The REPORTER
The University boys basketball team split a pair of games against 4A competition at the Roncalli Holiday Tournament to bring home runner-up honors.
The Class 2A No. 8 Trailblazers beat the host Royals 65-46 for their seventh straight win before falling from the ranks of the unbeaten by dropping a 65-41 decision to Mount Vernon.
University made 10 three pointers in the first half of their opening round win over Roncalli. The Blazers ended the half on a 12-1 run. University’s last six scores of the half were three-point baskets.
Sabien Cain made the first three pointer of the quarter off an assist from Andre Ozlowski to break a 25-25 tie and put University in front to stay with five minutes left in the half. Cain followed with another triple before Roncalli rallied to within 28-27.
Seth Hogg started the three-point run to end the half off an assist from Bryce Gray. Kahmi Bracey made a steal and advanced the ball to Ozlowski who fed Cain for a three pointer, Ozlowski drained a triple with 48 seconds left before Hogg’s triple with six seconds left sent University to the locker room with a 40-28 halftime lead.
The Blazers never led by less than 10 points the rest of the game and steadily built their lead. Bryce Gray had 12 second-half points.
Cain had 19 points to lead University with Gray coming off the bench to score a career-high 17. Hogg had 13 to give University three players in double figures. Ozlowski had eight points with Jackson Bledsoe, Kahmi Bracey, Rob Russell and Cooper Cammack scoring two each.
University’s 10 three pointers in the first half tied for the seventh most in a half in IHSAA history according to the Hickory Husker Book of Indiana High School Records. The six three pointers in the second quarter tie for the ninth most in a quarter. Roncalli made four three pointers in the first half, two in each quarter. The 14 combined three pointers in a half is the fifth most.
Drew Keggrreis had 17 to lead Roncalli.
The Blazers fell behind Mount Vernon early in the championship game as the Marauders used their size advantage to control the boards, scoring several points on second chance opportunities. Mount Vernon jumped to an 11-2 lead midway through the quarter and led University 17-7 after the first period. Cain had five points in the first quarter.
Mount Vernon extended the advantage to 27-9 three minutes in to the second quarter. Cain had nine points in the quarter for University, who trailed 36-20 at halftime.
Three pointers by Russell and Cain early in the third quarter allowed University to creep within 13 before Mount Vernon ran off 13 straight points to end any doubt.
Cain led University with 16 points and Bracey had a strong second half to finish 11. Gray had seven points with Russell adding five and Steven Scott two to round out the University scoring. Mount Vernon was led by freshman Luke Ertel, one of three freshman starters, who had 16 points. 6-4 freshman R’mani Wells and 6-6 senior Adam Hackett had 12 points each. The Marauders are 7-3 on the season.
Mount Vernon reached the championship game with a 63-54 win over Floyd Central. The Highlanders came back to defeat Roncalli 69-54 in the third place game. Floyd Central is now 2-5, Roncalli 4-4.
UNIVERSITY 67, RONCALLI 46
University FG FT TP PF
Kahmi Bracey 1 0-0 2 3
Robert Russell 1 0-0 2 1
Sabien Cain 7 1-2 19 1
Seth Hogg 5 0-0 13 2
Steven Scott 0 0-0 0 0
Bryce Gray 8 0-0 17 1
Andre Ozlowski 4 0-0 8 2
Zien Bland 0 0-0 0 0
Jackson Bledsoe 1 0-0 2 1
Cooper Cammack 1 0-0 2 0
Totals 28 1-2 65 11
Score by Quarters
University 18 22 11 16 – 67
Roncalli 16 12 10 8 – 46
University 3-pointers (10) Cain 4, Hogg 3, Ozlowski 2, Gray 1.
MOUNT VERNON 65, UNIVERSITY 41
University FG FT TP PF
Kahmi Bracey 3 4-5 11 2
Robert Russell 2 0-0 5 4
Sabien Cain 6 3-5 16 4
Seth Hogg 0 0-0 0 0
Steven Scott 0 2-2 2 1
Bryce Gray 3 0-0 7 1
Cooper Cammack 0 0-0 0 1
Jackson Bledsoe 0 0-0 0 1
Totals 14 9-12 41 14
Score by Quarters
University 7 13 12 9 – 41
Mount Vernon 17 19 20 9 – 65
University 3-pointers (4) Gray, Bracey, Russell, Cain.