Senior night spoiled

FEB. 24, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

On senior night, in front of just 50 fans, the Blazers suffered one of their toughest losses of the year, 58-56 to the Wheaton Knights. After matching Wheaton point for point throughout the game, the Blazers saw the game slip away in the closing seconds.

Before the game, the seniors lined up on the baseline with parents and received flowers from Coach Dale Miller in appreciation for their contributions to the team. The night featured an all-senior lineup. The boys started the game with plenty of intensity, getting good looks and converting shots, including a pair of big threes, one from forward Charles Atakora and one from guard Darryl Hall.

The game was tight throughout. The first quarter ended in a 20-20 tie after a flurry of offensive production from both ends of the floor. The Knights led at halftime, 36-33. By the end of the third quarter the Blazers were on top by a score of 49-44, but a collapse in the final period, in which Blair scored just seven points to 14 for Wheaton, killed the team's chances.

"A basketball game is four quarters long," said Assistant Coach Tony Murray. "You can't play three quarters of good basketball and expect to win."

This final game of the season brings the Blazers' record to 7-13 and the team will enter the playoffs on Friday as the number nine seed in Division 4A West. The seedings, below the top four teams in each division, are picked randomly. Blair has drawn a matchup with seventh-seeded Gaithersburg, whom the Blazers lost a close match to earlier in the season.

Murray is realistic about the team's chances. "If we can play four quarters of basketball in the playoffs, we can go to Comcast [Center, where the state championships are held]. But if we bring Friday what we brought today, we'll get the same result. And why start [playing complete games] now?" he said.

Blair will play at Gaithersburg this Friday, Feb. 27. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m.