University is one of the top three point shooting teams in Indiana. The Trailblazers entered Friday night’s Sectional 58 semi-final against Bethesda Christian having made 192 three pointers, the fifth highest total in the IHSAA.
The Trailblazers made just one three pointer against Bethesda Christian, yet University rolled to a 57-35 win over the Patriots.
Junior Joe Martin attacked the rim throughout the game, scoring 19 points and handing out a team high seven assists. Senior Eric Major was the recipient of six of Martin’s assists. Major had 14 points on seven of eight shooting as Martin constantly found Major open on the block.
University never trailed in the game and looked poised to blow the game open in the first half, racing to a 15-4 lead after one period Martin had eight points in the quarter. Major gave the Blazers a 17-4 lead one minute in to the second period, but Bethesda Christian crawled back in the game scoring nine straight points to pull within 17-13 with 4:27 eft in the quarter. Martin answered with a pair of foul shots, Max Greenamoyer drove the lane for a bucket and Jacob Sager scored ahead of the pack after Sam Mervis grabbed a rebound and pushed the ball down the floor.
University led 27-18 at the half and pushed the lead to 40-24 after three quarters after Nate Shatkowski hit the Trailblazers only three pointer of the game with 1:40 left in the quarter. University quickly pushed the lead to 20 points early in the fourth on a pair of Major baskets and cruised to the win.
“We are excited to have a shot to compete for a Sectional title Saturday against a veary talented Indy Metro team” said University coach Brandon Lafferman
The 21-4 Trailblazers will take on Indianapolis Metropolitan at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The U Center for the Sectional 58 championship. The 15-9 Pumas outlasted Traders Point Christian Academy 54-52 in overtime it the second semi-final. The game is a rematch of last year’s sectional championship game, won 44-41 by University.
University 57, Bethesda Christian 35
University FG FT TP PF
Joe Martin 8-12 3-3 19 1
Eric Major 7-8 0-0 14 0
Jacob Sager 3-5 1-3 7 3
Nate Shatkowski 1-4 2-2 5 2
Sam Mervis 2-6 0-1 4 0
Korey Ash-Simpson 2-3 0-0 4 3
Max Greenamoyer 2-2 0-1 4 1
Larry Pierce 0-0 0-0 0 0
Matt Jones 0-0 0-0 0 0
Quinn Steiner 0-2 0-0 0 0
Camden Brown 0-0 0-0 0 1
Eyal Friedman 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 25-42 6-10 57 11
Score by Quarters
University 21 6 13 17 – 57
Bethesda Christian 7 11 6 11 – 35
University 3-point shooting (1-7) Shatkowski 1-3, Steiner 0-2, Martin 0-1, Ash-Simpson 0-1.
University rebounds (26) Shatkowski 5, Martin 4, Mervis 4, Major 3, Sager 3, Ash-Simpson 3, Greenamoyer 2, Brown 2.
University’s Sam Mervis scored four points for the Trailblazers in their sectional semi-final win over Bethesda Christian Friday. (Kirk Green)