Boys Basketball
The Blaine boys basketball (4-15, 2-12 NWC) team has had a tough year, made tougher by injuries and the knowledge, going into the final stretch of the regular season, that the Borderites are locked into the first round of district playoffs against Mount Baker.
Despite knowing their postseason seeding is set, and a daunting stretch of opponents in its past week’s schedule, including NWC third-place Mount Vernon (16-2, 12-1) and fourth-place Anacortes (13-4, 9-3), the Borderites put up valiant efforts to close out the regular season.
Due to snow cancellations, the Borderites were forced to play back-to-back road games, losing a close one to Burlington-Edison (10-11, 5-9), 70-62, on January 26. The Borderites were able to run their offense well, with good production from junior Abdul-Fattah Kanagie (13 points), senior Noah Tavis (15 points) and sophomore Landon Melton (14 points), but ultimately committed too many late turnovers to complete a comeback.
The next day, the Borderites faced off against conference powerhouse Anacortes, but just weren’t able to stop one of the highest-scoring offenses in the conference, losing 86-47.
On January 30, for the last home game of the regular season, the Borderites again tried to mount a late comeback against Sehome (9-10, 6-8), but just couldn’t keep up with the visitor’s 3-point shooting, losing 74-59.
Seniors Uno Nevarez, Justin Minjarez, Riley Ihde, Conner Dalry, Jesse Deming, and Noah Tavis were all honored pregame for their final home game at Blaine, but will play one more on Monday, February 5 when the Borderites face Mount Baker for the first round of the NWC 1A District playoffs. The winner of that game will play first-place Lynden Christian (18-1, 12-1) on Wednesday, February 7.
The Borderites will travel to play Ferndale (6-12, 5-8) on Thursday, February 1 at 7:15 p.m. for its final regular season game.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
Girls Basketball
Blaine girls basketball (9-10, 5-9 NWC) has had an up-and-down year during the first season of head coach Vic Wolffis’ tenure. The Borderites started out the year with a three-game win streak, then lost seven of its next nine games, and now have won four of its last seven games.
All told, the Borderites will play its final game of the regular season at home against Ferndale (9-9, 8-5) with a chance to finish the year with a .500 record. With seeding for 1A district playoffs basically decided, the Borderites are set at third place, and will face second-place Lynden Christian (14-5, 11-2) on the road on Wednesday, February 7 at 7 p.m.
Lynden Christian is one of the highest-ranked teams in the state, scored the third-highest point totals in the conference, and shut down the Borderites offense in the only regular season meeting of the two teams, beating Blaine 66-24 on
December 20.
The Borderites have a hard path ahead if state playoff hopes are in the crosshairs, but upsets can happen.
The girls basketball team’s final home game will be against Ferndale on Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m.
Girls Wrestling
Blaine girls wrestling had another outstanding team performance at the Lady Knights Invitational tournament on January 27 in Mukilteo, with the Borderites placing 4th overall out of a field of 22 teams.
The Borderites were just 7.5 points shy of a third-place team finish, with five out of six Blaine wrestlers placing on the podium.
Just like last week at the Lady Hawk Invitational on January 20, captains Lucy Dahl and Analicea Ordonez earned first place in their respective weight divisions.
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