Colonels take charge

JAN. 29, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM—

When a team has fifteen turnovers to go with sixteen points in the first half of a basketball game, it's usually a sign that that team is going to lose. The bet is made even more sure when the team is turning the ball over to an opponent that shoots 50% from the field. Thus was the story of the Blair Blazers tonight as they lost, 68-49, to the Magruder Colonels.

The Blazers played a very uneven first half. The team's defense was very poor at times, and Magruder's incomparable perimeter shooters got too many good looks at the net. There were a few great defensive plays: The Blazers made a number of spectacular steals. But Blair's offense was so sloppy—losing balls out of bounds, stepping on the sidelines while dribbling, trying to drive but losing control in the face of three Colonel forwards—few points resulted from the turnovers.

Meanwhile, Magruder was making crisp pass after crisp pass and draining threes and free throws and playing solid defense to hold the Blazers to a point a minute in the first half. "They understand what unselfishness and team play is about," said Blair assistant coach Wendell Hall. The Colonels led 38-16 at the break.

Blair picked up its game in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring the visitors by three after halftime. But sloppy offensive play continued to cripple Blair's chances of a real comeback and to the few fans in the stands it seemed as though Magruder had simply stopped running up the score.

A bright spot on the home team's night was its performance from the foul line: Blair made ten of its 14 free throws, a notable improvement over some poor performances early in the season. That figure probably would have been more valuable, though, if Magruder hadn't gone 22-for-29 from the line itself.

Another positive note was pointed out by Hall. "Even though the score widened as the game went on, the guys never lost hope that they could come back. Our outlook is: Tomorrow is a new day." Tomorrow, meaning Friday's 7 p.m. game against onetime Metro area number-one Springbrook and its dominant scorer Folarin Campbell.

Assistant Coach Tony Murray couldn't help but note that the Blazers do not seem to get much support from their school. "Since we came to the new Blair, we've had no fans," said Murray, a four-year player for the Blazers at the Wayne Avenue campus. "Why can't we get any fans?"

One can only hope that a few show up tomorrow for the team's biggest game of the year.