Blazer boys control Gaithersburg from start to finish

JAN 11, 2002, GAITHERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL -

Blair's senior guard Ellis Yeadon drained one of his signature mid-range jump shots in the game's first minute to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead. That two-point deficit for Blair's opponent, Gaithersburg High School, was the closest the Trojans would ever get, as Blair (9-2, 6-0) went on to overpower the up-county school, 77-55, for the second time in two weeks.

Gaithersburg (3-8) is not in Blair's division, but the victory was especially sweet because nearly one year ago the Trojans milked the clock all game long and eliminated the more talented Blazer squad from the playoffs at Kobren Gymnasium.

This season's Trojan squad does not employ a stalling offense and the Blazers have taken advantage of mismatches both times the two teams have faced off. Their previous game on Dec 28 in the final of the Outback Holiday Tournament concluded with a nearly identical 75-54 score, also in favor of Blair.

The Blazers continually hustled down the court in transition and managed to convert nearly every single fast break opportunity into points. Blair jumped out to a 21-8 first quarter lead and led by double digits for the rest of the game.

As he has in the majority of Blair's games this season, Yeadon led the team in scoring with 20 points, all of which came off of silky smooth drives to the basket and, of course, jump shots.

Senior Cyril Djoukeng was steady as usual running the point. Over his career at Blair, Djoukeng has proven his proficiency at taking his man off the dribble, but against the Trojans he nailed all three of his shots from three-point range and finished with 14 points.

Center Bert Williams, a senior, who has received limited playing time this year for disciplinary reasons, received his first start of the season and responded big time by scoring 14 points, all coming in the paint. Last year, as a sophomore, Williams started some games at center, but before his entrance in the starting lineup this season, the Blazers post-up game had been practically nonexistent, with the offense coming almost entirely from guards.

Blair, undefeated in division play, remains alone atop the 4A/3A East division. However, the team will be extremely busy this upcoming week, playing at home against Kennedy High School on Monday, Jan 14, visiting Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School on Jan 16 and concluding the week with a huge game at home against archrival Springbrook High School on Jan 18.

The Blazers, who defeated Springbrook on the road on Dec 14, 63-51, are the only Montgomery County school to beat the 10-2 Blue Devils this season. Blair needs to win in order to maintain its division lead.