Tuesday afternoon the University boys basketball team ascended to the top spot in the Associated Press Indiana Class 1A rankings for the first time in school history. Thursday night the Trailblazers successfully defended that ranking, grinding out a 44-31 road win over a methodical Indianapolis Lutheran team.
Foster Flamion had 12 points to lead University. Zack Hodgin and Ethan Sickels added eight each with David Howard adding seven and Josh Watson five as University’s five senior starters combined for 40 of the team’s 44 points.
The first quarter saw strong defense, long possessions and missed shots. University missed all five of their first quarter 3-pointers, but had a 6-5 lead after the first on a pair of Hodgin baskets on the low block and Watson’s two handed dunk off a steal near center court.
Lutheran scored the first five points of the second quarter for a 10-6 lead before University put together a decisive 15-2 run over a four minute span. Eyal Friedman drove the lane for a basket before finding Howard open for a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers the lead for good at 11-10. Howard hit Sickels for an open three for a 14-10 advantage. After a Saints basket, Howard scored again then Friedman found Sickels for a layup and a 3-pointer and a 21-10 lead.
Hodgin had a steal that led to an old-fashioned 3-pointer. Another Hodgin steal led to a Howard basket before Flamion’s rebound hoop at the buzzer gave University 22 points in the quarter and a 28-16 halftime lead.
The second half returned to deliberate offenses and strong defense. Flamion had all eight University points in the third quarter as the Blazers led 36-26 at the end of the period. A 7-0 spurt to open the fourth ended all doubt for University. Friedman again drove for a basket, Flamion made a pair of foul shots and Howard hit a 3-pointer off a touch pass from Hodgin.
“We played well tonight against a deliberate team” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Foster (Flamion) gave us a big spark on the offensive glass tonight.”
University improves to 13-1 while Lutheran fell to 3-14. Riley Watson led the Saints with a game high 13 points.
The Trailblazers are next in action Tuesday night against Indianapolis International. Varsity tip at The U Center is 7:30 p.m.
University 44, Lutheran 31
University FG FT TP PF
David Howard 3 0-0 7 3
Ethan Sickels 3 0-0 8 1
Foster Flamion 4 4-5 12 1
Josh Watson 2 0-0 5 0
Zack Hodgin 3 2-5 8 4
Quinn Steiner 0 0-0 0 0
Eyal Friedman 2 0-0 4 1
Totals 17 6-10 44 10
Score by Quarters
University 6 22 8 8 – 44
Lutheran 5 11 10 5 – 31
University 3-pointers (4) Sickels 2, Howard, Watson.