By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Healthy Trailblazers are happy Trailblazers. Not to mention winning Trailblazers.
The University girls basketball team is enjoying having everyone back on the team, and the result is a current three-game winning streak. The ‘Blazers stretched that string to three with a 65-28 win over Muncie Burris Thursday at the “U” Center.
“The biggest thing is we’re healthy now,” said UHS coach Justin Blanding. “We got everybody back. We still got one kid we’re waiting on, but we got everybody back and so practices have been more productive. We’ve been able to have some good practices. Kids are stepping up. We feel good where we are right now.”
University had control of its game with the Owls from the beginning. The Trailblazers led 15-7 after the first quarter, then blasted through the second period on their way to a 37-11 lead. University never allowed Burris more than nine points in a quarter. The win improved the ‘Blazers to 8-2 for the season.
Haley Tomlinson led UHS with 16 points, including 10 in the second period. Tomlinson stepped in for the ‘Blazers when Brooke Andrus was out. Blanding made sure that Tomlinson was aware that she had to be ready to come in at any time and play any role.
“She’s been very valuable to us,” said Blanding.
Now that Andrus is back, she’s been contributing as well. Andrus scored 12 points, draining two 3-pointers along the way. Lindsey Syrek and Natalie Nickless both added 11 points, with Nickless making three 3s.
Hallie Harrison had several solid defensive plays for University.
“She’s a part of our rotation defensively,” said Blanding. “Those are kids that we were missing in some of the losses, but now we’re back. So we feel pretty good.”
University has had several lopsided victories this season, but that has allowed Blanding to put in several players that otherwise wouldn’t get much playing time. Blanding said that’s important for players to get game experience “so when it does come to a point where we’re in some foul trouble, or there’s some adversity in a game, I know that they can go in there and produce for us,” said the coach.
The Trailblazers’ Thursday game was a Pioneer Conference game, and the win made University 2-0 in the PAAC’s North Division. The ‘Blazers are 2-0 so far with two games left to go: They will play at Liberty Christian on Saturday, then take on Seton Catholic on Dec. 21 in a girl-boy doubleheader at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Pioneer North teams will then have a playoff game with their respective Pioneer South teams in January to determine the conference champion.
University’s Hallie Harrison plays defense as Muncie Burris’ Julia Blalock tries to inbound the ball during the Trailblazers’ Thursday game at the “U” Center.
(Richie Hall)