By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – University girls basketball head coach Lisa Pryor took the time to explain a basketball concept some people might not be familiar with: the hockey assist.
“A hockey assist is the pass before the assist,” said Pryor.
The Trailblazers were making quite a few hockey assists – and regular assists – during their Thursday game against Anderson Prep Academy Thursday at the U Center. University beat the Jets 73-32, for its 24th consecutive Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference North victory.
The Blazers and Anderson Prep are the only two girls basketball teams in the North Division, so the victory gave University its eighth consecutive PAAC North title. University plays the South Division champion for the conference title on Jan. 16.
The Trailblazers burst out of the gate and rolled through the first quarter, leading APA 31-12 by the end of the period. University outscored the Jets in each of the four quarters and totaled 31 baskets, which meant many hockey assists.
“For us, that means that you’re seeing the floor and you’re seeing things ahead of what’s happening,” said Pryor. “I’ve really challenged them to see, how can you make the pass that then becomes the pass that creates the score. Just a different way to look at the game. How are we setting up our teammates?”
Gabby Culp scored nine points during the first quarter, while Mack Feeney scored eight points.
The Trailblazers’ defense took over in the second period, limiting Anderson Prep to three points. University led 44-15 at halftime, then began the third quarter with a 12-4 run. A Sydney Culp basket put the Blazers ahead 54-19, instituting a running clock.
Nyla Blanding’s 3-pointer pushed University ahead 59-21 late in the third. The Jets’ Clara Fulton then made a personal 9-0 run – two triples to finish the third and another to begin the fourth – which made the score 59-30. The Blazers answered that with a 7-0 spurt. Blanding made two layins with Sydney Culp nailing a 3 in between.
Five University players scored in double digits. Sydney Culp and Gabby Culp both had 15 points, Leah Norvell added 13, while Blanding and Feeney each scored 11.
Julie Montiel had six points and Quinn Wilmot scored two. They are freshmen, along with Blanding and Jane Armstrong.
“They’re the future of this program,” said Pryor. “To get them out there right now, with the seniors that we have and starting to see [Montiel’s] confidence grow, is really exciting. So, I was proud of her for taking those shots, and then she didn’t take the shots that she shouldn’t have taken, right? I can see her basketball IQ coming along and that’s really exciting to see.”
University is 4-5 and plays at Bishop Chatard next Thursday.
