Blazers make history at Hatchet House

Blazers make history at Hatchet House

The REPORTER

The University boys basketball team had an unforgettable time at Washington’s Hatchet House last Saturday.

The Trailblazers won the Class 2A South semi-state, triumphing in two tight games for their first-ever semi-state crown and trip to the state finals. University came back to beat Linton-Stockton in overtime 59-56 in the afternoon semifinal game, then toughed out a victory over No. 4 Parke Heritage, 53-47 in the championship.

University’s boys are at state for the first time in their history as an IHSAA school; the ‘Blazers won the Indiana Christian Independent state championship in 2005. The University girls basketball team reached the Class 1A state title game in 2008.

Gray saves the day

The Trailblazers’ first game with the Linton Miners was close the entire way. Linton led 14-10 after one quarter, but University came back to lead 26-25 by halftime. Six different players scored for the ‘Blazers in the second quarter, including five from Josh Henderson. Max McComb totaled seven points in the first half.

University led 38-36 after three quarters. The Miners were ahead 46-42 midway through the fourth and still held a 51-48 advantage with 18 seconds left. But Blake Gray stepped up, nailing a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation. University’s Faisal Mohamud then stole the long inbound pass, and the game went to overtime.

Mohamud scored the first basket of the OT on a floater and the ‘Blazers never trailed again. University pushed its lead up to 58-54 with under a minute, then Mohamud and Zien Bland double-teamed a Linton player, which forced a turnover. The Miners later made two free throws to cut the lead to 58-56, but would get no closer. Noah Cortez’s free throw with 16.4 seconds left wrapped things up.

McComb and Mohamud both scored 12 points, while Henderson totaled 11 points. Bland and Gray each finished with eight. McComb and Gray both collected five rebounds. Mohamud dished out five assists and made four steals, with McComb handing four assists and making three steals. Gray had three assists.

The championship game was just as close, with University and Parke Heritage trading the lead throughout. The Wolves led 15-13 after one quarter; Mohamud scored five points and Cooper Cammack added four.

The ‘Blazers led 20-17 early in the second quarter after Henderson drained a triple. He would go on to score seven points in that period. Parke Heritage came back and held a 28-26 lead at halftime. Gray had five points in the second for University.

The Wolves led 34-29 with 3:23 left in the third quarter, but the Trailblazers took over after that, using a 12-4 spurt to go up 41-38 by the end of the period. Gray had another huge play: with 6.7 seconds left, he forced a turnover. The ball went into McComb’s hands and he threw it to Gray, who laid it in at the buzzer.

Gray made the first basket of the fourth quarter, nailing a 3 at the 6:30 mark. University led 44-38 and never trailed during the period, although the Wolves kept it close. Parke Heritage was within 47-45 with under two minutes left, but Henderson hit a 3 to get the lead back up to 50-45. The Wolves scored with 1:36 left, but that would be it. Gray made a free throw and Mohamud made a last-second layin to finish the victory.

Gray scored 19 points, followed by Henderson with 14 and Mohamud with 10.

University is 20-9 and takes on No. 3 Manchester in Saturday’s Class 2A state championship, which tips off at 12:45 p.m.