The 2005-2006 post season begins this Saturday for the Blue Blazers when they face the Bridgeport Beavers at 2:00. The Beavers are fresh off a double digit dismantling of the favored Gamecocks in a game which saw the re-emergence of star center Justin Trippett. The Blue Blazers tied for first on the regular season with the Clarksburg Ballas which gave both teams a two round by to start the tournament. It has been nearly two weeks since the Blue Blazers have taken the court at North View.
Over the past two years, the Beaver-Blazer rivalry has been very one-sided. The Blue Blazers have won 6 of the last 7 games but the one loss did come in this season’s Christmas tournament. The boys in navy blue and white bounced back to win the Christmas tournament but the loss still stings according to coach Eric Post.
“We haven’t forgotten that loss, that’s for sure,” the coach said. “It ended the franchise winning streak and forced our team to win out to win the tournament. We were able to do it but there is no worse of a feeling than a close loss.”
Back to Back Regular Season Champions
Although the Blue Blazers were only able to come down with a two seed in the tournament, the win over the Clarksburg Crazies on the last day of the regular season clinched a second regular season championship, all be it that this was a shared one.
The Clarksburg Ballas finished the season with an identical 8-1 mark but beat the Blue Blazers in a heated 3 point contest in January. Thus they received they the tie-breaker and the nod as the number one seed. Their only regular season loss was to the Clarksburg Crazies whom they face at 1:00 on Saturday.
The Blue Blazers did eliminated the Clarksburg Ballas during the Christmas tournament by a 15 point margin.
“The Defense”
All season, the front of the Blue Blazers website has had the phrase “The Defense” plastered on the opening link. Now is the time for the defense. If the Blue Blazers are in fact going to defend their title, the big time players are going to have to step up. Adam Hill, this season’s leading scorer at 18.67 per game, will really need to bring his three point shooting ability to the forefront. Brandon McCollum and Adonnis Beam have come on recently as has three point shooter T.J. Flint. Tyson White has been vital all season as a presence underneath and he will have to continue to clog the middle in order for the Blue Blazers to have a chance to defend. David Pumphrey and Ben DuFour have been solid off the bench all season and combine have averaged nearly 18 points per game. This production has been an invaluable all season long and if they continue to play this well then the Blazers just might bring home another title.
Back up guard Justin Post will still not be available for the post season tournament because of his arm injury.
