Blair girls’ basketball falters against Henry Wise Pumas

On Friday, Dec. 6, the Blair girls’ varsity basketball team lost to the Henry Wise Pumas in Blair's season home opener, ending 50-36 in the Pumas’ favor. In the first half, the Blazers maintained a slim lead, but over the course of the second half, the Pumas took the lead.

The game started with a powerful back-and-forth from both teams, each rushing between strong offensive attempts and solid defenses. A minute after the starting whistle, Blair senior Abby Greenberg scored the first basket of the game with a mid-range jump shot. The Pumas made multiple close shots, but the Blazers blocked their attempts and maintained a comfortable 9-4 lead for most of the first quarter. In the final minutes of the quarter, the Pumas scored twice, resulting in Blair only holding a one point lead.

Season Opener - Emma Acquoi

Photo: Senior Emma Acquoi executes a challenging shot under defensive pressure.

Senior Emma Acquoi executes a challenging shot under defensive pressure. Photo courtesy of Zach Carter.

The Blazers started the second quarter with a strong defensive performance. Through free throws, Blair soon developed a six point lead. With two minutes left on the clock until halftime, the Pumas scored twice in a row, cutting the lead to three points.

Despite Blair's lead at halftime, the Pumas did not back down. Within three minutes into the second half, the Pumas took the lead for the first time in the game. Over the next minute, both teams scored, bringing the score to 23-22 in Wise's favor. However, the gap only widened as the Pumas continued to score. The third quarter ended with a nine-point lead for the Pumas.

Season Opener - Lauren Mayn

Photo: Senior Lauren Mayn drives to the basket.

Senior Lauren Mayn drives to the basket. Photo courtesy of Zach Carter.

Going into the fourth quarter, Greenberg scored an impressive three-pointer. The Pumas responded by increasing their defensive presence, intercepting many of the Blazers’ subsequent shots. The Blazers made a coordinated effort to close the gap, but could not overcome the Pumas's strong defense. In the final seconds of the game, the Pumas scored again, widening the lead to 14 points. The game ended with a final score of 50-36 in the Pumas' favor.

Sophomore Nicole Ivcevich was proud of her team's performance during the first half. “We came out immediately, especially in the first half, and we had a lead, and we were doing a really good job executing our offense and what we had planned in practice." She added that the Pumas were a tough team to play against. “They’re one of the best teams in Prince George's County. They’re very, very talented,” she explained.

Ivcevich also commented on what she thought went wrong in the second half. “We have had an issue in the past where, once we hit the third quarter, we have a third quarter slump… And then on top of that, we didn’t score very much in that whole quarter. And I think that made some people second guess themselves a little bit,” she said.

However, Ivcevich is still hopeful about the team’s upcoming games. “We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and I think we have really good team chemistry, which is gonna carry us… I think we're gonna have a very successful season."

The Blazers will take on the Rockville Rams (home) on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets can be found here.