By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – After an emotional start to its Senior Night game, the University girls basketball team took care of business.
The Class 2A No. 10 Trailblazers overcame a shaky first quarter to roll past Tri-West 71-43 at the U Center on Thursday. The Bruins led early, but University took control of the game in the second quarter, then cruised through the second half to get its 11th consecutive victory.
Right before the game, the ‘Blazers honored their five seniors, Kelsey DuBois, Payton Seay, Jordan Patterson, Kamryn Washington and Reva Allam.
“We’re probably one of the most accomplished groups ever to come through University,” said Seay. “So, everything just came back tonight. It was just super emotional for me, but right now we’re preparing for the tournament.”
P. Seay
“This senior class has been through a lot,” said University coach Justin Blanding. “They were fortunate in a way because they came in right away, they were able to play and get on the court.”
The senior class had to deal with COVID during its sophomore year, which resulted in several missed game – “COVID messed us up for two and a half years,” said Blanding. “They’re a special group. They’ve actually been robbed some games, almost half a season. So, I’m just proud of them for everything they’ve been through and how they’ve stepped up. It’s just everything they’ve been through.”
The game began with Tri-West’s Ava Sullivan (who was presented flowers from the ‘Blazers before the game in recognition of her senior year), hitting a 3-pointer, which DuBois answered with her own 3. The Bruins’ Regan Canada then made a triple, and Tri-West held the lead for the remainder of the quarter, at one point leading 10-3.
University slowly got back into the game, and cut the Bruins’ advantage to 16-12 by the end of the period. Seay scored the last basket of the quarter on a putback, and that would be the start of a 14-0 run for the Trailblazers.
“We just had to get on them a little bit about doing certain things, doing things the right way,” said Blanding. “And then from that point, we were a lot better in the second quarter, all the way through to the fourth.”
Seay completely took over the game in that second period, pouring in 13 points. She made the first two baskets of the quarter to tie the game, then DuBois hit a pair of free throws with 6:18 left in the period to put the ‘Blazers up 18-16, and in the lead for good.
Washington
The run continued with Patterson scoring off a steal, then DuBois and Keira Bright made layins. That put University up 24-16. The Bruins kept close and were still within 26-23 late in the quarter, but the Trailblazers skipped off on another 12-0 run, and led 38-23 at halftime. Seay scored seven points in that run.
“Everyone’s family is in here and stuff, and all the Senior Night antics, everyone’s all ramped up and stuff,” said Seay. “But we were able to get our composure and eventually break away third quarter.”
University continued to extend its lead in the third quarter, outscoring Tri-West 22-10. Patterson stepped up with seven points in that quarter, including back-to-back baskets. DuBois also added seven points, finishing the period with a 3.
The fourth quarter saw one more Trailblazers run, a 6-0 stretch to get them up 66-34. Taylor Seay also scored four points on consecutive layins late in the quarter as well.
In all, four University players reached double figures, led by Payton Seay’s 21 points. DuBois reached double-double status with 20 rebounds and 19 points, and also dished out four assists. Payton Seay had eight rebounds. Patterson finished with 13 points and four assists, Taylor Seay totaled 10 points and five rebounds, and Washington made four steals.
The Trailblazers are 17-4 and finish their regular season Saturday with an afternoon game at Tipton.
UNIVERSITY 71, TRI-WEST 43
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 7-14 3-6 19 1
Kamryn Washington 1-4 0-3 2 2
Payton Seay 10-15 0-1 21 2
Reva Allam 0-4 0-1 0 1
Jordan Patterson 5-7 2-2 13 1
Keira Bright 2-6 0-0 5 2
Taylor Seay 4-8 2-4 10 2
Alex Feeney 0-1 1-2 1 2
Anyah Jordan-Turley 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 29-59 8-19 71 13
Score by Quarters
Tri-West 16 7 10 10 – 43
University 12 26 22 11 – 71
University 3-point shooting (5-14) DuBois 2-3, P. Seay 1-4, Bright 1-2, Patterson 1-1, Allam 0-3, T. Seay 0-1.
University rebounds (42) DuBois 20, P. Seay 8, T. Seay 5, Washington 3, Patterson 3, Jordan-Turley 1, Allam, Feeney 1.