A fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the University boys came up short as the Trailblazers dropped a 51-47 season opener to Park Tudor in front of a capacity crowd at The U Center.
Trailing by 13 points after three quarters, University cut the lead to four with five minutes remaining but could get no closer. Joe Martin led the ‘Blazers with 12 points. Sam Mervis had 10 and Max Greenamoyer nine.
University scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to cut Park Tudor’s lead to 41-37, but then went scoreless for the next three minutes as the Panthers built the lead back to 10. Jacob Sager split a pair of foul shots to open the fourth quarter before Greenamoyer hit a pair of 3-pointers, one from each corner. Mervis scored to cut the lead to four.
Trailing by 10 with 63 seconds left, University crawled back to within 49-45 on a rebound tip-in by Martin with 18 seconds left. The Blazers forced a five second count turnover on the inbound, but a corner three rimmed out before the Panthers clinched the game at the free throw line.
University led 23-21 at the half before Park Tudor outscored the Blazers 20-5 in the third period. A 13-0 run by the Panthers spanning the second and third quarters proved decisive.
University is next in action on Saturday evening at home against the Indianapolis Northwest Homeschool Warriors. The Warriors will bring a 4-0 record in to the game and are led by 6-10 center Ryan Segall, who has committed to the defending NCAA Division II champion Ferris State Bulldogs.
The ‘Blazers originally scheduled game with Indianapolis Lutheran has been canceled. Lutheran completed their football season last weekend with a semi-state loss and many of the Saints players will not be able to complete the IHSAA-mandated number of practices before the game.
Park Tudor 51, University 47
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 5 0-0 10 3
Max Greenamoyer 3 0-0 9 2
Jacob Sager 1 2-4 4 4
Camden Brown 1 0-0 2 3
Joe Martin 4 2-3 10 1
Eyal Friedman 1 3-4 5 0
Korey Ash-Simpson 1 0-0 3 0
Quinn Steiner 0 0-0 0 0
Nate Shatkowski 2 0-0 4 1
Totals 18 7-11 47 14
Score by Quarters
Park Tudor 13 8 20 10 – 51
University 13 10 5 19 – 47
University 3-pointers (4) Greenamoyer 3, Ash-Simpson 1.