SPORTS

by Neil MacDonald

Defense earns Chimacum win
After losing an opening round 52-44 decision to Port Townsend on February 21, Blaine rebounded with a 59-40 win over Chimacum on February 24 to stay alive and lethal in the boys 2A bi-district basketball tournament at Mt. Vernon.

The Borderites played the Mt. Baker-Lynden Christian loser on February 28 (while the TNL was at press). If Blaine won, the boys will be in the consolation final for third and fourth place at 10.30 a.m. on March 4 and, most importantly, going to State. If the Borderites lost, they will be in the consolation contest at 1:30 p.m. on March 3 struggling for the bi-district’s fifth and final spot at State.

Suspense in Saturday’s shootout at Mt. Vernon’s OK Corral against the Chimacum Cowboys dissipated before half-time. After ending Q1 with a 12-10 lead, Blaine went on a 16-5 second quarter scoring spree, not letting up a deuce until the final 20 seconds of the half.

“Not letting up” was the key to success. Blaine’s guards hounded the Cowboy’s top gun, Cody Huntingford to dysfunction. Coming at Huntingford in waves, Cory Crews, L.J. Cunningham and Skyler Anderson stopped Cody cold. Huntingford, who had an 18.9 ppg season’s average, scored three points, all on foul shots.

Overall, the Double B’s win was another team triumph as ten Borderites put points up. Charlie Franklin led with 13. Ryan Pike and Kekoa Davidson played to the nines, Pike’s nines coming in points and assists, Davidson’s in points and rebounds. Other Blaine scorers were Andrew Martin 8, Crews 8, Anderson 5, Cunningham 3, Keith Williams 2 and Brendan Mulholland 2.
Going into last week’s game there was little difference between Blaine and Port Townsend in season’s stats. The PT-Blaine difference only showed on the scoreboard.

The Double B’s were troubled B’s as Port T‘s defense disrupted Blaine’s attack, often closing down the passing routes from perimeter to post and contributing to Blaine’s dubious 17-9 edge in turnovers.

Blaine led 20-18 at the half, but the Redkins rallied in Q3. The breakout point came when PT’s Silas Holm found a tunnel to the hoop, went tubular, and tied things at 31-31. PT then went on to lead 40-33 by three-quarter time. The T’s edged the B’s 12-11 in Q4, compiling their decisive dozen on 10 straight free throws and a deuce. Franklin led Blaine with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

TOP

Lady Bs top T's in bi-district
Blaine defeated Meridian 47-39 in a loser-out consolation round game on February 24 after losing a 52-41 2A bi-district girls basketball tournament opener on February 22 at Mt. Vernon.

The win put the Lady B’s in a consolation round rumble on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. against the loser of the Nooksac – Mt. Baker winner’s bracket February 27 encounter. If the B’s win, they’ll be in the bi-district March 3 final at 12 p.m. for third and fourth place and have a guaranteed spot at State. If they lose, it will be in the loser out 3:30 p.m. March 3 nail-nibbler for the bi-district’s fifth and final spot at State.

Faced with stopping Meridian’s high scoring Lynett Bennett, the Lady B’s closed the ground and air approaches any time the 6-3 senior center occupied potential point-producing places Blaine coach Pat Green’s innovative blueprint was to pressure the Trojan backcourt guards into disconnecting themselves from Bennett.

The plan worked. Bennett was held to 11 points. The Trojans made 20 turnovers. The Lady B’s outscored the Lady T’s in every Q, going 10-9, 18-17, 9-8 before breaking away for a 10-5 final frame.

At last Thursday’s game Blaine was within a point of Eatonville, the West-Central’s top-rated and state’s fourth-ranked quintet, with six minutes left in their first double-elimination round game. The Lady B’s were on an 11-2 scoring skein and challenging the Cruisers, who had the superior side of a 36-35 edge. It was as close as Blaine could get.

The well-balanced, quick of foot, constantly aggressive Eatonville aggregation went into OD, as in overdrive, out-scoring the Lady B’s 16-6 and coming away victorious.

The Cruisers hit 22-of-55 (40 percent) floor and 5-of-6 (83 percent) foul shots to Blaine’s 14-of-52 (27 percent) floor and 10-of-17 (59 percent) foul efforts and led in rebounds 43-35 and assists 18-12. Sticklin paced the Lady B’s with 11 points. Kristina Francis and Summers added eight each.

TOP

Neil's Notes
New Soccer Coach
Greg Brisbon was named Blaine’s boys head soccer coach for the 2001 NCC season. Brisbon played indoor pro soccer and college soccer for Seattle Pacific University, was assistant men’s soccer coach at Western Washington University in 2000 and co-head coach at 4A North Kitsap High School in spring, 2000.

He replaces Blaine’s 2000 head coach Chuck Dehnert, who has moved on to coach Bellingham High School’s soccer side.

Blaine Schedule Changes
The Friday, April 27 track meet at Silverdale against Klahowya and Olympia has been deleted from Blaine’s track schedule. Blaine’s April 9 baseball home game with Lakewood will start at 1 p.m. rather than 4:30 p.m. The April 30 Lynden Christian double-header at Lynden will start at 3:30 p.m. Girls fastpitch bi-district May 17/19 is slated for Sedro Woolley and the boys soccer bi-district on May 12/15 is scheduled for Silverdale.

Murphy wins Everett Classic
Blaine wrestler Eric Murphy took first place in the 187-pound open division as five Barracuda grapplers finished in the top three positions in their weight classes on February 24 at the Everett Freestyle Classic.

Three ’Cudas – Anthony Terris in the 220 junior, Richie Tewes in the 132 and Andrew Price in the 65 pound bantam division – won second place honors. Darrel Price Jr. was third in the 95-pound midget category.

Back to Top