THE REPORTER
University rallied from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to take a three-point lead, but were unable to hang on as their season came to an end in the Class 2A Southmont Regional, losing 51-47 to Eastern Hancock.
The Trailblazers used a 12-3 fourth quarter run to take their first lead of the game at 43-42 with 3:18 left when Payton Seay intercepted a pass near half court and scored on a layin. After a defensive stop, Seay scored again with 2:00 left to put the Blazers up 45-42.
The University defense left the Royals Sammie Bolding open on the right wing and the junior canned her fifth three pointer of the game to tie the contest at 45 with 1:51 remaining. After a University turnover, Eastern Hancock missed a shot and a wild scramble for the ball ensued with the Royals grabbing it and finding Bolden for another three pointer with 52 seconds left.
University missed a shot with 20 seconds remaining and Bolden made a pair of free throws with 11.8 seconds left. Seay scored with 4.3 seconds left to pull University within three. Bolden split a pair of foul shots with 1.6 seconds remaining for the final margin.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle with the Royals leading 9-5 after one. The Blazers made just one of five free throws in the opening period. Kelsey DuBois had four points for the Blazers.
University kept the game close in the second quarter, but each time the Blazers got within a possession, the Royals had an answer. After pulling within 17-15 on a Seay free throw with 1:32 left in the half, the Blazers allowed Eastern Hancock to score the last five points of the half, the last coming on a Bolden three pointer with 19 seconds left.
The teams traded points early in the third quarter, with the Royals reaching the bonus with 2;53 left in the quarter. Jordan Patterson had nine points for the Blazers in the quarter, the last two bringing University within 32-29 with 18 seconds left before a pair of Eastern Hancock foul shots gave the Royals a 34-29 lead.
Keira Bright opened the fourth quarter with a three pointer to pull University within two but Bolden against answered with a three pointer and the Royals added two free throws to put the lead back to seven at 39-32. University started back with four straight points by DuBois to get within 39-36 with 6:02 left. Patterson scored to pull the Blazers within 39-38. After a Royal basket, Seay split a pair of foul shots. Eastern Hancock again split a pair of free throws before Patterson scored again to make the score 42-41 setting the stage for Seay’s steal to put University up.
Seay led University in scoring with 14 points. Patterson and DuBois had 13 each. Bolden had a game high 26 for Eastern Hancock. Seay had 15 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. DuBois had 11 boards. Each team struggled at the charity stripe, University making 10 of 18 and the Royals converting 13 of 22. The Blazers shot just 29 percent (17 of 59) from the field.
University ends the season with 20-5 record, having their 14-game winning streak broken. Eastern Hancock won for the 14th straight game and will carry a 23-3 record in to next week’s semi-state.
University’s senior class of DuBois, Seay, Patterson, Kamryn Washington and Reva Allan end their career with a 77-16 record, three Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championships, three sectional titles and two regional crowns.
Seay (1,280 points) and DuBois (1,218 points) are the fourth and fifth all-time leading scorers at University. Both Seay and DuBois finish in the top three in University career rebounds and top five in career assists. Seay finishes in the top three in career steals and DuBois second in career blocks.