By CHUCK GODBY
For The Reporter
CARMEL – It was inevitable. There was simply no way around it.
Someone had to lose.
Two schools that closed out the 2022-23 girls basketball season with a combined total of 20 consecutive wins were matched against each other in the opening game of the University High Sectional Friday night.
It was the host school that extended its streak to 11 wins, stopping Sheridan with a convincing, 77-44 triumph.
The Trailblazers shoot for their third straight sectional title when they face off against Park Tudor in the championship game tonight. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.
Park Tudor eliminated Covenant Christian, 35-24, in Friday’s nightcap.
Sheridan, which entered the tourney with eight wins to close out the regular season, drew first blood in this one. Chaney Smith’s jumper put the Blackhawks in front. Then Sheridan got its first taste of University’s Payton Seay, who drove the baseline for a lay in. Smith nailed another jumper, followed by another drive to the bucket for Seay.
Kenzie Garner scored to give the Hawks the lead back, 6-4, for the final time. The Blazers answered with three straight field goals by Taylor Seay, Jordan Patterson and Payton Seay, taking the lead for good. They extended their advantage to 18-11 at the quarter break, then sailed into halftime up 20, 41-21.
P. Seay
Sheridan partially handcuffed itself with nine first-half turnovers, but it was University’s inside tandem of Payton Seay and Kelsey DuBois that was just too much for the Hawks to handle. The senior pair combined for 42 points on a combined 17-of-23 shooting from the field. Seay had 23 points and six boards, while DuBois had 19 and seven. Jordan Patterson also scored in double digits with 12.
DuBois
“We just try to be efficient, run our offense and keep playing,” said University coach Justin Blanding, in his eighth season. “Experience is also important. They’ve been playing together for a long time.”
While University improved its record to 19 wins and four losses, Sheridan closed the book on a 13-9 season. The Hawks opened the season losing seven of its first 10 games, but caught fire midway through December, winning nine of its last 10.
“This might have been one of the best games they’ve played all year. They are so well coached and so well prepared,” said an obviously disappointed Sheridan coach Jaidlin Bradshaw after her team’s loss. “At the same time, this might have been one of our worst games.”
“Tonight was rough, but I’m still so proud of my girls and the legacy the seniors leave behind because of all the good things they’ve done.”
Garner, just a sophomore, led Sheridan in scoring with 22 points, and Chaney Smith added 13.
“We had to keep an eye on number 12 (Garner),” the University coach pointed out. “She’s a big-time player.”
UNIVERSITY 77, SHERIDAN 44
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 7-9 5-5 19 1
Kamryn Washington 1-3 0-0 2 2
Payton Seay 10-14 3-3 23 2
Taylor Seay 2-2 3-6 7 3
Anyah Jordan-Turley 0-1 0-0 0 2
Reva Allam 0-0 0-0 0 0
Charlotte Conyers 0-0 0-0 0 1
Alex Feeney 1-2 3-3 5 2
Mack Feeney 1-1 2-2 4 0
Keira Bright 2-3 0-0 5 4
Leah Norvell 0-0 0-0 0 1
Jordan Patterson 5-10 1-1 12 1
Totals 29-45 17-20 77 19
University 3-point shooting (2-7) Patterson 1-3, Bright 1-2, P. Seay 0-2.
University rebounds (26) DuBois 7, Washington 6, P. Seay 6, T. Seay 3, Jordan-Turley 1, Allam 1, Conyers 1, M. Feeney 1.
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Lilly Chensey 0-2 0-2 0 1
Ashley Webel 0-1 0-0 0 0
Kenzie Garner 7-17 5-7 22 4
Chaney Smith 5-12 2-2 13 3
Jacquellynne Bates 3-6 0-2 6 2
Nova Cross 0-0 0-0 0 3
Mac Smith 0-1 0-0 0 0
Shelby Eaton 1-4 0-1 3 4
Kennedy Zachary 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 16-43 7-14 44 17
Sheridan 3-point shooting (5-13) Garner 3-6, C. Smith 1-3, Eaton 1-3, Bates 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (19) Chesney 4, Garner 4, C. Smith 4, Bates 3, Cross 2, M. Smith 2.
Score by Quarters
University 18 23 23 13 – 77
Sheridan 11 10 9 15 – 44