Blazers unable to put away Barons

DEC 9, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

One day removed from a 68-19 manhandling of Einstein to open the season, the girls' basketball team looked poised to capture another win against Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) tonight. Unfortunately, the Blazers lost a fourth quarter lead to the Barons en route to a 50-45 loss.

The Blazers were rusty to begin the contest as B-CC scored the game's first eight points. Fortunately, junior Vicky Dean then knocked down a three pointer 4:35 into the game and scored on a breakaway lay-up on the next play. This swung the game's momentum in the Blazer's favor, which it retained for much of the game. Despite the early eight point deficit, Blair was able to take a 27-23 halftime lead.

Coach William Lindsey was pleased with the Blazer turnaround from their poor start and acknowledged the determination of the Barons, who finished 14-11 last year. "I was happy with coming back, establishing the lead and holding on to it, but B-CC wasn't just going to lay down when we came back," he said.

Sophomore center Kate Rassman and senior center Emily Ramsay led the Blazers. Rassman, who displayed her long-range shooting touch, scored a team-high 17 points, nine in the second quarter, to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. Ramsay dominated the paint and recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Ramsay and Rassman also led the Blazers in points in the Einstein game. Early in the second quarter, Rassman made a key three pointer and then stole the ball at midcourt, drove to the hoop and scored an easy lay-up.

The Blazers' shots were falling in their 18 point second quarter. Unfortunately, they were unable to make several crucial second half jump shots. According to Lindsey, Blair was streaky late in the game and had poor shot selection. "Our weakness in the second half was our inconsistency. We went away from inside scoring and took bad outside shots," he said.

The Blazers had trouble keeping out of foul trouble as junior point guard Brittany Higgins and senior power forward Caroline Kuttner each fouled out of the game. The foul trouble hampered these two co-captains and held them to a combined two points and one assist. Also, these fouls put Blair in the penalty, so the Barons were able to go to the charity stripe on all Blair fouls late in the game.

The tempo and lead went back and forth in the second half, as neither team was able to gain control. The Blazers held a 39-36 fourth quarter lead but with 2:50 left in the game, the score was tied at 41. B-CC star Ryan Ingalls then hit a clutch three pointer and then made six free throws to put the game out of reach for the Blazers. Ingalls had 20 points and scored the Barons' last 10 points, the most out of any player in this low-scoring affair. The Barons finished the game on a 14-6 run despite a good late-game effort from Ramsay.

Blair's next game is at home against Walter Johnson on Dec 12 at 7:00.