The Blaine girls basketball team might not have won Wednesday night, Jan. 8, but don’t you dare call the Borderites losers.
Although they came out on the short end of a 53-37 contest with visiting Mount Baker, the Borderites once again showed that the scoreboard doesn’t always determine success.
“I didn’t expect a lot of wins,” said Blaine junior Brietta Sandell of the season. “But we’re all super close, and we’re having fun no matter what. It feels more like a family than a team.”
Their story is well known in Whatcom basketball circles. At the beginning of the school year, a program decimated by graduation was left with only one player forcing coach Vic Wolffis to recruit athletes from other sports just to field a team.
“They’re developing,” said Wolffis, who would know, having state championships on his coaching resume. “Every game, they are in situations they haven’t experienced before. Hopefully, they’re growing. What I love about them is tomorrow, they’ll be upbeat.”
But basketball isn’t just fun and games for these Borderites. While it might not show in their record — they are now 2-7 for the season and 0-5 in the Northwest Conference — they show the same competitiveness that they exhibit on the soccer and softball fields, track, and volleyball court.
Wednesday night was a good example. Against a solid Mounties squad that raised its record to 6-4 overall and 2-4 in the NWC, the Borderites were tied until Mount Baker scored five straight points just before halftime.
“We knew they (the Borderites) were going to get after it on every possession,” said Mount Baker coach Tiffany Ramirez. “I don’t think they (her Mounties) believed me. They thought it would be a walk in the park. But it was good for our kids to see the fight in Blaine. They never let up.”
Unfortunately for Blaine, they couldn’t keep up offensively with Mount Baker in the third quarter, only scoring three points. And despite playing even in the fourth quarter, they never got closer than a dozen points in the final period.
“This is the best they’ve competed … the most athleticism they’ve displayed on the court,” said Wolffis. “They’ve been hesitant (in the past), but they played a little freer for three quarters of the game.”
Sophomore point guard Kate Koreski, the engine who runs the team, led Blaine with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and was 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Sandell — a 5-foot-2 scrappy water bug, according to her coach — had 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers. Brie Smith, the team’s emotional leader and lone senior, had 8 points, and junior Aaliyah Bowman added 7 rebounds.
In fact, it was Smith’s physical defense on Mount Baker star Rebeca Soares that kept the Borderites in the game in the first half as they used a box-and-one to slow the Mounties.
“Brie had the assignment of hawking Soares and did a phenomenal job,” said Wolffis. “But it was clear they (the Mounties) decided to turn up the heat.”
And give Mount Baker credit. Despite the Mounties’ own inexperience — they started two freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior — Mount Baker took care of business in the second half.
Soares, the 6-foot-2 transfer from Brazil, dominated inside with 21 points — 13 coming after intermission — along with 13 rebounds and 6 steals. Senior Faith Wilson and junior Reace Brown had 7 points each with Brown also pulling down 6 rebounds, sophomore Lily Reeves hit two 3-pointers for 6 points and grabbed 5 steals, and freshman Aurora George had 5 points.
Still, after the game Koreski was able to smile, saying Wednesday showed how much Blaine has improved.
“This was one of our best games on both offense and defense,” said Koreski, who like Sandell participates in varsity soccer and track. “Honestly, we have good energy and good vibes. The score doesn’t affect how we play as a team. We keep looking to the future.”
Added Sandell: “It’s frustrating (when they lose), but we just want to bring each other up.”
They’ll get another chance on Friday, when the Borderites host Lynden Christian. Mount Baker is in action again on Saturday, when the Mounties travel to Squalicum.
Mount Baker 53, Blaine 37
Mount Baker 9 14 12 18—53
Blaine 7 11 3 16—37
Mount Baker: Reeves 6, Brown 7, Soares 21, Wilson 7, Powell 3, Abitia, Harkness 2, George 5, Frierott 2, Evans.
Blaine: Kruse, Tanjuaquio, Puls 3, Bowman 2, Sandell 10, Roff, Dickson, Samra 2, Bring, Smith 8, Koreski 12.
