By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The University girls basketball team toughed out a home victory over county opponent Guerin Catholic on Thursday.
The Trailblazers won 53-50 in a game that was close the entire way. The two teams went back and forth trading the lead in the first half before University got in front early in the third quarter. The Class 2A ‘Blazers held the lead from that point forward in the face of tough defense from the 3A Golden Eagles.
“They stayed locked in the whole game,” said Trailblazers coach Lisa Pryor. “Everybody played. Seven deep and everybody played significant minutes for us. I’m proud of them for their effort and hard work and staying locked in as much as they could mentally the entire game.”
Guerin Catholic led 17-15 after the first quarter. Rachel Behrle made two 3-pointers for the Golden Eagles, while Caroline Ford added four points. Sydney Culp scored five for University, including a triple.
Culp began the second quarter with an and-1 to put the ‘Blazers ahead 18-17. That began a back-and-forth, with the two teams trading the lead five times over the next few minutes.
Annie Murphy nailed a 3 to put GC ahead 24-22, then Addy Horvath made a jumper and the Golden Eagles were up 26-24. University came back to lead 29-28: Taylor Seay scored four points with a jumper and a layin off a steal; Culp made another 3 in between.
The lead-trading continued to the halftime buzzer, and both teams were tied at 33-33 going into the break. Guerin Catholic’s Lillian Behrle opened the third quarter with a 3 and the Golden Eagles led 36-33.
But the ‘Blazers jumped back in front with a 7-0 run, giving them a 40-36 advantage. Seay began the run with a layin, then Gabby Culp nailed a 3 and followed that with two free throws at the 5:01 mark.
University never trailed again. Seay finished the third quarter with a layin to give the Trailblazers a 46-42 lead going into the fourth. A 3 from Horvath during the middle part of the fourth cut University’s lead to 49-48, but Gabby Culp’s layin made it 51-48. Neither team scored again until the final minute; a Seay layin gave the ‘Blazers a 53-49 lead and that would be enough.
Four players reached double figures for University. Seay scored 14 points, Sydney Culp added 13, then Gabby Culp and Anyah Turley both scored 10. Gabby Culp collected 10 rebounds for a double-double, with Mack Feeney grabbing 10 rebounds as well. Feeney also had nine blocked shots and seven assists.
“We really stress sharing the basketball and it’s not being one person’s job to score, and so I think they did a really great job with that,” said Pryor.
Murphy scored 12 points for the Golden Eagles, while Horvath had 11 points. Guerin Catholic was without leading scorer Ava Bills, but coach Danielle Cardinal credited the team with stepping up.
“They fought hard,” said GC Coach Danielle Cardinal. “They work together really well as a team, and I think it’s a tribute to them to put 50 points on the board and to have the scoring so diverse throughout the team. And some kids that normally don’t get an opportunity, when they got an opportunity today, stepped up.”
The Trailblazers are 7-6 and play an afternoon game Saturday at the U Center, hosting Tri-West. The Golden Eagles are also 7-6 and return to the Eagles Nest Saturday afternoon to play Perry Meridian.
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