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Blair Advances to First Semis since 1983
Pasadena Independent Feb 22, 2017
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Vikings. – Courtesy photo
By Christian Romo
It has been thirty-four years since Blair made it this far in the playoffs, and now the Vikings are two wins away from their first CIF title.
With four players scoring in double figures, the Vikings (23-6) beat the Jurupa Valley Jaguars (17-11), 79-61, Tuesday night in the CIF Division 4AA quarterfinals at Blair High School. Junior Dezmond Washington (23) led the Vikings with 17 points and 11 rebounds, adding two steals and two blocks to a crowded scorebook. “I came out with the mindset of, ‘I’m just going to attack, I’m not going to shoot and settle,’” said Washington, the team’s leading scorer throughout the playoffs.
After the Jaguars erased an early deficit, Blair senior Jack Dakan (5) exploded off the bench, shooting 4 of 5 in the first half and finishing the game with 13 points. “That’s what I’ve been doing all year, sparking off the bench. I know my role,” he said. Dakan shook up the crowd in the third quarter starting a fast-break alley-oop off a steal, serving a dunk to Washington off the backboard. “We’ve been doing that in practice,” Dakan said, “he let me know he was behind me, so I just threw it up there.” Washington, however, didn’t think it was so easy: “I knew he was going to throw it off the backboard, I just wasn’t expecting it so soon!”
Blair held the Jaguars to single-digit scoring in the first and second quarters, setting the tone with a dominant defense, according to Vikings coach Alon Margalit. “They’re a driving, slashing athletic team, and we really wanted to put a focus on keeping them out of the key and winning the loose ball and rebound game,” said Margalit. The Vikings loosened up allowing 43 second-half points, but responded with a shooting barrage of their own to match the Jaguars.
Junior Gabriel Snow (24) started the third quarter with three straight baskets, scoring 12 of his 16 points on 5 of 6 shooting in the second half. “We bonded well, came out intense, and maintained it throughout the whole game,” said Snow. Sophomore Dallas Murray (21) one-upped Snow, shooting 6 of 6 in the second half and matching Washington’s game-high seventeen points. “We preach to our guys to be unselfish and move the basketball,” said Margalit. “Any night, six or seven guys can beat you.”
Blair last played in the semifinals in 1983 where they eventually lost in the championship round to Santa Clara, but the 2017 Vikings have fans hoping they can hang the school’s first banner. “The whole school is excited. We’ve never had crowd support like this, it’s a fun time right now,” said Margalit. The Vikings go on the road to Riverside for their semifinal matchup against Woodcrest Christian Friday night at 7 P.M.
PHS 47-44 Corona Del Mar
Pasadena (23-5) held off a late rally by the host Sea Kings to advance to the CIF Division 1A semifinals. The Bulldogs will host Peninsula Friday night at 7 P.M, hoping to advance to their first CIF finals since 2012.
Maranatha 56-55 Tahquitz
A go-ahead layup from junior Chris Austin (11) sent the Minutemen (16-9) to the CIF Division 1AA semifinals for the second time in three years. They will host Cantwell Sacred-Heart in a rematch of the preseason Rose City Roundball Classic, where the Minutemen beat the Cardinals 56-47.
La Salle 52-71 Oxnard
Polytechnic 31-54 Shalhevet
Sherman Indian 65-52 AGBU
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