BLAINE — Mount Baker girls basketball earned a sloppy 53-37 victory against Blaine in a game that featured 25 combined steals between the two teams at Blaine High on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
“We got to learn how to take care of the ball,” Mount Baker coach Tiffany Ramirez said. “We are prepared for what other teams are doing, but at the same time, if we don’t do our job, it doesn’t matter.”
Mount Baker’s Rebeca Soares scored the first basket about two minutes into the game with a putback layup. She led the team with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Mount Baker girls hold off Blaine with third-quarter surge
The Mountaineers closed the first quarter with a 9-7 lead after a 3-pointer from Aurora George and another layup from Soares.
In the second quarter, Koreski tied the game after connecting on a pair of free throws. Blaine and Mount Baker remained in a one-possession game until a minute left in the second quarter.
“Honestly, I don’t know where we were in the first half,” Ramirez said. “We have some young guards and we are building.”
Mount Baker took over in the second half, going on a 17-0 run in the third quarter to lead 35-21. During that stretch, Soares scored five points and Reace Brown scored three points. Brown was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with eight points.
“It is really nice having those two,” Ramirez said. “I haven’t had a tall post that can take care of business since I have been here. It is really nice that the kids are starting to understand how to work together.”
Blaine responded in the fourth quarter as Koreski scored five points to slim the lead. Koreski finished with a team-high 12 points for the Borderites.
However, Mount Baker’s post players continued to extend the lead to 45-25 with six minutes to play. Mount Baker reserves entered and finished the game with a couple minutes left.
Mount Baker (6-4) will travel to Squalicum at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. Blaine (2-7) will host Lynden Christian at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
