A battle of top five teams lived up to its billing Saturday afternoon at The U Center as Class 2A No. 5 Tipton landed the last blow in a slugfest with Class 2A No. 4 University to come away with a 45-42 victory.
The contest featured eight ties and seven lead changes. The largest lead of the game was five (by each team) and it was a one possession game for 29 of the 32 minutes. The Lady Devils’ Ashley Schram made three foul shots in the last 47 seconds to break a 42-42 tie to give Tipton the hard earned triumph.
Schram had a game-high 20 points for Tipton. University was led by Payton Seay with 15 points and nine rebounds and Patty Chikamba with 10 points and five steals.
The first quarter saw three ties and three lead changes with University taking a 13-11 lead at the end of the period on a buzzer beating three pointer by Seay from the top of the key. The teams were scoreless for the first 2:45 of the second quarter before Tipton tied the score. University scored five quick points to take a 18-13 lead with 4:05 left in the half. Kelsey DuBois scored off a Kamryn Washington assist, then DuBois scored again and was fouled. DuBois was forced to exit the game temporarily due to an injury and Chikamba entered and made the foul shot to complete the three point play. Tipton scored the last eight points of the half to take a 21-18 halftime lead.
Tipton opened the third quarter with a pair of five-point leads before University battled back in the game. Rebound baskets by Seay and Chikamba pulled University within 26-24. Chikamba hit a three pointer for a 27-26 lead and Payton Seay completed an eight point University run with an old fashioned three point play and a 30-26 lead with 3:04 left in the period.
The Lady Devils punched back to take a 31-30 lead before Payton Seay found Jordan Patterson for a basket that gave University a 32-31 lead after three quarters.
Payton Seay made a pair of free throws just five seconds in to the final period for a 34-31 University lead. Chikamba picked up her fourth foul on the next possession and Tipton scored six straight points, taking a lead of 37-34 after Schram had a basket followed by two foul shots. The Blazers knotted to score on a Jordan Patterson three pointer with 4:10 left. Patterson scored off a pass from Emily Adamowicz after a Chikamba defensive rebound.
Schram scored to put Tipton back up 39-37 before Seay answered with a basket from the foul line area to knot the game at 39 with 2:42 left. Schram gave Tipton a 41-39 lead with 1:53 remaining. DuBois and Tipton’s Ella Wolfe each made one of two foul shots before Seay tied the game at 42 with 47 seconds left off a pass from Adamowicz.
Schram made on of two foul shots with 35 seconds remaining. University turned the ball over on a cut to the basket with 13 seconds. Schram was fouled with 7.2 seconds left and made both foul shots. The Trailblazers got off a three point shot that fell off the rim as time expired.
Tipton won the game at the foul line, outscoring University by ten points at the charity stripe. Schram was 8 of 14 at the foul line with the Lady Devils making just 15 of 29 free throws. University was 5 of 8 from the line.
Tipton ends the regular season at 19-4. University finishes at 18-4. The Blazers will open Sectional 43 action Tuesday night at Western Boone against Class 2A No. 9 Cascade at 7 p.m. The Cadets will bring a 18-4 record in to the contest.
TIPTON 45, UNIVERSITY 42
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 3-5 1-2 7 5
Patty Chikamba 4-8 1-2 10 4
Kamryn Washington 0-5 0-0 0 2
Payton Seay 6-17 2-2 15 4
Jordan Patterson 2-8 0-0 5 4
Emily Adamowicz 1-1 0-0 2 2
Taylor Seay 1-2 1-1 3 2
Totals 17-46 5-7 42 23
Score by Quarters
Tipton 11 10 10 14 – 45
University 13 5 14 10 – 42
University 3-point shooting (3-15) P. Seay 1-5, Patterson 1-5, Chikamba 1-3, Washington 0-1, T. Seay 0-1.
University rebounds (23) P. Seay 9, Chikamba 5, DuBois 4, Adamowicz 3, Washington 2.