‘Blazers On A High For Martinsville Regional
Published March 8, 2012 | 
2011-12 University High Sectional Champion Trailblazers/HC Sports Daily photo: Jeff Engel.
It’s been a good, productive year for University Trailblazer basketball program.
The girls team won a sectional, and now the boys team has enjoyed some sectional net-cutting of its own, and the Trailblazers (18-4) are headed for the Martinsville Regional, where they’ll meet Edinburgh (21-2) in the opener. Hauser (16-6) vs. Clay City (15-8) in the second game. The championship game tips off at 8 p.m.
Coach Paul Gianakos.
And there’s no reason to believe the journey won’t continue on Saturday. This is a really good University team.
“ I am very happy for the seniors who have poured their heart and soul into the program for the last four years,’’ said second-year coach Paul Gianakos, whose team has improved by leaps and bounds over last year’s 5-17 season.
“In addition, It was a terrific atmosphere on Saturday night. The game was a sellout and we had standing room only. The place was electric and the enthusiasm was overwhelming. It was very exciting to be part of this sectional championship.’’
Hopefully, that was just the start of more electricity and excitement .
University is one victory away from matching the school’s best season record, with a possibility with a of shot at going one better and winning a regional championship.
Gianakos said his players have really bought in all season on what we are trying to do both offensively and defensively.
| Class A | W | L | Off. | Def. | Winning Streak, Misc. |
| Edinburgh | 20 | 2 | 66.1 | 51.2 | 13; ranked No. 11 |
| UNIVERSITY | 18 | 4 | 65.0 | 51.2 | 3; won 7 of last 9; ranked No. 2 |
“The record has been neat for the school as well as the 11-game winning streak and also to be mentioned in the state rankings as well. Also the attention that our school and program has received from the press has been outstanding,” Gianakos said.
“This team gained confidence with our first win of the season against Lutheran and has maintained their confidence all season long. They really trust each other, which is a huge part of our success. The season for me personally has been very rewarding because it shows athletes that if you work hard and are committed and dedicated good things will follow and that is an important life lesson to have.’’
Fans — Young & Old Alike — Cheer On ‘Blazers
Published March 5, 2012 | 
HC Sports Daily photos: Jeff Engel.
University High, Hamilton County’s smallest high school, finished regular-season play ranked No. 11 in the Class A state basketball poll.
The Trailblazers of coach Paul Gianakos enter Saturday’s Martinsville Regional with an 18-4 record.
That’s one victory shy of the school’s all-time mark of 19 victories.
Greg Schellhase coached the Trailblazers to a 19-6 record in the 2005-06 season.
Sectional 8 Basketball Showdown: It’s Class 4A No. 1 Southeastern Vs. No. 4 Carmel At The Mill
Published March 3, 2012 |
Hamilton Southeastern's Jacobby Bledsoe dives for a loose ball against Noblesville. The Royals won 73-65/HC Sports Daily photos: Shawn Barney.
After Carmel lost at Hamilton Southeastern 58-56 on Feb. 9, junior Michael Volovic was pretty straight forward with his thoughts.
Carmel's Michael Volovic pulls up for a close-in shot against Zionsville, which the Greyhounds defeated 57-41/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
“They got us tonight; we’ll get ‘em next time,’’ said Volovic, arguably the state’s top underclassman point guard.
Not cocky, mine you . . . just confident after a good effort.
Well, game on. The battle line is drawn. The next time, the next chance to knock off the Class 4A No. 1 Royals comes tonight.
The Class 4A Sectional 8 championship game could not have provided a more compelling final than top-ranked Hamilton SE and No. 4 Carmel, fierce basketball rivals and both with high hopes of making a trip to the March 10 Marion Regional.
| SECTIONAL 8 TICKETS
Approximately 2,400 go on sale at 6:30 p.m. today at Noblesville HS.
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And both undoubtedly would like to set a course for an even longer journey the following week.
HSE's Gary Harris scores two of his game-high 36 points on this alley-oop play/HC Sports Daily photo: Shawn Barney.
“It’s a challenge and it will take our best game, but if we can get out of the sectional, I think we have a shot at going a long way,’’ said Carmel coach Scott Heady after his Greyhounds (18-4) defeated Zionsville 57-41 in the second game on Friday night in The Mill at Noblesville. “But first we’ve got to take care of business and get out of the sectional.’’
Southeastern coach Brian Satterfield could say the same thing.
Both are without question two of the state’s premiere teams, and the winner should represent Hamilton County and Sectional 8 quite well the rest of the way.
“No matter who you play in this sectional you knew it was going to be a battle. There are some great teams here,’’ said Satterfield, whose Royals (22-2) escaped scrappy and determined Noblesville 73-65. “It could be a battle the rest of the way in the tournament, too. There are a lot of good teams. But it’s all about winning the sectional, and advancing. That’s our mindset.’’
Guerin Catholic, Hamilton Heights, Sheridan, University Shoot For Sectional Titles Tonight
Published March 3, 2012 | Four other Hamilton County schools advanced to championship games today at 7:30 p.m., led by Class 3A No. 10 Guerin Catholic on Friday night.
At Sectional 26 Mt. Vernon
Guerin Catholic defeated Indianapolis Howe Academy 75-55. The Golden Eagles will take on Bishop Chatard, which overpowered parochial rival Brebeuf Jesuit 69-44 in the first game.
Guerin Catholic coach Pete Smith led the Golden Eagles to the school's onl;y sectional basketball in the 2009-10 season. It came in Class 2A. The Golden Eagles will try to get it done in Class A tonight against Bishop Chatard/HC Sports Daily photo: Jon Hartley.
The Golden Eagles (19-5) outscored the athletic Howe squad in every quarter.
