The Blair girls basketball team dominated the middle quarters Friday, outscoring the visiting Seward Bluejays 27-10 during the second and third periods.
The Class B No. 9 Bears (13-6 overall) scored the 51-41 win, knocking down eight 3-pointers with leading scorer Makayla Baughman notching three from long range. Leah Chance and Ella Ross, meanwhile, made two 3s apiece and Kalli Ulven had one.
“It's really tough for defenses because I feel like we move the ball really well,” said Chance, a freshman starter. “They don't know whether to lay off or get up close because I feel like we all can shoot the ball pretty well.”
BHS proved it in building a 28-17 halftime lead. The Bears led just 16-14 after 8 minutes, but took control of the game with a 12-3 second with two Ross 3s, a Maggie Valasek bucket and back-to-back scores by senior Maicy Lourens to close the half. On both Lourens hoops, Baughman made the assist.
From there, the Bears outscored Seward 15-7 during the third period before losing the fourth 17-8. Coach Matt Aschoff noted the lopsided final period in his postgame meeting.
“He just told us to just keep playing hard,” Chance said. “Like we had the whole game.”
After Saturday's game against Crete was postponed by weather, BHS next plays at Class B No. 3 Elkhorn North tonight. The Storm is led by freshman star Britt Prince, who already has college offers from North Carolina, Louisville, Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State and others.
