The University boys won their sixth consecutive game Saturday night, defeating Sectional rival Indianapolis Scecina Memorial 53-35.
Senior Sam Mervis was outstanding for the Trailblazers scoring 15 points, handing out six assists and becoming University’s all-time steals leader.
Camden Brown was also in double figures with 11 points and Joe Martin had nine points and handed out five assists.
University coach Brandon Lafferman was effusive in his praise of his point guard. “Sam Mervis was a great leader tonight. He picked up the team and his energy was contagious, especially in the second half. Camden Brown was really good tonight. Korey Ash-Simpson and Larry Pierce gave us a spark off the bench in the second half.”
University never trailed in the game, although the Crusaders played a methodical game on offense and kept with striking distance through the first three quarters. University’s first three baskets came on lay-ins, two from Jacob Sager and one from Martin. A three pointer from Martin put the Blazers up 9-2 before Scecina scored six straight points. The Blazers scored the next nine points – a Mervis basket, a three pointer from the corner by Brown, a Mervis steal and lay-in and another Sager basket made it 18-8 before Scecina hit a late three pointer for an 18-11 University advantage at the end of the period.
Brown opened the scoring in the second period with a basket off a Mervis feed before the pace slowed. University had only a Larry Pierce basket over a nearly six-minute stretch, while Scecina hit three deep three pointers to be within 22-20. Mervis gave University some breathing room before halftime, finding Sager for another lay-in and then hitting a three pointer at the halftime horn. University led 27-20 at halftime.
Scecina slowed the game down in the third period, running the first two minutes off the clock before missing a three pointer. After a University turnover, the Crusaders took another 90 seconds off the clock before a basket and foul shot by Marquis Edwards cut the lead to 27-23. University ran off six straight points on baskets by Brown and Martin and two Mervis free throws. Two more Brown foul shots and a right corner three pointer from Max Greenamoyer helped the Blazers lead 38-29 after the third period.
University’s defense held Scecina scoreless for the first four minutes of the fourth period while stretching the lead to 45-29. Ash-Simpson scored on a lay-in and foul shot off a nice pass from Martin. Mervis had a steal and lay-in before Martin again found Ash-Simpson for a basket at the rim. University outscored Scecina 15-6 in the final period.
The Blazers improve to 14-3 overall, while Scecina is now 6-11. Jaydon Barnes had 14 points for the Crusaders.
University has a tough week upcoming, playing at Brebeuf Jesuit on Thursday night and hosting Heritage Christian on Saturday afternoon.
UNIVERSITY 53, SCECINA 35
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 6-8 2-2 15 1
Max Greenamoyer 1-5 0-0 3 0
Camden Brown 4-4 2-3 11 0
Jacob Sager 4-4 0-0 8 4
Joe Martin 3-9 2-2 9 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 2-5 1-1 5 1
Aaron Stallings 0-0 0-0 0 0
Larry Pierce 1-2 0-0 2 1
Kasey Ash-Simpson 0-0 0-1 0 0
Nate Jeffrey 0-0 0-0 0 0
Faizan Eskar 0-0 0-0 0 0
Mitchell Martin 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 21-37 7-9 53 8
Score by Quarters
University 18 9 11 15 – 53
Scecina 11 9 9 6 -35
University 3-point shooting (4-12) Greenamoyer 1-5, J. Martin 1-3, Mervis 1-2, Pierce 1-1, Ko. Ash-Simpson 0-1.
University rebounds (20) J. Martin 5, Brown 4, Mervis 3, Sager 3, Ko. Ash-Simpson 3, Jeffrey 1, Greenamoyer 1.