“We were focused and did not take them lightly,” said coach Pete Smith. “Howe played very tough, but I was proud that we were not looking past them.”
Aaron Brennan scored 19 points to pace the Golden Eagles. The sophomore also had a game-high 7 rebounds. Center Adam Hufford had 17 points, and Cal Lyons came off the bench to score 11 points, all in the middle two quarters. Whit Rapp had a game-high 10 assists.
Guerin Catholic narrowly defeated Chatard 51-49, having to survive a 3-point shot by the Trojans, for the victory back on Jan. 6.
“Chatard has really played well the past two weeks, and we know we will have to play well to have the chance to beat them. We have to really be sharp offensively and figure out how to defend them better than last time, especially Gardner,” said Smith. Greg Gardner, a 6-5 senior guard who will play at Alabama-Huntsville next season, had 23 second-half points and 25 points for the contest, when the two teams met earlier.
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Sectional Championship Berths On The Line
Published March 1, 2012 | 
Carmel coach Scott Heady goes over some strategy with his Greyhounds in Wednesday's 59-36 victory over Westfield. Heady led the Hounds to a runner-up finish in last year's sectional, losing by four points to Hamilton Southeastern. The Hounds need a semifinal win over Zionsville on Friday to again vie for the Class 4A championship/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
Seven Hamilton County schools will be looking to punch tickets into Saturday’s sectional championship games at five sites on Friday.
Hamilton Heights and Sheridan, who drew first-round byes, make their initial appearances in the tourney.
Coach Pete Smith leads Guerin Catholic into the semifinal round against Howe Academy. Playing a Class 3A schedule for the first time, Smith's Golden Eagles are 18-5. The 18th, which came in the first game of the Mt. Vernon Sectional, is a single-season school record. GCHS won a Class 2A sectional title in the 2009-10 season/file photo.
Sheridan (14-7), which has won six straight games but has not won a sectional since 1983, meets Delphi (14-8) in Class 2A at Fountain Central, while Hamilton Heights (8-12) goes up against Yorktown (15-7) in Class 3A at Muncie, with the winner likely to face second-ranked Muncie Central (17-4) in the final.
Class 3A No. 10 Guerin Catholic (18-5), which won its school-record 18th game in the sectional opener against Sectional 26 host Mt. Vernon on Tuesday, meets Howe Academy. The Golden Eagles, two-point regular-season winners over Bishop Chatard, are likely to meet the Trojans in the final.
2011-12 Tournament
| SECTIONAL SEMIFINALS
The LINEUP: Click on continue reading. |
Guerin Catholic’s lone sectional title came in the 2009-10 season, when the Golden Eagles were in Class 2A.
The semifinal highlight games should be in Class 4A Sectional 8 at The Mill in Noblesville.
Noblesville, which also drew a first-round bye, goes up against No. 1 Hamilton Southwestern (21-2), which defeated the Millers 70-52 back on Dec. 9. The second game pits No.4 Carmel (17-4) against Zionsville (15-6), which fell to the Greyhounds 39-36 on Feb. 4.
Southeastern, the defending sectional champion, is shooting for its third sectional title in four years.
The Royals defeated Carmel 57-53 in last year’s sectional final, coach Scott Heady’s first season at Carmel. The Greyhounds last won a sectional in the 2007-08 season.
As far as other head-to-head comparisons go:
•Should Carmel advance against either Noblesville or Southeastern, the Millers defeated the host Hounds 65-57 in the second game of the season, and lost 58-56 at HSE on Feb. 9.
•Should Zionsville advance: The Eagles lost at Noblesville 59-47 on Jan. 31, and lost at HSE 74-59 on Dec. 16.
Sectional 8 Basketball: 4A No. 4 Greyhounds, Zionsville Have Semifinal Date At The Mill
Published March 1, 2012 |
Carmel's Zach McRoberts watches Ben Gardner soar over Westfield's Wade Burtron while trying to get a loose ball/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
Zionsville coach Shaun Busick didn’t mention any possible thoughts about a revenge factor in Sectional 8, but his Eagles are off to a good start if they are, by chance, trying to make a statement.
The Eagles dealt Fishers its third loss in four overtimes this season, pulling out a 66-64 decision in the second game of the Class 4A sectional at the Mill in Noblesville on Wednesday night.
Zionsville coach Shaun Busick fires up his troops during a timeout. The Eagles defeated Fishers in 66-64 in overtime/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
“It’s difficult to beat a good team twice in the same season,’’ said Fishers coach Joe Leonard, whose Tigers dealt Zionsville a 60-44 blow on Jan. 20. “Last year, they beat us in the regular season and we beat them in the first game of the sectional.’’
Now, the Eagles have earned a rematch with No. 4 Carmel (17-4), a 59-36 winner over Westfield (11-10).
Andrew Dakich (1) seems to anticipating that Fishers' Jon Fleming will turn his way, and hoping he can steal the ball/HC Sports Daily photo: Jeff Engel.
“They (Carmel) are great shooters and great passers and they penetrate so well. They are a scary and talented team.’’ said Busick, whose Eagles (15-6) fell to the Greyhounds in a defensive-tough, 39-36 struggle on Feb. 4, and have since won four straight games.
“It’s going to be a big challenge, but we’re happy to be in the position we’re in . . . happy to still be playing. The kids gave a great effort.’’
The Eagles and Greyhounds meet in the second semifinal on Friday, following the matchup between No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern
(21-2) and Noblesville (13-9).
The victory over Fishers was undoubtedly especially gratifying for Busick, who was without junior Will Dixon, the team’s top scorer.
“He violated team rules right before our final regular-season game. He’s done for the tournament, but hopefully he’ll learn from this,’’ Buisck said while accepting congratulations from well-wishers.
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