The REPORTER
Class 3A No. 5 Guerin Catholic closed out their regular season Tuesday night with a thrilling 63-60 win at University in a thrilling all-county contest.
Freshman Luke Keller connected on the go ahead three-pointer with 1:36 left in overtime and the Golden Eagles used their defense to overcome making just three of eight free throws in the last minute.
Keller had all 15 of his points in the second half as Guerin Catholic broke away from a 20-19 halftime deficit to lead until University staged a furious last-minute rally to send the game to overtime.
The Golden Eagles used a 9-0 run early in the third quarter to take a 30-23 lead. Carter Murans had five points and Jake Grissom four in the spurt. The Trailblazers scored the next four points on baskets by Faisal Mohamed and Jaxen Bennett to crawl back in the game and a late three pointer by Peter Morales cut Guerin Catholic’s lead to 38-35 after three.
Keller and Murans helped the Golden Eagles to a 45-38 lead midway through the fourth quarter before a steal and layin by Grissom made the lead 47-38 with 3:55 left. Guerin led 54-45 with 56 seconds left before University mounted their comeback. Josh McGee, who led all scorers with 20 points, started the rally with a pair of free throws. Will Bach split a pair of foul shots with 43 seconds left but McGee answered with a three-point play just four seconds later and the Golden Eagles led 55-50.
An offensive foul by Guerin Catholic on the inbound gave the ball back to University and Noah Cortez hit a three pointer to cut the lead to 55-53. Hayden Rogers split a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left before a McGee layin with 13.9 seconds left pulled University within one. Grissom made one of two foul shots before McGee tied the game with 8.7 seconds left. A last second Guerin Catholic three pointer was short and the game went to overtime.
Cooper Cammack gave University their only lead of overtime with a free throw with 2:57 left before Keller put the Golden Eagles on top with his three-pointer. Keller made a free throw and Murans made two for a 63-58 Guerin Catholic lead. McGee cut the lead to 63-60 with a basket with 19 seconds left. After two free throw misses by the Golden Eagles, University had a chance to tie the game, but a pair of three-point attempts came up short.
Grisson led the winners with 18 points. Murans had 16 points. Rogers had team highs in rebounds (nine) and assists (eight). The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Trailblazers 30-23.
McGee had 19 of his season-high 20 points after halftime. Blake Gray had 12 for University.
Guerin Catholic finishes the regular season with a 19-5 record and are riding an 11-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles will open Sectional 25 play Wednesday, March 4 at Frankfort against the host Hot Dogs at 7:30 p.m.
University fell to 14-8. The Trailblazers will close out the regular season Thursday night at home against Indiana Math & Science in a Senior Night contest. University opens Sectional 42 play at Cardinal Ritter on Tuesday, March 3 against Monrovia at 6 p.m.