By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The University boys basketball team began a busy week in the best way possible: with an easy win.
The Trailblazers hosted Eminence Tuesday at the U Center and sailed a 78-21 victory. University only needed 70 seconds to score its first seven points. The Eels got on the board after that, but it was merely a speed bump for the ‘Blazers, who led 29-6 after one quarter.
Cooper Cammack had nine points in that opening quarter, with Blake Gray scoring eight and Max McComb getting six. University allowed Eminence only two points at the end of the period while scoring 13 of its own and enjoyed a 42-8 halftime lead.
The Eels’ Jonathan Myers scored the first basket of the second half, but McComb answered with a bucket, then Robert Russell’s jumper put University up 46-10 and initiated a running clock around the 6:45 mark of the third quarter. Those points began a 17-0 run for the Trailblazers, who led 65-15 by the end of the quarter.
“After Saturday at Heritage Christian, we fell apart in the third quarter and the kids had been harping on that,” said University coach Justin Blanding. “They were just anxious to get back on the court.”
Everybody got on the court for the Trailblazers, who had 16 players see game time. Nine of those players scored, led by McComb with 15 points. Cammack earned a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Blake Gray added 10 points.
Faisal Mohamud scored nine points and dished out four assists. Bryce Gray did a little bit of everything, with seven points, seven assists and six rebounds. University had 22 team steals; Russell got five steals, while McComb and Cammack had four each. Montgomery Holland blocked two shots.
The Trailblazers are 10-7 and are gearing up for a back-to-back sequence with two road games Thursday and Friday. University plays at Indianapolis Lutheran on Thursday, then travels to either Bethesda Christian or Park Tudor on Friday for the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championship game.
The ‘Blazers are the PAAC North Division champions with a 4-0 record. Bethesda currently leads the South Division with a 3-0 record, but has one more game to play, against Greenwood Christian on Thursday. Park Tudor finished South play at 3-1.
“Both teams are very, very good between either Bethesda or Park Tudor,” said Blanding. “At this point, we’re treating it like it’s the tournament. We’re mimicking that, just one game at a time. And then playing the next day and not knowing who you’re going to play. So, a lot of it is just going to be playing basketball and you don’t really have a lot of time to prep.”
UNIVERSITY 78, EMINENCE 21
University FG FT TP PF
Jackson Bledsoe 3-3 0-0 6 0
Blake Gray 4-7 0-0 10 1
Max McComb 6-9 1-2 15 1
Faisal Mohamud 4-9 0-0 9 1
Cooper Cammack 5-6 2-3 12 0
Bryce Gray 3-7 0-0 7 0
Zien Bland 0-0 0-0 0 0
Robert Russell 4-11 0-2 8 0
Montgomery Holland 3-6 2-2 8 2
Jalen Scott 1-2 1-2 3 0
David Walz 0-0 0-0 0 0
DJ Willis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Joe Rozembajgier 0-0 0-0 0 0
Leslie Carroll 0-0 0-0 0 0
Hayden Hyde 0-1 0-0 0 0
Phil Berebitsky 0-0 0-0 0 1
Totals 33-61 6-11 78 6
Score by Quarters
Eminence 6 2 7 6 – 21
University 29 13 23 13 – 78
University 3-point shooting (6-17) Bl. Gray 2-5, McComb 2-4, Br. Gray 1-3, Mohamud 1-3, Russell 0-1, Holland 0-1.
University rebounds (35) Cammack 10, Br. Gray 6, McComb 4, Bland 3, Russell 3, Holland 3, Bl. Gray 2, Walz 1, Bledsoe 1, Mohamud 1, Scott 1.