Blazers lose heartbreaker in final minute against Overlake.

Nothing stresses coaches out more than a low scoring game.  Every point is critical.  Much like their first game against the much taller and more physical Overlake , the Blazers were down one to zero within the first few minutes of the game and then completely shut down the Owls for the rest of the half. With the kickstart from Ella S.'s shot from the short corner, a swish from Ludi F. and a free throw from Avie C. the Blazers went into the break up 5-1.  Yes, that sounds more like a soccer score, but the Blazers put so much pressure on the Overlake guards, the frustrated Owls were forcing ill-advised shots all half.

The defense picked-up where it left off in the second half, but so did the Owls physical play and with their superior hieght and switching defense their height made finding baskets hard to come by.

"In the first half we controlled the ball, and were very efficient in getting back on defense.  In the second half though we started to turn the ball over and gave them some easy shots in transition.  That was the difference." Said Coach Rosen.

Over a span of 6 minutes the Owls scored nine unanswered points and before the Blazers knew what hit them they were in a deep hole, down five to ten.  The refs were letting the teams play, and injurines were mounting, but at the nine minute mark, the team used a time-out to get settled down, re-focused, and came out swinging.

The Blazers went on a five point run that should have been six as Ella S. sank two perfect free throws, but the second was called back due to a lane violation.

"That was frustrating," said Rosen.  "I was watching her feet the whole time and I really didn't see what the ref saw.  Even more frustrating was that just a few minutes earlier the Owl player who hit a free throw, jumped over the line so clearly, made the basket and it was a no call.  That's a two point swing, and look at the final score."

The Blazers also had to overcome the loss of starting point guard Anya H. who collided with an Owl and twisted an ankle, but even with that loss, with a just over a minute to play they had tied the game and a win was just one basket away.

After a mad scramble for a loose ball the Owl's strong point guard launched a beautiful two handed over-head pass down court that landed perfectly in the hands of their center who put the Owls up by two, but the Blazers kept fighting.

With 8 seconds to play, the team's best long range shooter Ludi F. grabbed a rebound and drove coast to coast through four Owl defenders and launched a shot from five feet behind the three point line that fell just short.

It was a grueling game, but unlike their first game against Overlake, the Blazers were in control of their destiny.  The difference?  They are starting to play as a team.  It's fun to watch it happen.