By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
University Trailblazers (18-9) vs. Linton-Stockton Miners (21-6)
We’re down to the Elite 8 in each class for the IHSAA boys basketball state tournament.
Saturday’s Class 2A south semi-state will be at the famous Hatchet House at Washington High School. The first game of the day at 10 a.m. features No. 4 Parke Heritage (24-4) vs. Forest Park (19-6), followed by the Blazers and the Miners at 12:15 p.m. The championship game is slated for 7:30 p.m.
This is the first meeting between University and Linton-Stockton.
Potential state finals opponents in the north semi-state at The Wolves’ Den at Michigan City has No. 6 Gary 21st Century (20-6) facing top-ranked Wapahani (26-1) at 10 a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time) and the No. 3 Manchester Squires (23-2) battle the Jimtown Jimmies (16-10) in the second semifinal at noon CT (1 p.m. ET). The winners collide at 7:30 p.m. CT (8:30 p.m. ET).
Head coach Justin Blanding seems to be the answer for the University boys basketball team. In just his second season, he’s got the Blazers two wins from their first state finals appearance. Saturday’s regional 44-43 victory over Triton Central, advancing to the program’s first semi-state.
Blanding coached the University girls from 2015-23 and went 154-40, leading them to semi-state twice. They lost in Class 1A to Vincennes Rivet in 2019 and 2A in 2022 to Linton, who ironically is Saturday’s opponent.
“Our system and how we do things is fit for everybody,” said University head coach Justin Blanding. “They’ve really done a good job. Guys have bought into their roles and they’re ready to step up when they need to.”
Triton Central keyed in on leading scorer Max McComb and held him to five points, so it became a ‘next man up’ mentality and that’s when junior Blake Gray found his way to lead the Blazers in scoring.
“I step up whenever I need to because that’s what I do,” said junior guard Blake Gray. “I’m a team player. I’ll put others first.”
“We got four or five guys that could really score the ball,” said Blanding. “So, we knew somebody was going to do it. We knew they were going to key in on Max, but Blake stepped up.”
Gray did just that and led University with 17 points, along with four steals defensively. Josh Henderson had eight points and Faisal Mohamud scored seven points.
The Blazers have won five straight heading into semi-state and are ‘playing with house money,’ being their first trip this far in the state tournament.
Linton-Stockton has won 31 sectional championships, six regional and three semi-state championships. The Miners have three 2A state runner-up finishes in 2013 to Bowman Academy, 2019 against Andrean and 2023 versus Fort Wayne Blackhawk.
Head coach Matt Britton is 39-11 in his second year at Linton-Stockton and 274-122 overall in 16 seasons at West Washington, Bloomfield and South Spencer. Britton led Bloomfield to the 1A state championship game in 2016, finishing as runner-up to Liberty Christian.
The Miners have quality wins over No. 4 Parke Heritage, Bloomfield, Cascade, Wayne (W. Va), Marshall (Ill.) and Providence.
Last week’s regional win over Providence was the sixth in their program history. The Miners are in search of their fourth semi-state title.
There are no statistics available for Linton-Stockton available on maxpreps.com.
Be the first to comment on "Semi-state preview, Class 2A at Washington: University Trailblazers"