RM edges Blazer boys

JAN. 16, RICHARD MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL –

Despite a comeback late in the fourth quarter, the Blair boys' basketball team fell to the Richard Montgomery Rockets 61-57. The Blazers have now lost three of their first four games in the new year.

At the beginning of the game, Blair seemed completely unstoppable. In the first three minutes of the game, the Blazers jumped to a 10-0 lead. Eight of those points were scored by senior guard Perry Smith, who had 16 total points for the game. Unfortunately, Blair was unable to keep this lead because of poor perimeter defense. Rockets' guard Moe Martin hit 3 three-pointers in the first quarter, the third of which put Richard Montgomery ahead 17-16 at the end of the first. They would lead by the same margin at the half, 26-25.

In the second half, the Blazers were able to adjust to the outside game, but were unable to maintain their defense on the interior. While the Rockets missed all four of their three-point attempts, Richard Montgomery center Steve Weedon dominated the inside. Weedon scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the third quarter, helping the Rockets lead by as much as seven. Blair was able to cut the lead to one late in the third, but a buzzer beating three-pointer by Rockets' guard Kevon Calhoun shifted momentum strongly in Richard Montgomery's favor.

In the fourth, the Blazers fell behind again, but with one minute left, they launched one final comeback. With Blair down by seven, forward Michael Smith made a lay-up to cut the lead to five. During the next Rocket possession, guard Rashad Tollonge made the steal and scored on the fast break, cutting the lead to 58-55. Unfortunately for Blair, they would never get any closer for the rest of the game and went on to lose 61-57.

The varsity boys' basketball team will play again on Fri., Jan. 23, at 5:15 p.m. The game will be at Damascus against the Hornets, a team that they beat earlier in the season by the score of 65-60.