Lady Blazers fall short

JAN. 30, SPRINGBROOK HIGH SCHOOL –

The Blair girls' basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 51-48 loss on the road against the Springbrook Blue Devils after trailing by 11 points late in the game. The Lady Blazers lost their fourth straight game, further dropping their record to 4-11.

Blair showed vast improvement with their ball handling skills in this game. Coming off of a sloppy showing against the Magruder Colonels where the Blazers turned the ball over 39 times, Blair committed only 15 turnovers in tonight's game. According to Head Coach William Lindsey, this was a key factor in his team's ability to stay in the game. "If you're able to cut down on turnovers, it keeps spirits up, and the focus is there," said Lindsey. Unfortunately for the Blazers, they were not able to apply the same skills to their shooting. Blair was only 17 of 55 from the field, compared with Springbrook's 18 of 45 shooting.

In the first quarter, Blair's shooting woes were at their worst. The team made just 3 of their 15 field goal attempts in the first quarter, and were only able to muster 8 points. However, what the Blazers lacked in shooting, they made up for in their defense, which held Springbrook to just 10 points in the first quarter.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Blazers seemed to keep pace with the Blue Devils. A three-pointer by junior Brittany Higgins gave the Blazers a 17-14 lead, but it would end up being their last lead of the game. Springbrook went on an impressive 13-3 run to regain the lead and were leading 30-23 at the half. Blair had multiple opportunities to regain the lead after the half because of 11 Blue Devil turnovers, but the girls made just 4 of their 17 field goal attempts and were unable to cut into the Devils' lead by the end of the third.

Springbrook later extended their lead to 43-32 at the beginning of the fourth thanks to on-target free throw shooting and an impressive pressing defense, but the momentum soon swung back into Blair's favor. Sophomore Cate Rassman scored the most important of her team-high 15 points: a three with 4:52 left in the game, and the Blazers were able to start their comeback. "The three really devastated [the Blue Devils], and got everybody on the bench really excited," said Coach Lindsey.

The Blazers increased the intensity down the stretch, trying to make a comeback. Senior Emily Ramsay hit 4 clutch free throws to add to her total of 12 for the night, and Jawana Henderson scored all of her 4 points late in the fourth to help Blair cut into the Blue Devil lead. With 17.8 seconds to go, Springbrook's lead was down to one, 49-48, but Blair wouldn't make it any closer. On the ensuing possession, Keisha Haddock drew a foul for the Blue Devils and made both free throws, and Cate Rassman and Janay Walker fell short on their desperation threes.

Blair's next game will take place on Wed., Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m., on the road against the Blake Bengals. The Blazers beat Blake in their first meeting on Jan. 12, 47-35.