University’s Faisal Mohamud scored 17 points for the Trailblazers during their game with Park Tudor on Wednesday. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – University boys basketball was the hottest ticket in town Wednesday.
The Trailblazers opened their season at the U Center to host Park Tudor in a sold-out game. Fans were getting turned away at the door and it was standing room only – not a spare seat to be found.
Those that got to see the game were treated to a hard-fought contest, where the Panthers held off University 70-65. The Blazers come into the season as last year’s Class 2A state runners-up and were ranked No. 6 in the pre-season poll, while Park Tudor is not ranked, but should be.
“It’s definitely going to be one of those out sell-out type games,” said University coach Justin Blanding. “We look forward to doing it two more times.”
The Blazers led 6-2 early in the first quarter, with Faisal Mohamud scoring four points and Joshua McGee the other two. Mohamud scored eight points in that opening quarter and a Cooper Cammack layin gave University a 16-13 lead at the end of the period.
Noah Cortez hit a 3-pointer early in the second quarter and the Trailblazers were up 19-17. The Panthers made the game’s first run, a 7-0 spurt to lead 24-19. Keylan Smith made a 3 to put Park Tudor up 29-23, but four University free throws – one from Josh Henderson, the other three from Blake Gray, who was fouled at the last second while attempting a 3-pointer – kept the Blazers within 29-27 at the break.
Henderson nailed a 3 to start the third quarter and gave University a 30-29 lead. Mohamud later made a jumper to tie the game at 32-32.
After that, Park Tudor launched a 21-3 run to go ahead 53-35, the largest lead of the contest. Griffin Robysch made two triples and Asher Arkenau another one during that spurt.
But the Trailblazers came back, making a 15-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters. Cammack finished the third with an and-1, making the score 53-41. Mohamud opened the fourth with two baskets, Gray drilled a 3, Peter Morales made a layin, and University was now within 53-50.
The Panthers surged ahead 61-52 with 2:40 left, then University used a 13-5 run to get within 66-65 with 17.7 seconds on the clock. Cammack scored four points in the spurt and Morales hit a 3, then two McGree layins got the Blazers within one point. But Park Tudor would let University get no closer, going 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the last 15.6 seconds.
“I thought it was a good game,” said Blanding. “For us to play this type of game early is very encouraging.”
Mohamud led the Trailblazers with 17 points, followed by Gray with 12 points and McGee with 10 points.
University returns to action next Wednesday by hosting Herron.
