The two-week holiday slow down in Borderite winter sports is over, and all five Blaine teams were back in action. The boys basketball team showed a strong home court performance against a Canadian opponent, winning 66-44 and snapping a six-game losing streak. Girls basketball fell to Squalicum in the first game back from break, and girls wrestling hosted the Borderite Blizzard on December 28, 2024.
The Borderites started the season with a promising 2-0 start, defeating La Conner and Friday Harbor with solid defensive performances. Since that auspicious start, the Borderites lost its next six games, and started the Northwest Conference (NWC) schedule 0-5.
After returning from winter break, the Borderites narrowly lost to NWC foe Squalicum on January 3, losing 64-56 at home after a 21-point fourth quarter from the visiting Storm. Senior forward Abdul Kanagie led Blaine with 12 points, followed by senior guards Josiah Weeda and Beckum Bleazard, each with 11, and senior forward Landon Melton who added 10 points on the night.
The Borderites then faced off against Surrey Christian on January 6, getting out to an early lead in the first quarter that was never relinquished. Blaine won 66-44 and snapped a six-game winless streak, moving the team’s record to 3-6 just before the halfway point of the regular season.
Blaine significantly out-rebounded Surrey Christian, allowing its offense extra chances against an undersized Falcons team, and scored plenty of points at the free throw line.
The NWC playoffs allow for each team to qualify no matter its conference record. Blaine is currently at the bottom of the NWC table along with Nooksack Valley and Oak Harbor, and will have a chance to start collecting conference wins with games on the road against Mt. Baker on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:15 p.m. and Lynden Christian on Friday, January 10 at 7:15 p.m.
The Borderites could also make noise in the playoffs and earn a state bid, but the team would surely love to string some regular season wins together as the second half of the season begins.
Stats provided by whatcompreps.com
Blaine boys wrestling had another strong performance at The Rock wrestling tournament on Vashon Island on December 29, 2024, with four wrestlers placing in the top three, and four more placing fourth in their respective weight class.
Cole Voigt won outright in the 120-pound division, scoring 28 team points after three wins by fall. Voigt won his quarterfinal match against Kyla Scheff of Vashon Island in 1:08, and defeated Granite Fall’s Nico Rial in just 30 seconds in the semifinal round.
Daniel Johner placed second in the 138-pound division, winning twice by fall and once by decision before losing to Gavin Compton of Mt. Baker in the final round. Blake Koreski placed second as well, winning by technical fall in the quarterfinal and by fall in the semifinal before losing to Elijah Veal from Sultan. Otto Shelton placed second in the heavyweight division, with wins over Hunter Mounts (Lake Stevens) and Blaine teammate Samuel Green in the semifinal round. Green finished fourth overall in the heavyweight division.
Boys wrestling will travel to Anacortes to face Ferndale and Sehome on Friday, January 10 at 6:45 p.m.
The Borderite girls wrestling team held the Blaine Blizzard tournament over winter break, hosting 21 teams from around the state on December 28, 2024.
Abigail Martinez and Makenna Lausier each made it to the first place match in their respective weight classes, but neither were able to earn first place wins, finishing second.
Martinez defeated Macie Miller (Lynden) and Alycia Sandre (Anacortes) by fall before losing by fall to first place winner Michelle Venegas (Woodinville) after a long, 4:18 round.
Lausier cruised through her first two rounds, defeating opponents from Bellingham and Mt. Vernon in under 25 seconds before losing via technical fall after a nearly six-minute round against Isabelle Goedl of Sedro-Woolley.
The Borderites will travel to Kelso for a tournament on January 10 starting at 3:30 p.m.
The Blaine girls basketball team stumbled out the gate after the winter break, losing 50-6 to NWC opponent Squalicum on January 3.
The Borderites are one of the youngest teams in the conference, with just one returning player from last year’s team, and just couldn’t get shots to fall all night. Three of Blaine’s six points came from the foul line, and the rest came from a three-pointer from sophomore guard Kate Koreski.
Despite the lopsided score card, the Borderites (2-6, 0-4 NWC) stayed tough and kept fighting throughout, and will look to bounce back against last-place Oak Harbor on January 7 (after press time).
Stats provided by whatcompreps.com
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