David Howard scored 17 points to lead Class 1A No. 2 University to a 57-38 win over Pendleton Heights, the Trailblazers first win over a Class 4A opponent in program history.
Howard hit three consecutive three pointers as part of a 13-0 third quarter University run to break open a close game. The 6-5 senior had seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
Ethan Sickels had nine points on a trio of three pointers. Foster Flamion had eight points including a perfect six for six at the foul line. Sam Mervis came off the bench to add eight points while Zack Hodgin posted another all around game with five points, five assists and seven rebounds.
“That’s an awesome win for our program” stated University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Pendleton is a good well coached team that played a tough zone defense. I thought David (Howard), Foster (Flamion) and Zack (Hodgin) showed great senior leadership tonight when the game was close. We did a great job defensively covering the three point line and rebounding.”
University led 14-10 after the first quarter, with all five starters scoring. The ‘Blazers maintained a small lead throughout the second quarter, taking a 23-22 lead to the locker room after the Arabians’ Justin Shupe nailed a buzzer beating three pointer.
Pendleton Heights took their only lead of the game early in the second half at 24-23 on another Shupe basket. Hodgin tied the game with a free throw just 13 seconds later and University took the lead for good with 7:10 left in the third on a Howard three pointer. Hodgin found Sickels in the corner for an open three pointer before Howard hit two more triples for a 36-24 lead with 3:35 remaining. A Shupe three pointer cut the lead to 36-27 at the end of the third quarter.
After the Arabians closed to within seven early in the fourth quarter, University put the game away with eight straight points. Howard made his final three pointer of the night before Flamion hit a pair of foul shots and Josh Watson nailed a three pointer for a 44-29 lead with 4:25 remaining in the game and the ‘Blazers were never challenged down the stretch.
University held Pendleton Heights to just seven points in the first 12:40 of the second half as they continued their stretch of holding every opponent this year below their season scoring average. University entered the game allowing just 38.25 points per game, the fourth best defensive average in the IHSAA.
University is now 12-1 on the season and is off until Saturday, Jan. 27 when it plays a Pioneer Conference North game at Anderson Prep Academy. Pendleton Heights falls to 7-7.
University 57,
Pendleton Heights 38
University FG FT TP PF
David Howard 6-11 0-1 17 2
Quinn Steiner 1-2 0-0 3 0
Ethan Sickels 3-9 0-0 9 2
Camden Brown 1-1 0-0 2 0
Foster Flamion 1-4 6-6 8 1
Eyal Friedman 0-0 0-0 0 0
Sam Mervis 2-3 4-4 8 0
Josh Watson 2-4 0-0 5 4
Zack Hodgin 1-3 3-6 5 2
Eric Major 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 17-37 13-17 57 11
Score by Quarters
Pendleton 10 12 5 11 – 38
University 14 9 13 21 – 57
University 3-point shooting (10-22) Howard 5-8, Sickles 3-8, Watson 1-3, Steiner 1-2, Flamion 0-1.
University rebounds (30) Howard 7, Hodgin 7, Flamion 4, Watson 4, Mervis 3, Major 3, Sickels 1, Brown 1.