The University boys dropped their final home game of the season Tuesday night, falling 45-41 to the Decatur Central Hawks.
The second half saw each team with a big scoring run. Trailing 32-22 with five minutes to go in the third period, University held Decatur Central to just one point over the next nine and a half minutes to take a 39-33 lead. However, the Blazers’ offense ground to a halt and the Hawks ended on a 12-2 run to take the victory.
Seth Hogg and Kasey Ash-Simpson led the Blazers’ third-quarter comeback. Hogg started the rally with a three pointer off an inbound pass from Ash-Simpson. A pair of foul shots from Ash-Simpson was followed by Decatur Central splitting a pair of free throws for a 33-27 lead. Hogg made a three-pointer off another Ash-Simpson assist and then tied it on a cut to the hoop and a nifty pass from Mitchell Martin.
University took their first lead of the game with 1:20 to go in the third period on an old fashioned three-point play from Ash-Simpson and the Blazers led 35-33 after three quarters. Brown scored in the lane and after Ash-Simpson and Larry Pierce each made on of the two foul shots, University had a 39-33 lead with just over three and a half minutes remaining. Decatur Central scored two quick baskets to end the 17-1 University spurt, but Pierce restored a four-point lead on a driving bucket with 2:20 left.
Turnovers then hit the Trailblazers as Decatur Central mounted their comeback. Javon Tracy hit a deep three-pointer with 1:39 left. After University threw the ball out of bounds, Brandon Smith converted an old fashioned three-point play to put the Hawks up 43-41 with 52 seconds left.
Tracy made the defensive play of the game, stealing the ball and scoring with 35 seconds left for a 45-41 lead that proved to be the final score.
Camden Brown led the Trailblazers with nine points. Hogg had eight while Matt Jones and Ash-Simpson each had six.
University is now 12-6 and closes the regular season Thursday night at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. Decatur Central improves to 9-12.
DECATUR CENTRAL 45, UNIVERSITY 41
University FG FT TP PF
Sabien Cain 0 0-0 0 4
Matt Jones 2 1-1 6 0
Larry Pierce 2 1-2 5 0
Camden Brown 4 0-0 9 1
Mitchell Martin 1 0-0 3 2
Kasey Ash-Simpson 1 4-5 6 1
Nate Jeffrey 2 0-0 4 1
Seth Hogg 3 0-0 8 1
Totals 15 6-8 41 10
Score by Quarters
Decatur Central 12 11 10 12 – 45
University 9 10 16 6 – 41
University 3-pointers (5) Hogg 2, Jones 1, Brown 1, Martin 1.