JV Blazers fall to Rockets

FEB. 11, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

Facing a school that was ranked fifth in the greater D.C. area, JV boys' basketball struggled to come back from a slow start. With unorthodox plays and an overwhelming height advantage, Sherwood beat Blair 59-43. Today's game made JV basketball's season record 3-13.

Losing two top players to ineligibility and another one to the varsity team hindered Blair's rematch with Sherwood. Co-captain Nick Warmington could only come to cheer the team on today. Likewise, varsity basketball lost some key players to ineligibility so they offered up one of their spots to sophomore John Orr, which subsequently hurt the JV team.

From 15 seconds into the first quarter Blair was down two points but didn't get ahead of Sherwood for any portion of the game. Many assists were made on Blair's part but the follow-through was problematic. Sophomore Jon Brown had driven the ball, rebounded and made far shots but he believed the main problem Blair's was shooting. There were a lot of air balls for Blair because the pressure of Sherwood's defense forced them to rush their shots. In the first quarter Blair had made no free throws or lay-ups, which could have given Blair the little push it needed to get something going.

This game marked twelve loses in a row for Blair. Sophomore Tommy Dugan said that although the Blazers haven't been discouraged by the losing streak they have had trouble finding a way to break it. Brown showed his high hopes and said that the Blazers should definitely win at least one of the two games they have left.

Sherwood's unusual plays, such as holding the ball until Blair approached them and opened up spaces up the court, caused Blair to change their long established techniques. Instead of bringing the ball in close and taking the short shots, Blair managed to make two three-pointers in the first quarter, a feat that they haven't managed to make all season. Furthermore, the Blazers tried to make up for their inability to steal the ball by hustling down the court whenever Sherwood got the ball. But after Blair had setup their defense, they still had difficulty in stopping Sherwood from bringing the ball into the red.

Blair's next game is Friday, Feb. 13 at Gaithersburg at 5:15 pm.