BLAINE

BORDERITES

Coach: Shaun Pile (first year)

Last year: Finished tied for 12th in the Northwest Conference with a 2-11 conference mark. Did not advance to the postseason at 4-16 overall.

Players to watch: Gabe Trump (Sr. G), Zach Rector (Sr. F), Josiah Westbrook (Fr. G)

Outlook: Pile takes over for Dougal Thomas, and the new coach hopes to instill a winning tradition with the program. "Blaine hasn't had too much success in the past, and the kids are kind of quick to get down when things don't go well," Pile said in a phone interview. "We've got a group of seniors that are hungry to change that this year, and I think we can surprise some people." Though only a freshman, one of the biggest surprises may be Westbrook, whom Pile called "a stud. He's coming off the bench right now, but he's definitely earned minutes by the way he is playing." If he can develop into a solid point guard for the Borderites, that could help Trump, who averaged 10.7 points per game last year. Of four players that averaged in double figures last year for Blaine, Trump is the only one to return. At 6-foot-4, Rector is the tallest player listed on Blaine's roster. If the Borderites are able to make use of their team speed and can keep a positive mental attitude, they might be able to make some noise in the 1A Northwest District Tournament.

ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Ht. Pos.

1 Josiah Westbrook Fr. 6-0 G

2 Isaiah Jackson Jr. 5-11 G

3 Jericho Probadora Sr. 5-10 G

4 Cole Muder Jr. 5-9 G

10 Ivan Sanchez Sr. 5-9 G

11 Gabe Trump Sr. 5-11 G

20 Tas Scanlan Sr. 6-2 F

22 Ryan Wallen Sr. 6-0 G

24 Zach Rector Sr. 6-4 F

31 Jason Givens Sr. 6-3 F

40 Jon Fakkema So. 6-3 F

44 James Fakkema Sr. 6-3 F

SCHEDULE

Nov. 30 at Sedro-Woolley L 73-44

Dec. 1 at Coupeville W 57-17

Dec. 4 at Mount Baker L 61-53

Dec. 7 Ferndale L 64-53

Dec. 11 at Meridian 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 14 at Lynden Christian* 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 17 at Nooksack Valley* 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 21 Anacortes* 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 28 Blaine Holiday Invite TBD

Dec. 29 Blaine Holiday Invite TBD

Jan. 3 at Bellingham* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 8 at Ferndale* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 10 Squalicum* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Sehome* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 18 Meridian* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 22 Mount Baker* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 25 at Lynden* 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 26 Friday Harbor 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 Sedro-Woolley* 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 1 Burlington-Edison* 7:15 p.m.

*NWC game

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.