By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – When it’s at full strength, the University boys basketball team is a pretty good team.
The Trailblazers have been dealing with injuries all season, but have had their entire lineup ready to go over the past week.
“We’ve been banged up all season and we haven’t played a lot of games with all nine guys,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “This is two in a row where we’ve had everyone out there.”
It’s not a coincidence that the ‘Blazers have picked up two big wins in those last two games, including one of its biggest victories of the season Wednesday night. University defeated Bishop Chatard 65-63 in an overtime game at the U Center. The Trojans are ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press Class 3A poll and had only lost once prior to their meeting the Trailblazers.
“They’re the highest-ranked team, other than Brebeuf, that we’ve played all year,” said Lafferman. “Watching them on film, they’re the most disciplined team I think we’ve played all year. So that’s a fantastic win for us, and I couldn’t be more excited and proud of my kids.”
It was a close game for the entire 36 minutes. University’s biggest lead was six points, which it achieved a three times in the first quarter and once in the extra period. Chatard’s largest advantage was four points, including a 54-50 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Sabien Cain cut that lead to 54-53 with a 3-pointer, then Robert Russell’s free throw tied it up at 54-54 with 3:30 left. Neither team scored again until the Trojans’ Sylvester Williams hit two foul shots with 40.4 seconds to go.
University quickly tied the game with a daring play. On the inbound, Seth Hogg launched the ball across the time line to Larry Pierce, who collected it and laid it in. That made the score 56-56. Neither team scored again and it was on to overtime.
“Great pass by Seth and that was nothing designed,” said Lafferman. “We were just trying to get the ball in. I think Larry made a good read and Seth’s a really good passer, made a nice play.”
The ‘Blazers blasted out to a 6-0 run to get up 62-56 with 2:32 left in the extra period. Pierce scored on a putback, Andre Ozlowski made a three-point play, then Pierce’s free throw got University back up six.
Williams made two free throws, which Ozlowski answered with a layin to give the Trailblazers a 64-58 lead. Chatard made one last push, with a Williams basket cutting the lead to four, then A.J. Roseman’s and-1 put the Trojans within 64-63. Hogg made a free throw with 26.5 seconds left, and Chatard’s final shot was no good.
Lafferman said University’s win came down to two things.
“First, I thought our defense really showed up when it mattered,” said Lafferman. “We got a huge stop to end regulation, and then obviously, we get a huge stop to end the game. And in between, I was really impressed with just how we handled their pressure and trapping. We made the right decisions that led to layups and a lot of free throws, which unfortunately, we didn’t make. Just glad we were able to defend and make a stop there at the end.”
Chatard’s Robert Davidson made two free throws for the first points of the game, but University used an 8-0 run to take an early 8-2 lead. Cain hit a triple and a layin, then Hogg nailed a 3.
The ‘Blazers led 21-19 after one quarter, with Ozlowski pouring in 11 points during that period. Cain’s layin got University ahead 24-19 early in the second, but a 6-0 run by the Trojans put them ahead 25-24. The back-and-forth continued for the remainder of the game.
Chatard led 36-34 at halftime, then the contest was tied at 47-47 after three quarters. Williams scored eight points for the Trojans in the third period, while Hogg drained two 3s for the ‘Blazers in the quarter.
Both teams had incredible depth in the game. University had all five of its starters reach double figures. Ozlowski led with 14 points, Russell and Cain each added 13 points, and Pierce and Hogg both contributed 10 points.
Roseman led Chatard with 19 points, followed by Williams with 16, then Davidson and Carter St. John both added 11.
The Trailblazers are 9-6 for the season and play Friday at Anderson Prep Academy in a Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference North Division game.
UNIVERSITY 65, BISHOP CHATARD 63
University FG FT TP PF
Robert Russell 5 2-2 13 1
Sabien Cain 5 0-0 13 4
Andre Ozlowski 4 5-5 14 1
Larry Pierce 4 2-5 10 3
Seth Hogg 3 1-2 10 0
Bryce Gray 0 0-0 0 1
Nate Jeffrey 0 0-0 0 0
Kahmi Bracey 2 1-4 5 3
Totals 23 11-18 65 13
Score by Quarters
Bishop Chatard 19 17 11 9 7 – 63
University 21 13 13 9 9 – 65
University 3-pointers (8) Cain 3, Hogg 3, Russell 1, Ozlowski 1.