For the second year in a row, the Guerin Catholic and University boys basketball teams played each other at the McDonald’s Holiday Hoops Tournament at Vincennes Lincoln.
This year, the Golden Eagles and the Trailblazers met in the Saturday morning semi-finals. Behind 20 points from Josh Watson, the ‘Blazers led after a 2-2 tie for the entire contest in defeating the Golden Eagles 44-40 in Alice Arena. With the win, University broke a seven-game losing streak to Guerin Catholic.
The victory also sent the Trailblazers into the championship game of the tournament, where they would lose their first game of the season to the host Alices, 54-50. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles defeated Indianapolis Howe 84-66 to take third place.
Watson, a 6-4 senior, made five of six foul shots in the final 28 seconds to close out the win. Jack Hansen led Guerin with 20 points, including 17 in the second half.
“I thought Josh Watson played his best game as a Trailblazer,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Guerin did a good job controlling the pace of the game. We fought through some adversity and were able to grind out the win.”
University broke away from a 2-2 tie in the first quarter after Hansen went to the bench with two early fouls. Foster Flamion hit a three pointer from the top of the key to give University the lead for good. Kian Sills scored for the Golden Eagles to cut the lead to 5-4 before Watson made a steal near half court and finished with a dunk for a 7-4 lead. Zack Hodgin’s drove the baseline for a lay-in and a 9-4 University lead at the quarter.
Guerin rallied early in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 13-10 before Hansen re-entered. Watson’s two three-pointers were offset by triples by Hansen and Sills. Another Hodgin layin gave University a 21-16 halftime lead.
Baskets by Hansen and Zach Munson let Guerin cut the lead to 21-20 before David Howard answered with a three pointer for the Blazers. Two Hansen baskets sandwiched around a Hodgin layin had the University lead at 26-24 before Watson scored on a put back and a Hodgin layin. Hansen’s basket with 14 seconds left in the third left University with a 30-26 lead after three.
A Howard three pointer and a Howard lay-in gave University their largest lead of the game at 35-26 with 4:07 remaining. Bernie McGuinness made a free throw before a basket from Hansen and two free throws from Luke Godfrey pulled the Golden Eagles within 35-31 with three minutes remaining.
Flamion answered with a reverse lay-up before Hansen nailed a 3-pointer with a hand in his face with 2:27 remaining. Watson drove the lane for layin and a 39-34 lead with 1:19 remaining. After University missed the front end of two one and ones, Hansen’s layin with 31.7 seconds left pulled Guerin within three. Two Watson free throws were answered by a Godfrey basket with 22.5 seconds remaining. Watson split a pair of foul shots and a Hansen basket with 12 seconds left got Guerin within 42-40. Watson made two more free throws with 10 seconds. Guerin missed a 3-pointer before University corralled the rebound and ran out the clock.
For the game University shot 16-35 from the field (45.7 percent) while Guerin Catholic made only 16-42 (38.1 percent). University make one more 3-point shot than GC, and made three more free throws. University also held a 23-22 edge in rebounding, which marked the first game all season the Golden Eagles have been out-rebounded.
“We had some opportunities but just couldn’t get over the hump,” said GC mentor Pete Smith. “They have many weapons, and Watson was a tough match-up for us this morning.”
It was the first time the ‘Blazers had beaten GC since Feb. 23, 2007, and the series between the two schools now is 7-2 in favor of Guerin Catholic.
“This is the best ‘Blazer team we’ve played, and Laff’s done a great job with them,” Smith said.
CAREER HIGH FOR GODFREY
A career-high 21 points from Godfrey powered Guerin Catholic to its win over Howe. The win earned GC third place in the eight-team tournament.
The Golden Eagles (6-5) trailed six times in the first 10 minutes of the contest, but a 16-2 run to end the first half gave them a 42-31 lead heading into the locker room.
Howe (7-4) picked up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, but eight different Golden Eagles scored to counter the Hornets’ attack. And in the final period the GC lead ballooned to 84-56 but Howe closed the game out on a 10-2 run.
“Their athleticism bothered us early” said GC’s Pete Smith. “But our guys adjusted and played much better after the break. It was a good win after a tough loss earlier in the morning.”
Three other Golden Eagles scored in double figures to support Godfrey’s effort. Munson scored 20 points while Hansen had 14 pts. and a game-high seven rebounds. Junior Sills added 10 points. Drew Thieme was the game’s leading assist man with a career-high of six.
Guerin Catholic returns to Circle City Conference action next Friday night at Bishop Chatard.
ALICES HAND ‘BLAZERS FIRST LOSS
In the championship game, the Class 1A No. 4 Trailblazers (10-1) trailed most of the way Saturday — after an early 3-0 University lead, the host Alices (7-4) pulled ahead, leading 13-10 at the quarter break. The Lincoln advantage was 26-24 at halftime, and 39-37 after three quarters. University fell behind by as many as seven, at 39-32, before embarking on an 8-0 run to take the lead on a Foster Flamion and-1 on the first possession of the fourth quarter.
University and Lincoln traded the lead most of the rest of the way, with the Alices inching ahead late to take a 51-47 advantage. Ethan Sickels hit a second-chance 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to pull the Trailblazers within one, before Lincoln split a pair of free throws to leave the lead at 52-50. With Zack Hodgin driving for a potential game-tying layup in the final seconds, Lincoln was whistled for an off-the-ball foul. Flamion missed the front end of the ensuing 1-and-1, and the Alices salted away the win at the free-throw line, hitting both free throws with 1.5 seconds left to reach the final 54-50 scoreline.
Hodgin scored 14 points, while Flamion added 13.
The Trailblazers return to action Friday, hosting 1A No. 2 and defending state champion Tindley. Varsity tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.