It was a cold night outside The U Center Tuesday, but it was raining 3-pointers inside as the top ranked Class 1A team in Indiana, the University Trailblazers, made a season-high 15 long distance shots in rolling to a 88-62 win over The International School of Indiana Gryphons.
The Blazers shot 67 percent from the field, including 58 percent on 3-pointers in racking up a season high point total. Senior David Howard led the way with 24 points and six 3-pointers. University had four others in double figures. Josh Watson had 16 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting with four 3-pointers. Ethan Sickels had a pair of 3-pointers in his 14-point effort. Max Greenamoyer came off the bench for a trio of 3-pointers in a 42-second span and 11 points while Foster Flamion had 11 on perfect 5-for-5 shooting.
“It’s definitely about as good as we can shoot it,” said UHS coach Brandon Lafferman. “It came from ball movement and guys sharing the ball and playing unselfish.”
Zack Hodgin pulled down a team high nine rebounds and dealt eight assists as University improved to 13-0 all time against International.
“It’s been the recipe all season is seniors get us going and everybody else comes in and does their job,” said Lafferman. “I thought we did a really good job on guarding Mawich (Kachjaani) most of the game. International made a good job making some shots, but the energy was definitely huge.”
The teams traded baskets early before the first of three consecutive three pointers from Howard gave University the lead for good at 8-5. Howard’s fourth triple of the opening quarter came at the buzzer as the Blazers led 19-15 after one.
The Blazers opened up a 40-24 halftime lead as Watson heated up in the second quarter making three triples in period. University stretched the lead to 23 midway through the period and cruised home with a 27-point fourth quarter.
The 6-11 Kachjaani led the Gryphons with 22, just off his 23.3 average. International falls to 8-10.
The Trailblazers continue their busy week Friday by hosting Covenant Christian before travelling to Greenwood Christian Saturday in the Pioneer championship game. Game time Saturday has been moved up to 4 p.m. due to the University girls participation in the 1A Regional tournament at Southwestern (Shelbyville).
University 88, International 62
University FG FT TP PF
David Howard 9-15 0-0 24 2
Quinn Steiner 0-1 0-0 0 0
Ethan Sickels 6-11 0-0 14 1
Foster Flamion 5-5 1-1 11 2
Eyal Friedman 1-2 0-0 2 1
Nate Shatowski 0-0 2-2 2 1
Max Greenamoyer 4-4 0-0 11 1
Josh Watson 6-6 0-0 16 1
Zack Hodgin 2-5 2-3 6 2
Eric Major 1-2 0-0 2 2
Totals 34-51 5-6 88 13
Score by Quarter
International 15 9 20 18 – 62
University 19 21 21 27 – 88
University 3-point shooting (15-26) Howard 6-11, Watson 4-4, Greenamoyer 3-3, Sickels 2-7, Steiner 0-1.
University rebounds (18) Hodgin 8, Flamion 4, Sickels 2, Watson 2, Howard 1, Friedman 1.
University’s Zack Hodgin (31) and Quinn Steiner (11) set up the defense during the Trailblazers’ game with International Tuesday at the U Center. Class 1A No. 1 University beat the Gryphons 88-62. Pictured in the background are David Howard (5) and Foster Flamion (15). (Richie Hall)