Winning streak reaches 11 for boys' basketball

JAN 25, 2002, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

Einstein High School's big men outmuscled Blair's undersized frontcourt and became the first team to outrebound the Blazers all season. But Blair (14-2, 9-0) countered the Titans' inside play with its stellar backcourt and disciplined press to win its 11th consecutive game, 73-59.

Einstein (4-8) had a significant height advantage over the Blazers, and as their 32-22 rebounding edge attests, the Titans hit the offensive glass hard, scoring many of their points on second and third chance putbacks. But the persistent Blazers stuck to what has worked all season - forcing turnovers through the press, running the fast break effectively and keeping the ball in the hands of the triple threat, composed of seniors Ellis Yeadon, Cyril Djoukeng, and Chijioke Anyanwu.

Yeadon, a third-year varsity player who leads the team in points per game, scored a career-high 26 points, including 15 of the Blazers' 20 first quarter points. Yeadon's offense came primarily from his deadly midrange jump shot, which he nailed consistently, even with a man in his face. However, Blair's first quarter success did not carry over into the next period. The offense went cold, Yeadon was almost invisible and before the Blazers knew it, Einstein was trailing only 29-28 at halftime.

The teams traded baskets for the second half's opening minutes, but that is where the Blair press took over. The Blazers have employed two different press at various points in the game all season long. The "Diamond" press, in which Blair traps the first man to receive the ball in the backcourt, is by far the more aggressive of the two. But against Einstein, the sophisticated 2-2-1 press worked magic.

"[The 2-2-1 press] is more laid back," said Djoukeng, the point guard who was tied for the team lead in steals with three. "We put a little bit of pressure, but we force them to turn the ball over because they are thinking too much, making bad decisions." Djoukeng also orchestrated the offense almost flawlessly, rarely turning the ball over. He had a season-high ten assists to go along with seven rebounds and seven points.

While the Blazers can now celebrate their remarkable winning streak and the near certainty that they will win the regular season 4A/3A East Division Title, there is still a concern that the County's big, talented teams like Quince Orchard and Magruder high schools – the only two schools to beat Blair this season – will be too much for Blair to handle. Head Coach Jeff Newby mentioned those two schools as the teams he is most worried about come playoff time and said his team will have start improving its rebounding.