) pacing the way.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with University taking the lead at 12-11 with 50 seconds left when Bracey stole the ball and converted a traditional three-point play. University never trailed in the game.
The teams started slow in the second quarter. The only points scored in the first three minutes of the period were a pair of traditional three-point plays by Cain. The Blazers scored nine points in the last 1:45 of the half to turn a 19-14 lead in to a 28-16 halftime advantage. Bracey started the run before Hogg scored the last seven points of the half including a buzzer beating three-pointer from the right sideline.
Chatard outplayed the Blazers in the third quarter, scoring 23 points in the period to pull within 41-39 when Kenny Roseman hit an off balance three pointer at the buzzer. Cain converted another three-point play early in the fourth off some great ball movement that saw Bryce Gray feed Ozlowski who found Cain at the rim. Chatard answered with a three pointer to pull within 44-42 with 7:20 left but it was all Blazers after that.
A basket by Ozlowksi and another three-point play by Bracey pushed the leased to seven. Cain got the lead up to 11 with two consecutive three-point baskets and University cruised home to the win.
Coach Brandon Lafferman was ecstatic with his team’s performance. “It’s always tough to win on the road especially against a team as good and disciplined as Chatard. I thought our first half was solid. The third quarter was rough as Chatard made some really good adjustments. I challenged our guys before we went out in the fourth quarter to be mentally tough and find a way. We closed with one of the best quarters we had all year. It was a great team effort. Sabien and Andre made some big plays in the fourth quarter to help us win.”
Bracey had a team-high four steals while Cain, Ozlowski, Bracey and Gray each handed out three assists. University shot 25 of 51 from the field.
University is next in action Thursday night at The U Center when they host Traders Point Christian Academy. The Knights will bring a 12-4 record in to the game.
UNIVERSITY 67, BISHOP CHATARD 51
University FG FT TP PF
Kahmi Bracey 5 2-2 13 2
Robert Russell 1 0-0 2 0
Sabien Cain 9 3-3 24 1
Andre Ozlowski 4 4-6 12 2
Seth Hogg 3 2-2 10 3
Bryce Gray 3 0-0 6 1
Zien Bland 0 0-0 0 0
Steven Scott 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 25 11-13 67 10
Score by Quarters
University 12 16 13 26 – 67
Bishop Chatard 11 5 23 12 – 51
University 3-pointers (6) Cain 3, Hogg 2, Bracey 1.
University rebounds (21) Cain 6, Bracey 4, Ozlowski 4, Russell 3, Gray 2, Hogg 1, Scott 1.