Unranked University beats two ranked teams on its way to the title
The University girls entered the Class 2A Southmont Regional as the only unraked team in the field. The Trailblazers left as regional champions after defeating No. 5 Triton Central 54-50 in the morning game and No. 9 South Putnam 51-43 in the championship game.
The championship is University’s fourth regional title in 16 years of IHSAA competition and the first in Class 2A. The Trailblazers last won a regional in 2019 in Class 1A. University advances with a 12-3 record to play No. 1 and defending state champion Linton-Stockton (25-1) in the Jasper semi-state next Saturday.
Defense was the key for the Trailblazers as they held South Putnam to their lowest point total of the season and 24 points under their 67 points per game average. In the morning game, University held Triton Central to 12 points less than their average.
“We have worked extremely hard on defense,” said University coach Justin Blanding. “The keys all day were to key in on shooters and rebound on the defensive end. Kelsey DuBois, Payton Seay and Jordan Patterson were great on the boards. Our defensive coach John Fair has spent countless hours and coach Alex Carson has been working hard on film and personnel for multiple teams. We were prepared. I can’t thank my staff enough for their hard work and effort.”
“The kids were locked in all day and we had some great offensive and defensive practices. Offensive and post coach Jessica DuBois was huge all year along with guards coach Abby Abel. We just made sure we had stuff that worked and we were comfortable doing. I’m proud of my team, staff and school,” Blanding continued.
The coach was also grateful for having the season, in which the Trailblazers had three quarantine layoffs. “Our heads of school Alicia LaMagdaline and Dave Vesper and our athletic directors John and Rhonda Walls – I cannot thank them enough for their effort in order for us to be able to play basketball this year.”
The University defense was evident in the first half as they held South Putnam scoreless for nearly ten minutes, scoring 19 consecutive points to turn a 11-5 deficit in to a 24-11 advantage. The Trailblazers held a double-digit lead until the last four minutes and never let the Eagles get closer than six points down the stretch.
DuBois led University in the championship game with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The sophomore was 4 for 4 at the line in the fourth quarter. Seay had 17 points and 12 rebounds, including 10 of the Trailblazers’ first 12 points.
South Putnam led 11-5 midway through the first quarter, before University mounted their charge. Seay split a pair of foul shots, made a rebound basket and scored at the buzzer to pull University within 11-10 after the first quarter.
Seay drove for a basket 30 seconds in to the second quarter to give University their first lead at 12-11. It was a lead the Trailblazers would never relinquish. DuBois scored two straight baskets before Patterson added a bucket. A DuBois rebound basket gave University a 20-11 lead and forced South Putnam’s second timeout of the quarter. The timeout did not slow down the Trailblazers momentum. Kamryn Washington scored off a pass from Seay, then Washington found Sierra Hinds for a basket and a 24-11 lead. South Putnam made a late rally to cut the halftime advantage to 26-18.
University’s defense showed up again in the third quarter, holding South Putnam to just a single point in the first 4:30 of the second half, building a 34-19 lead. Patterson and Seay had the first two baskets before DuBois had two offensive rebound baskets. University closed the quarter with a reverse layup from DuBois, a Seay free throw and baskets by Seay and DuBois to take a 41-27 lead to the final quarter.
South Putnam stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring the first eight points of the quarter to pull within 41-35 with 4:52 remaining. Seay answered with a driving basket to stem the Eagle momentum before University junior Abby Hannon made the defensive play of the game, blocking a shot in the lane and turning possession back to University. DuBois made a pair of foul shots and Hinds found Washington for a five-footer on the left baseline and the lead was back to 10 at 47-37.
The Eagles converted a pair of University turnovers in to baskets to cut the lead to 47-41 with 2:07 left. But the Trailblazers clamped down on defense and DuBois and Washington made both ends of one-and-one free throw attempts to close out the game and extend University’s season for another week.
South Putnam finishes the season with a 15-2 record, Macie Bumgardner had 15 points for the Eagles.
University won the morning game 54-50 over No. 5 Triton Central in a thrilling contest.
