Girls Basketball
After a pair of road losses last week, first to Sedro-Woolley 51-44 on January 4, then 45-27 to Squalicum on January 6, Blaine girls basketball (6-7, 2-6 NWC) needed a pick-me-up.
Playing its first home game since December 30, the Borderites were faced with a tough matchup against Meridian on January 9.
After jumping out to a 13-3 lead going into the second quarter, the visiting Trojans stifled the Borderite offense, and then started raining down three-pointers. To finish the first half, Meridian shot 5/5 from beyond the 3-point line, and took an 18-17 halftime lead in a game that seemed well in control for the Borderites.
In the second half, the shots stopped falling for Meridian, and Blaine was able to take back the lead, and this time hold it for good.
The Borderites ran out the clock and sealed a 49-34 win, but the score didn’t reflect how close the game was. In the final few minutes of regulation, Blaine was able to take a four-point lead into a 15-point lead with a series of free-throws while the Trojans could only foul in desperation.
Jordyn Vezzetti had a highly productive day offensively, finishing with a game-high of 31 points, accounting for more than half of the Borderites’ scoring, and nearly single-handedly outscoring the visiting Trojans.
If there’s any time for the Borderites to get hot, now would be a great time. It’s next matchup will likely be one of the toughest of the season, when a strong, 13-1 (7-1 NWC) Lynden team comes to town on Thursday, January 11 at 7:15 p.m.
After that, the Borderites go on the road to face last-place Mount Baker on Monday, January 15 at 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball
Blaine boys basketball just can’t seem to put it together. After a close, 51-47 win over Mount Vernon Christian on December 28, the Borderites (3-10, 1-7 NWC) have been unable to snag another win, and its schedule for the remainder of the season doesn’t allow for many breaks.
The Borderites extended its losing streak to a season-long four games with a gut-wrenching 64-57 loss at home to Sedro-Woolley on January 4, and a 72-48 loss at Meridian on January 9.
The Borderites keep getting solid offensive production from its weapons – Josiah Weeda and Noah Tavis combined for 35 points in Thursday’s loss to Sedro-Woolley – but just haven’t been able to stop opposing offenses.
The Borderites have an average point differential of -18.9, according to the WIAA standings, which is third-worst in the Northwest Conference. With just seven games remaining on the schedule, the Borderites will face four teams ranked in the top six of the conference.
While a state playoff bid isn’t officially out of reach, don’t expect these Borderites to replicate the deep run of last year’s team.
The Borderites’ next matchup will be on the road against first-place Lynden on Thursday, January 11 at 7:15 p.m. Blaine’s next home game will be against Mount Baker on Monday, January 15.
Boys Wrestling
Boys wrestling continues to dominate its Northwest Conference opponents, with a resounding pair of wins over Squalicum, 48-33, and Bellingham, 45-36 at Mount Baker High School on January 3.
In Blaine’s matchup against Squalicum, the NWC first-place Borderites won eight of its 14 weight class matchups, with 285-pound standout Victor Gervol winning yet another in a year that has been truly dominant.
Gervol finished off his night with a victory by pin against Bellingham, where he and seven other Borderite wrestlers won, all but two by pin.
Standing atop the NWC standings with a conference-high 59.5 average point differential, look for the Borderites to make a deep playoff run come February.
For now, with just a few games left in the regular season, Blaine’s next matchup is scheduled against Ferndale and an always tough, third-place Mount Baker on January 11 at Ferndale High School, starting at 6 p.m.
The last regular season meet for the Borderites will be the Mat Animal tournament in Quincy on January 20, starting at 9 a.m.
Girls Wrestling
Girls wrestling is set to hold three home meets to finish off its regular season. The first home meet was Wednesday, January 10 against Sehome and Meridian at 6 p.m.
After a brief road trip to Squalicum on Thursday, January 11, the Borderites will come back to Blaine to host the Blaine Blizzard Tournament on Saturday, January 13, starting at 9 a.m.
Then, Blaine will host Lynden on Thursday, January 18.
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