The National Basketball Association's All-Star Weekend is a gathering of the league's most able athletes, who ignore team ties to entertain basketball's enthusiastic fans. This year the events take place in New Orleans, a rebuilding city finding solace supporting the city's many successful sports teams. Here's our guide on what to expect in the many competitions in store for this weekend.
Another season in the National Basketball Association is reaching the half-way point and already so much has happened. The Boston Celtics are the team to beat after getting left heartbroken in the draft. But trades remain the big story this season. Kobe Bryant remains with the Lakers, who along with former Memphis star Pau Gasol are turning into a force in the West. Shaq and Shawn Marion have switched teams, leaving fans trying to grasp the thought of Shaq running the floor with the Suns' fast break offense. And now Jason Kidd may be leaving the Nets for Dallas. With the All-Star game fast approaching, we give you a small preview and hand out midseason awards to top players and coaches.
GERMANTOWN INDOOR SWIM CENTER, Feb. 9 – Blair's swim and dive team placed a combined second out of six teams in the Division II championship meet last Saturday, losing first place to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons. The boys' team, which finished its season undefeated, captured first place with a final score of 500 points, while the girls tied Magruder for fifth with 274 points.
The Blair poms squad earned fifth place in the Montgomery County Division II Pompon Championship held at Blair on Saturday. First place went to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and second and third places went to Gaithersburg and Clarksburg, respectively.
Despite a spirited effort, the Blair community ice hockey team lost to Walt Whitman Friday evening at Wheaton Outdoor Ice Rink by a score of 10-3. The game was the Blazers' last regular season game, though two exhibition games are currently being set up, according to head coach Kevin McCabe.
Athletes from the indoor track team will advance to the 4A Maryland State meet in six events after finishing in the top four or meeting qualifying times at the 4A West Regional meet, held yesterday at the Baltimore Armory. The Blair boys also racked up enough points to finish fourth overall.
The Blair wrestling team ended its home season with a resounding victory on Tuesday night, decisively defeating the Richard Montgomery Rockets 54-24 on senior night. The blowout resulted from solid pinning from the Blazers as well as five forfeits by the Rockets.
The Blazers (4-10) defeated the Sherwood Warriors 50-45 with crowd-pleasing plays in the last minute to end the 45-45 stalemate.
In an all too familiar fashion, the boys' varsity basketball team lost once again Monday night, this time to defending state champions Sherwood. The Blazers (2-12) took an eight point lead into the third quarter, but were undone when the visiting Warriors hit the winning jumper as time expired for a final score of 49-47.
MONTGOMERY AQUATIC CENTER, Feb. 2 – In the last dual meet of the season, Blair's Division II swim and dive team landed a handy victory over the Einstein's Division III team, bringing their season record to 5-1. The combined score was 263-104, the boys winning 126-59 and the girls, 137-45.
In their twelfth straight loss of the season, the varsity boy's basketball team brought their spiraling record to an embarrassing 2-12, falling to the Blake Bengals in yet another heartbreakingly-close match, 50-48.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Jan. 29 – The Blazers (3-9) dropped their fourth straight game in a one-sided loss to the Blake Bengals at home Tuesday night, 69-24.
The Blair swim and dive team suffered its first combined loss on Saturday to the Bethesda–Chevy Chase Barons by a score of 181-161, bringing the team's record to 4-1. The still-undefeated boys' team won with a slim margin, 90-81. The girls' team fought hard, with junior Melanie Snail breaking the team record in the 200-yard Freestyle, but eventually lost, 100-71.
The Blair wrestling team came through with a dominant effort on Thursday night, soundly defeating the outmanned and outmatched Watkins Mill Wolverines at home, 52-18 thanks in large part to four wins by forfeit and powerful performances from Blair's captains.
High-pressure defense by the Richard Montgomery Rockets (4-6) forced the Lady Blazers (3-7) to turn the ball over repeatedly and not get into an offensive rhythm, leading to a 66-42 loss on Wednesday night. The absence of junior point guard Jenny Williams, the team's leading scorer, was heavily felt.
GEORGETOWN PREP INDOOR TRACK, Jan. 23 – The boys' track placed sixth out of 19 teams in the Montgomery County Championship Meet, scoring a total of 41 points from sprint relays and strong individual performances. The girls' team placed sixteenth out of 21 teams, but showed great development in individual events.
We're down to just four teams remaining in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy, with San Diego and New England battling in the AFC and New York and Green Bay duking it out in the NFC. Storylines for conference championship week include a injury-ravaged Charger offense, the return of legal troubles for Randy Moss, Eli Manning finally emerging from his brother's shadow, and a remarkable run from Brett Favre at 38 years old. Two of the top four picks from the 2004 draft, quarterbacks Manning (first overall) and Philip Rivers (fourth overall), take on two of the finest field generals of our generation in Favre and Tom Brady. Who will win out, youth or tradition? We'll find out on Sunday with a pair of entertaining matchups on tap.
Coming off a stunning outdoor season last year, the Blair sprint squad had their jets cooled in the Montgomery County Invitational track meet, one of the most important indoor meets in the region. While the relay teams failed to live up to their ambitions, many personal records were set at this key meet, an excellent indicator for regional and even state finishes. "You can really run a personal best at this meet because you get up for it and know all the best runners are going to be here," said assistant coach Mike Fleming.
In an even matchup, the Blair community ice hockey team lost to Gaithersburg 7-6 on Tuesday. The game was tied until the final two minutes, when Gaithersburg scored its seventh goal to capture the game, dropping Blair's record to 1-6.
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE – TAKOMA PARK AQUATIC CENTER– The Blair swim and dive team remains undefeated after soundly pounding the Blake Bengals 197-140. The yet undefeated boys' team reigned dominant once again, winning 109-62, and the girls also garnered a win with a score of 88-78, bringing their record to 2-1.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Jan. 11 – The Lady Blazers broke a four game losing streak Friday night and won their first home game, defeating the Magruder Colonels, 52-47.
Blair's varsity pom squad placed seventh at the Division II Blake Bengal pom competition held today at Blake.
After a promising 2-0 start to the season, the varsity boys' basketball team dropped their sixth straight game, a loss to the Magruder Colonels Friday night, 60-35.
The Blair Blazers' record dropped to 1-5 after a 6-1 loss to Germantown on Friday. Though the Blazers kept up a good effort throughout the game, they managed only one goal and could not stop the faster, more experienced Germantown team.
And so it begins. After Joe Gibbs, Redskins head coach and president of football operations announced his retirement Tuesday morning citing family reasons and the stressful toll that Sean Taylor's death has had on him, the same question flickered across everyone's mind. "Who's next?"
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