The REPORTER
University came up short in defense of its Sectional 42 championship falling to Cardinal Ritter 71-56.
The Trailblazers never led in the game as Ritter scored the first six points. University trailed 8-7 before Ritter scored the next five points. Jaxen Bennett’s tip in at the buzzer cut the lead to 13-9. The Raiders scored the first seven points of the second quarter to open up a 20-9 lead. University closed to 22-17 after a Blake Gray three pointer and a Faisal Mohamud bucket off a Noah Cortez steal. Ritter closed the half on a 8-2 run to open up a 30-19 halftime lead.
Ritter continued to take control by scoring the first seven points of the half and held a 46-27 lead with 52 seconds left in the third quarter. University scored ten points in the last 44 seconds to cut the lead to 46-37. Gray made a foul shot, Cortez had a three pointer and added two foul shots. Josh McGee added a free throw and added a three-point play off a Bennett steal.
After a Raider basket, Cooper Cammack scored to cut the lead to 48-39, but Ritter scored the next 10 points. The Trailblazers made one more run. Mohamud scored and Gray converted a steal before Mohamud’s basket and a Cortez foul shot made it 62-52 before Ritter closed it out.
McGee led University with 21 points before fouling out. Mohamud added 15.
University made just 2 of 23 three-point attempts, well below their season average of 35 percent.
Cammack had a team-high eight rebounds with McGee pulling in five and Cortez four. Mohamud had a team-high four steals.
Semifinal win
University advanced to the championship with a 66-55 win over Covenant Christian. The Trailblazers trailed for only 24 seconds of the contest but were unable to put the Warriors away until the final two minutes.
Mohamud led a balanced attack with 16 points while Cortez, McGee and Gray each scored 15. University made 22 of 25 free throws, including 14 of 16 in the fourth quarter. Cortez and McGee each made all eight of their foul shots.
University led 28-23 at halftime with McGee leading with nine points. A Mohamud three pointer opened up an eight-point lead at 31-23, but the Warriors battled back to take a 39-38 lead. Gray’s three-point play put the Blazers back on top for good at 41-39 with 3:24 left. University led 46-40 after three quarters.
Two Mohamud free throws and a Cortez basket put the lead at 50-40 before six straight Warrior points. Mohamud scored off Gray steal and University led 53-46. The teams went scoreless for nearly two minutes before Cortez made two free throws at the 2:33 mark as the Blazers closed out the game at the line.
Cammack had 12 rebounds, McGee had seven and Gray five. McGee, Gray and Mohamud each handed out four assists.
Seniors Cammack and Gray left their mark on University’s all-time lists. Cammack is second in career rebounds with 465. Gray finishes in the top four of four categories: third in points (883), fourth in assists (197), second in steals (135) and second in three pointers made (465).
University finished the season with a 17-9 record, the Blazers 14th winning record in the last 15 seasons.
