1 2 3 4 T
Blair (1-0) 15 15 20 17 67
Einstein (0-1) 14 13 14 6 47
KENSINGTON - - In the first game of the season, the Blair Blazers were able to wear out the Einstein Titans, running up and down the court for a 67-47 victory.
The game was tightly contested until the second half, when Blair's conditioning really made the difference in pulling out the victory. It was a close game at halftime, as the Blazers hung on to a 30-27 lead, but Blair blew them away in the second half, outscoring Einstein 37-20.
Blair seniors Wayne Henderson and Leon Sampson tied for a game-high 15 points.
"First half, we really slumped, we played terrible," Henderson said. "Second half, we stepped our defense up and we played way better. We looked like a whole different team. It was a matter of a half that makes the difference in the game."
Sampson, 6'8", was able to set up Henderson for open threes on the outside.
"Leon set me up because he's a big huge thing in the middle," Henderson said. "So he just set me up. He got the ball, they collapsed, he kicked it out, and I just did my job, just shoot."
Sampson said he learned how to get Henderson easy looks from the coaching staff.
"Well, I just take what Coach Boatman and Coach DeStefano tell me," he said. "When the big man's supposed come to the elbow [where the free-throw line and the side of the key meet], he's supposed to swing straight through and look opposite. They were all sucked underneath because of my height so I just kicked it out to Wayne. Easy bucket."
The Blazers dynamic defensive improvement was shown in the fourth quarter, where they only allowed six points, four of which came with two minutes or less in the game. The Blazers were able to hold gigantic Kelson Patterson (6'6", 280 pounds) to four points and five rebounds. Patterson and DeAndre Frye, the other Einstein star, each had three turnovers. Leading the way on defense for Blair was senior point guard Eddie Kolleh, who had four steals, three assists and four points, along with being the court leader on both sides of the ball.
"I feel we played way better in the second half, it looked more like how we practiced," Kolleh said. "First half, we could tell everyone had jitters - it's the first game. Second half, we came out, we had to do what we had to do."
Kolleh, who seems to have a limitless source of energy on the court, showed to all watching that he will never let up and will always give all that he has to give.
"I just want it more than the other person," Kolleh said. "We did so much work over the summer, especially me. Last year, I sat the bench, so I've got something to prove to everybody, my teammates, my coaches, everybody."
Sampson, who also had six rebounds and the game's only two blocks, spoke on how important it is for the Blazers' defense to set up the Blazers' offense.
"First half I wasn't happy with the defense, because we can play a lot better than that," he said. "Second half, I think the coaches' speech made us able to lock down [on defense], and once we lock down, the offense is able to open up. We're a transition team this year. If we're able to lock down, it's good for the whole team."
For Blair, senior forward Mike McClain had ten points and nine rebounds, junior guard Cameron Reed had ten points and three steals, and senior forward Neil Corran had a game-high ten rebounds, four of them offensive. Einstein guards Nick McMillan and Ryan Toledo had the best games for the Titans. McMillan scored seven points with six rebounds and five steals, while Toledo had a team-high ten points and pulled in five rebounds.
The Blazers next game is on Tuesday, December 9th, at home against 0-1 Kennedy. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Ey Pete this is a well written article, is there anyway we can email it to ourselves?