JV girls' basketball falls to Kennedy

By Amina Goheer

DEC. 6, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM—

The junior varsity girls' basketball team started their season with a disappointing loss to the Kennedy Cavaliers, 40-35.

Even when the Blazers trailed the Cavaliers by more than ten points, they kept fighting. With less than two minutes left in the game, the Blazers were able to bring themselves within two points of Kennedy, but were ultimately unable to gain a lead.

The only lead the Blazers had the entire game was in the first quarter, when captain Molly Martinez banked a free throw, scoring the first basket of the game and the only point for the Blazers in the first quarter. The Blair team began to heat up in the second quarter, with point guard and top scorer Kalisha Holmes leading the way.

"We weren't in the game the first quarter, but we came back because of Kalisha," said Martinez.

In the first half, the Blazers could not get their shots in despite numerous attempts, resulting in a meager nine-point score for the Blazers at the half.

Though the team rallied in the second half of the game, players and coaches said they were discouraged by the loss.

Assistant Coach Ray Rodenberg attributed the disappointing showing to poor shots and inadequate defense. He explained that the team's biggest problem was nerves. "Most of all, we got too nervous in the first period," he said.

The problem captain Bianca Robinson saw was with the team's preconceptions of their game against Kennedy, supposedly a weak team. "Never assume you're better than them," Robinson advised the team after the game.

The JV girls play Einstein next on Friday, December 9 at 5:15.