By CHUCK GODBY
CARMEL – It’s an old cliché, for sure, but it has been and always will be difficult to stop a speeding locomotive, especially when it runs on DuBois-Seay Power.
Led by four-year starters Kelsey DuBois and Payton Seay, University’s Trailblazers blazed their way to a lopsided, 68-25 win over Park Tudor last Saturday evening in the championship game of Class 2A Sectional 43 at University High School.
It was the school’s ninth sectional crown earned since becoming an IHSAA member in 2005-06. The Blazers improved their 2022-23 record to 20-4 and extended their winning streak to 14 in a row heading into the regional round of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament.
The next stop for Coach Justin Blanding’s Blazers on the tourney trail is the Southmont Regional this Saturday, where they will meet Eastern Hancock.
Dubois, the 6-foot senior in the middle, who ranks among the top five all-time school leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, was 7-of-11 shooting from the field for 16 points, snagged 10 rebounds and blocked four shots.
Her play kept University afloat while Payton Seay was sidelined with a cut forehead after she collided with the Panthers’ Lilly Harris, who never returned, leaving Park Tudor with only six players the rest of the game.
There was no mention why five of the 12 players on their roster failed to show for the game, but late in the first half the Panthers had two players with three and four fouls each, forcing them to go with just four players on the floor for the final few minutes of the opening half.
“Payton’s one of the toughest people I know,” said DuBois, who is headed to New York University in the fall. “I knew she was going to come back. She’s the spark in both our offense and defense. I knew I had to step it up a little bit when she got hurt, but I have teammates all around me who will pick up and I can still play my game.”
University opened the game in front of a packed-house crowd, turning the basketball over on its first four possessions. Seay left the contest less than three minutes in after the violent collision near midcourt, and when she returned with 1:46 to play in the opening quarter, Park Tudor was hanging tough with the score tied 9-9.
The Blazers closed out the first frame with Dubois putting back a rebound for a bucket and adding a free throw. Taylor Seay drove the bucket for two of her 12 points on the night, and Keira Bright nailed a jumper to make it 16-9.
“It was slow start, but thankfully, we picked it up,” DuBois noted. “One thing I know for sure is we can’t start out that way next week in the regional.”
University went on a 15-0 run to open the second quarter, closing out the first half comfortably in front, 39-13.
When Payton Seay, who ranks among the school’s top five all-time leaders in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals, returned she turned in a game-high 22 points and 13 boards, despite a bandaged forehead.
“My head is fine. I’ve just got to get some stitches,” said the 5-foot-5 senior. “I didn’t know I was bleeding until someone told me.
“We had a lot emotion left over from last night’s game,” Payton said of her team’s win over Sheridan Friday night. “We were ready for this game. It was a rematch of last year’s championship game. We consider them a rival.”
Park Tudor’s all-time series edge over the Blazers is 10 wins and nine losses. The Panthers closed out their season with a 15-7 record.
County win
University opened sectional play last Friday by stopping Sheridan with a convincing, 77-44 triumph.
Sheridan, which entered the tourney with eight wins to close out the regular season, drew first blood in this one. Chaney Smith’s jumper put the Blackhawks in front. Then Sheridan got its first taste of University’s Seay, who drove the baseline for a lay in. Smith nailed another jumper, followed by another drive to the bucket for Seay.
Kenzie Garner scored to give the Hawks the lead back, 6-4, for the final time. The Blazers answered with three straight field goals by Taylor Seay, Jordan Patterson and Payton Seay, taking the lead for good. They extended their advantage to 18-11 at the quarter break, then sailed into halftime up 20, 41-21.
Sheridan partially handcuffed itself with nine first-half turnovers, but it was University’s inside tandem of Seay and DuBois that was just too much for the Hawks to handle. The senior pair combined for 42 points on a combined 17-of-23 shooting from the field. Seay had 23 points and six boards, while DuBois had 19 and seven. Jordan Patterson also scored in double digits with 12.
“We just try to be efficient, run our offense and keep playing,” said University coach Justin Blanding, in his eighth season. “Experience is also important. They’ve been playing together for a long time.”
While University improved its record to 19 wins and four losses, Sheridan closed the book on a 13-9 season. The Hawks opened the season losing seven of its first 10 games, but caught fire midway through December, winning nine of its last 10.
“This might have been one of the best games they’ve played all year. They are so well coached and so well prepared,” said an obviously disappointed Sheridan coach Jaidlin Bradshaw after her team’s loss. “At the same time, this might have been one of our worst games.
“Tonight was rough, but I’m still so proud of my girls and the legacy the seniors leave behind because of all the good things they’ve done.”
Garner, just a sophomore, led Sheridan in scoring with 22 points, and Chaney Smith added 13.
“We had to keep an eye on number 12 (Garner),” the University coach pointed out. “She’s a big-time player.”