The University Trailblazers opened play in the 2018 IHSAA boys basketball tournament with a 45-36 victory over Indianapolis International. The win advanced the 20-2 and No. 2-ranked Trailblazers to the Class 1A Sectional 58 championship game against Indianapolis Metropolitan.
Friday’s game was a complete reversal of style from the regular season game won by University 88-62 in early February. That game saw University shoot 67 percent from the field and make 15 of 26 3-point attempts. Scoring was at a premium Friday night as the Trailblazers made just five of 23 3-point shots, but the University defense was up to the task, holding International to just eight field goals for the game.
The Trailblazers never trailed in the game, holding the Gryphons scoreless for the first 6:30 of the game. University led 8-0 and had a 10-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
University threatened to break the game open in the second quarter. Leading 12-8 midway through the quarter, the ‘Blazers ran off seven straight points to take a 19-8 lead. David Howard scored before Josh Watson hit a 3-pointer and a layup in the 7-0 run. However the ‘Blazers did not score for the last 3:31 of the half and took a 19-13 advantage to the locker room
University quickly pushed the lead back to 10 at 25-15 with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter behind four points from Zack Hodgin and a basket by Howard. The Blazers then went scoreless for the next four minutes before sophomore Max Greenamoyer came off the bench to hit back-to-back three pointers and a 31-22 lead after the third period.
The Blazers started the fourth quarter strong, pushing the lead back to 11 at 37-26 with five minutes left before another four minute scoreless stretch that included missing the front end of all three one-and-one foul shot opportunities allowed International to pull within 37-32.
Foster Flamion split a pair of free throws with 59.8 seconds remaining to give the Blazers a 38-32 lead. University closed out the game at the line with Sam Mervis making all four of his attempts and Hodgin making both of his.
“Our defense kept us in the game and allowed us to move on” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Max (Greenamoyer) made some big shots for us off the bench in the third quarter to give us a lift.”
The Blazers featured balanced scoring with Flamion, Watson and Hodgin leading with eight points each and Mervis, Howard and Greenamoyer making six points apiece.
International’s 6-11 junior Mawich Kachjaani led all scorers with 17 points, including making eight of 11 foul shots. Half of the Gryphons points came at the foul stripe as they sank 18 of 24 free throws.
University’s primary ball handlers, Hodgin and Mervis, each made all six of their free throw attempts as Univeristy was 16 of 23 as a team.
The Trailblazers will be seeking their first Sectional championship since 2013 in Saturday’s championship game. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at Bethesda Christian school in Brownsburg.
University 45, International 36
University FG FT TP PF
David Howard 3 0-2 6 2
Ethan Sickels 1 0-0 3 2
Foster Flamion 2 4-6 8 4
Josh Watson 3 0-3 8 2
Zack Hodgin 1 6-6 8 4
Sam Mervis 0 6-6 6 1
Quinn Steiner 0 0-0 0 0
Max Greenamoyer 2 0-0 6 1
Totals 12 16-23 45 16
Score by Quarters
University 10 9 12 14 – 45
International 5 8 9 14 – 36
University 3-pointers (5) Greenamoyer 2, Watson 2, Sickels.