Seay put University on top 52-50 with 32 seconds remaining when she drove the right baseline and finished through contact. After Triton Central missed a shot, DuBois was fouled with 17 seconds remaining and calmly made both ends of the one-and-one to put the Trailblazers up 54-50. The Tigers controlled a few long rebounds before Seay grabbed her fourth rebound of the game and ran out the clock.
Triton Central had no answer for Seay attacking the basket. The sophomore had a game high 20 points with most of her points coming at the rim, often brushing off contact to finish. DuBois fought off first half foul trouble to finish with 12 points including making all six of her second half free throw attempts.
University got off to a quick start, jumping to a 6-2 lead on a basket by Seay and two foul shots each from Seay and Washington. Triton Central stayed in the game with three offensive rebound baskets and three three-pointers. Patterson had a late rebound basket for the Trailblazers to tie the score at 15 after the first period.
The Tigers took the lead early in the second quarter and held a one possession advantage for most of the period until going up 29-24 with a minute remaining. Washington had a big basket for University with 33 seconds left to pull the Blazers within 29-26 at the break.
University ran a set play for Seay on the block to open the half and she converted. Washington had another big bucket from the left baseline to keep University close before the Tigers took their largest lead of the game at 36-30 with 6:41 left in the third.
The Trailblazers come back started with DuBois making two foul shots before Seay stole the ball and drove for a layin. After a Tigers score, Sierra Hinds hit a three pointer from the corner off a nifty feed from Washington to pull University within 38-37. University went on top when the Tigers defense collapsed on DuBois in the lane and the sophomore found Seay all alone for a layin. Hinds hit another three-pointer to give University a 42-40 lead before Triton Central scored to even the game at the end of the third period.
The Tigers took a 44-42 lead early in the fourth quarter off an errant Trailblazer pass. Hinds made a steal and Patterson scored to knot the score back up. Triton Central senior Taylor Heath converted an and-one with 5:52 remaining to put the Tigers up 47-44.
University’s defense cranked up the intensity from there, holding Triton Central to just three points for the remainder of the game. Seay scored before the Tigers Bailey Stamper split a pair of foul shots for a 48-46 lead. DuBois tied the contest with 3:58 remaining at 48-48. University finally took the lead when DuBois scored off a Seay assist with 2:19 remaining for a 50-48 before Stamper scored with 1:44 remaining to knot the game at 50.
After the Trailblazers had an empty possession with three missed shots, Hinds made the defensive play of the game, forcing Triton Central in to an over and back call with 53 seconds remaining to give the ball back to University. After a timeout, the Trailblazers were patient on offense until they had Seay isolated in the right corner and she beat her defender to the hoop for what turned out to be the winning points.
Triton Central bowed out with a 20-4 record. Stamper had a game high 21 while Heath had 13.
SEMI-FINAL GAME
UNIVERSITY 54, TRITON CENTRAL 50
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 3 6-6 12 3
Sierra Hinds 3 0-0 9 2
Kamryn Washington 2 4-4 8 2
Payton Seay 9 2-6 20 1
Jordan Patterson 2 1-2 5 0
Abby Hannon 0 0-0 0 3
Totals 19 13-18 54 11
Score by Quarters
Triton Central 15 14 13 8 – 50
University 15 11 16 12 – 54
University 3-pointers (3) Hinds 3.
University rebounds (29) DuBois 9, Washington 7, Patterson 6, Seay 4, Hinds 2, team 1.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
UNIVERSITY 51, SOUTH PUTNAM 43
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 7 4-4 18 3
Sierra Hinds 2 0-2 4 5
Kamryn Washington 3 2-2 8 2
Payton Seay 7 3-6 17 1
Jordan Patterson 2 0-1 4 1
Abby Hannon 0 0-0 0 3
Totals 21 9-15 51 15
Score by Quarters
University 10 16 15 10 – 51
South Putnam 11 7 9 16 – 43
University 3-pointers: None.
University rebounds (42) DuBois 15, Seay 12, Patterson 4, Hinds 3, Washington 3, team 5.