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	Welcome back to our web site! After a lengthy hiatus, it's nice finally to be back online. While the circumstances which created the lapse were well beyond anyone's control, I want to apologize for the interruption in service. As always, many thanks go to my wife, who helped once again in making this possible, both from a technological and emotional support basis.

	With the first week of the season under our belts, now is probably as good a time for everybody, teams and coaches included, that basketball season is more of a marathon than a sprint. While there is an immediacy to the paying attention to the task at hand, whether it's a game, scirmmage, or practice, it's a long way until March and we all need to keep at least one eye on the big picture.

	The varsity preseason is under way though the team has had only two full practices as a complete unit. Both at The Heights last Wednesday and at Landon over the weekend there were moments that showed the potential this team possesses while also highlighting necessary areas of improvement. Trey Moses played solidly at both scrimmages, while Anthony Curcio-Rudy had a very strong outing against the Heights, and Pape Koite played some of his best basketball in this early season over the weekend at Landon. The next varsity scrimmage will be Friday at St. John's(DC). The scrimmage will take place at 11 am and we will leave Blair at 10 am. After Friday's scrimmage, the next scrimmage will be Saturday at noon at Blair against the Chelsea School. This is our only home scrimmage of the preseason.


	The JV team also competed strongly in two scrimmages in the past week. A great effort at The Heights made trimming for the final roster difficult, but it was a necessary move in order to move forward with the season. Austin Liou, among others, played well at The Heights. With the roster for the season set, the team traveled to Walter Johnson for a multi-team scrimmage and played through some injury and missing teammate and performed, as I was told afterward, fairly well. The next scrimmage for the JV team will be on Friday at St. John's also at 11 am. The JV team will also scrimmage Chelsea at 2 pm at Blair.
	On Friday afternoon we will hold our annual open workout for family and relatives of members of this year's team. From 4 pm to 6 pm, the varsity will practice and family members, relatives, JV players(and their families and relatives) are welcome to come in and observe a practice. This is the only time during the season we do this, so please take advantage of this unique opportunity. Refreshments are served after the practice, and there will be no turkey involved.
	As the season begins, we will increase our study hall frequency for both teams. Attendance is taken daily in study hall, as we cannot support students who do not make themselves available for support. Coaches also use the time to monior academic progress and handle other adminstrative team functions.
	Anyone interested in purchasing commenerative gear from Blair's 75th anniversary weekend should contact John MacDonald in the boys PE office for inventory and prices. There is also a select number of retro jerseys and other athletic wear available for purchase.
	Coach DeStefano November 23, 2009