Boys' basketball eliminated by QO

FEB 28, 2002, QUINCE ORCHARD HIGH SCHOOL-

The Blair Blazers saw their banner season end in a less-than-fitting way at Quince Orchard High School. The injury-riddled Blazers could not solve the Cougars and lost in the 4A West semifinal 75-44.

Blair, as it had the past three games, played without star point guard Cyril Djoukeng, out with a broken wrist. Junior center Jamie Platky was also out with torn ligaments in his knee and junior sharpshooter Josh Richardson was limited by the flu. All of this added up to an offensive performance that looked nothing like the team's typical high-scoring style.

Without Djoukeng distributing the ball, the Blazers found themselves
unable to get shots off against the much bigger Cougars. Only senior
shooting guard Ellis Yeadon (19 points) showed any ability to get open, and he was uncharacteristically cold from the field.

Quince Orchard was just the opposite of Yeadon, seemingly draining every open jumper they got. The Cougars disciplined passing offense was a stark contrast to the Blazers wide-open, frantic attack, and was much more effective. Forwards Josh Black and Charles Lee, to of the county's better big men, forced Blair to place defenders close to the basket, leaving the outside shot unguarded.

The Cougars discipline is undoubtedly a product of their domineering
first-year coach, Paul Foringer. Foringer coached at Gaithersburg High School last year. Most Blazer fans remember Foringer as the coach who had his Gaithersburg players freeze the ball in last year's regional semifinal at Blair. The less-talented Trojans kept Blair from getting into the fast paced game that the Blazers preferred and ended up winning 42-41.