University’s Nyla Blanding (center) is one of three freshmen that played for the Trailblazers during their season-opening game against Lapel on Thursday. At right (#32) is Leah Norvell, one of the seniors on University’s team. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
The University girls basketball team began its season with a tough assignment Thursday at the U Center.
The Trailblazers took on Lapel, a team which received votes in the Class 2A pre-season poll. University fought hard against the Bulldogs and their Butler-bound star Laniah Willis before falling 54-33.
This year’s Blazers team is a mix of six seniors, five freshmen and one junior. Third-year University coach Lisa Pryor said the three freshmen that played “stepped up and did the things that we asked them to do. I saw a lot of good things with that.”
Lapel led 14-6 late in the first quarter before the Trailblazers cut the lead to 14-11 going into the second quarter. The Bulldogs began to pull away in the second to take a 32-20 halftime lead, then extended that advantage to 50-26 after three periods.
Seniors Sydney and Gabby Culp led the way in the first half. Sydney scored 10 points, including one 3-pointer in both the first and second quarters. Gabby added six points on her way to a team-leading 13 points for the game. Gabby Culp scored in every quarter.
Other senior players returning are Leah Norvell and Mack Feeney, who scored five and two points respectively in the game.
“I’m excited to see how they gel with the freshmen and how it all comes together,” said Pryor.
The freshmen are a talented bunch. Nyla Blanding started and scored two points, making a basket in the second quarter. Brooke Henderson, a 6-foot center, played solid minutes, especially in the fourth quarter.
University is a unique team this year, with so many seniors playing with so many freshmen. As a result, Pryor is looking for her seniors to provide leadership for the young Trailblazers.
“I’ve actually given them a lot of that responsibility,” said Pryor. “This is your team. We’re going to go as you want it to go. If you want it to go well, you’re going to do what you need to do to get those girls on the same page as quickly as you can.”
Pryor said those senior players are “learning how to teach people, which I think is going to help them throughout the rest of their lives.”
University is playing a challenging schedule, as over half the teams on the 2A Trailblazers’ game card are 3A or 4A schools. University hosts 4A Lafayette Jefferson at 1 p.m. Saturday, then plays three road games next week, at 3A Danville, 3A Tri-West and 4A Muncie Central.
“It’ll be a true test of character,” said Pryor. “Resilience. How well can we do what we need to and regroup and take care of our bodies and do it again. The hope is, we will have to do that at the end of January, so let’s see what that’s like now.”
