The Indianapolis Metropolitan Pumas used a dominating second quarter to gain control of the game and go on to a 39-33 win over University in the Sectional 58 championship game.
University jumped out to a 9-4 lead after the first quarter behind five points from Joe Martin. The 9-4 lead on a rebound basket by Jacob Sager turned out to be the largest University lead of the game.
The Pumas held University to just two points in the second quarter, a Joe Martin layup midway through the period. Metropolitan scored 11 points in the period and took a 15-11 halftime lead.
University kept closing the margin in the third quarter, pulling within one on a Sager basket with one second left.
The Blazers regained the lead at 24-23 on the first possession of the fourth quarter but the Pumas answered with a Joseph Matticx jumper to gain a lead they never relinquished.
University had one last run to get within 31-29 with 3:02 left when Sam Mervis scored off a steal However Noah Jordan made a free throw and Derek Anderson made a basket and the Pumas maintained at least a two possession lead the rest of the game
“Congratulations to Metro. They deserved to win tonight “ said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Met made timely shots and played good defense. They made a few more plays than we did. Met has a good chance to win at regional next week”
University ends the season with a 21-5 record, the Blazers third 20-win season in the last four.
Metropolitan 39, University 33
University FG FT TP PF
Jacob Sager 4-5 1-5 9 4
Joe Martin 4-12 0-0 9 4
Camden Brown 3-4 2-3 8 2
Sam Mervis 2-8 0-0 5 3
Max Greenamoyer 1-7 0-0 2 2
Eric Major 0-1 0-1 0 1
Nate Shatkowski 0-5 0-0 0 1
Quinn Steiner 0-1 0-0 0 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 0-0 0-0 0 0
Eyal Friedman 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 14-43 3-9 33 18
Score by Quarters
University 9 2 11 11 – 33
Metropolitan 4 11 8 16 – 39
University 3-point shooting (2-16) Martin 1-3, Mervis 1-2, Greenamoyer 0-5, Shatkowski 0-3, Brown 0-1, Major 0-1, Steiner 0-1.
University rebounds (27) Martin 6, Brown 4, Shatkowski 4, Sager 3, Mervis 3, Greenamoyer 3, Major 3, Ash-Simpson 1.