Multiple Blaine teams had solid opening weeks to the season, with the boys varsity wrestling team shining at the Mariner Holiday Tournament, and boys and girls basketball each beating Friday Harbor.
Neither basketball team had great performances after making the long road (and ferry) trip to face Orcas Island, but will look to respond this week as Northwest Conference (NWC) play starts up.
In fall sports news, four players from the Blaine football team were named to the NWC 1A All-League team on December 4. On offense, seniors Otto Shelton (offensive line) and Jaiden Paez (running back) were named All-League after Paez led the conference in rushing yards. Blaine’s fearsome defensive line duo of Zi Yu and Blake Koreski were also named to the All-League team.
The Blaine boys wrestling team had a great start to its season at the Mariner Holiday Tournament in Everett on December 7, with the team placing third overall and five wrestlers placing in the top three for their respective weight classes.
Senior Otto Shelton led the way for the Borderites, winning first place in the heavyweight division with four wins all coming in 1:21 or less. Shelton also won the tournament individual award for most pins in the shortest period of time.
Aidyn Hancock and Vinnie Saia each won first place in their respective divisions, Daniel Johner earned second place in his division, Blake Koreski won third place in the heavyweight division, and Thomas Cox, Cole Voight and Christopher Zamudio each placed fourth in their classes.
Blaine faces Nooksack Valley in the first home meet of the season on Wednesday, December 18 at 6 p.m.
The Borderites started the week with a stellar 61-40 win over Friday Harbor on December 4, the first home win of head coach Chas Kok’s tenure.
Team captain Josiah Weeda led the Borderites on offense with 23 points along with five rebounds, and Abdul Kanagie added 16 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Kok said he was impressed with the 6’4” senior’s defensive effort, as well as his offensive contributions.
“Abdul [Kanagie] has been really good with his energy and just trying to do all the right things,” Kok said. “Defensively, he could be one of the best guys in the conference when he’s asked to do so.”
After a 2-0 start to the season, the Borderites travelled to Orcas Island on December 9 for its first road trip, and didn’t get out of the gate strong, losing 71-55. After holding the first two opponents under 50 points, the Borderites couldn’t keep up the defensive effort, dropping to 2-1 on the young season.
“With the long trip to Orcas [Island], I thought we struggled with energy, which led to the result that happened,” Kok said. “I think it’s a good teachable moment for us. You have to play with energy and you have to bring it all the time in order to be successful.”
As a first-year head coach, Kok will surely come by lots of milestones and “firsts.” The first loss is, unfortunately, also one of those firsts.
“That can be pretty demoralizing,” Kok said of the road loss. “But I thought yesterday’s practice, energy-wise, our enthusiasm was one of the best we’ve had.”
Kok said he’s excited for a chance for the Borderites to get a bounce-back win against Bellingham at home on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:15 p.m. (after press time), and hopes to keep the team level-headed as it marches through a grinding, three-month, 20-game regular season.
The Borderites were slated to host Tamanawis on December 5, but were forced to cancel after a power outage at Blaine’s home gym. Kok said he is working on rescheduling a 20th game for the Borderites, but couldn’t confirm if the team would play Tamanawis or another team, nor when that game would be played.
The Borderites will face Bellingham in the first NWC game of the season on December 11, then travel to play Sehome on Saturday, December 14. Blaine’s next home game won’t be until after winter break on Friday, January 3 against Squalicum.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
The Blaine girls basketball team had its best performance of the new season on December 4, holding Friday Harbor to just 24 points on the way to a 40-24 win.
Kate Koreski led the team with 12 points and six steals, and Brie Smith added 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. It was the first win of the season for the Borderites, and marked a 1-0 start at home.
The Borderites had some of the same problems as the boys team during the December 9 trip to Orcas Island, unable to produce much on offense and letting the hosting Vikings put up 36 points en route to a 36-20 loss.
The Borderites put up 10 points in the first quarter, but scored only 10 points for the next three quarters. Blaine just couldn’t get many shots to drop in despite 32 rebounds, and posted a season-low point total.
Despite the disappointing road trip, the Borderites will have a chance to get back to a .500 record on December 11 at 7:15 p.m. (after press time) when the team travels to face Bellingham.
The Borderites return home to host Sehome on Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
