The Blaine girls’ basketball team defeated Nooksack Valley on Tuesday night, winning a much closer affair 68-55.

Blaine boys’ basketball began practice last week on Tuesday, November 14, for the 2011-2012 season. After finishing last in the Northwest Conference last year, the Borderites have high hopes with nothing to lose. Head coach Dougal Thomas, now in his second year at the helm, said he is pleased about his team’s performance so far this season.

After facing the Blaine Borderites’ aggressive ground-and-pound offense, there is one name all opposing teams remember: Mario Gobbato. Arguably the face of the Borderites offensive squad, Gobbato rushed for a spectacular 2,669 yards this season. For reference, that is just nine yards shy of the all-time state 2A class season rushing record, set by Ferndale’s Matthias Wilson in 1997.

Blaine’s chosen few headed to Pasco, Washington, on Saturday, November 5, to compete individually in the WIAA 2A Cross Country State tournament.

Tuesday night’s play-in matchup between Blaine and Cedarcrest ended in a 35-24 Red Wolves victory, ending the Borderites’ 2011 season and leaving Borderites players and fans wondering what might have been.