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Maybe the Blair boys basketball team will make a little more sense this year.

Not too much seemed logical for the Blazers a year ago; after winning their first two games, they lost 14 in a row. Then they beat a full-strength Richard Montgomery team by 29 points before winning four straight at the end of the season, including two playoff games: eye-catching ousters of Blake and Wootton, both of whom finished with winning records.

Their hot finish told the story; they were a solid team whose record didn't showcase it. Of their 18 losses, nine were by 6 points or less.

"I don't know that we struggled; we just didn't win games," said head coach Mark DeStefano. "In all but two or three games, we were within two possessions of every team."

DeStefano expects more of the close ones to go their way this time around, as he builds around two returning starters. Senior Mike McLain was one of the team's top offensive threats a year ago as a point-forward, capable of creating his own shot or hitting mid-range jumpers. The other returnee is 6-foot-8 center Leon Sampson, a lanky but agile presence in the pivot who should block a ton of shots.

Aside from that, the Blazers are in a bit of flux. Senior guards Eddie Kolleh and Wayne Henderson could start, but will be pushed by juniors Cooper Neimand, Cameron Reed, and Trey Moses. The frontcourt is even more up for grabs, with seniors Josh Gordon and Neil Corran and sophomores Josh Kickenson and Ethan Brown vying for one spot.

Whoever winds up cracking the starting five will be expected to continue what Blair was able to do last year: shut teams down. Though they never put up gaudy offensive scoring-outputs, the Blazers gave up less than 50 points a game.

"We want to maintain our defensive identity from last year," said DeStefano. "We're looking to open up a little more on offense. We've got some size, but our size is agile enough to adapt to whatever style we need to play to be successful."

Location: Silver Spring

Nickname: Blazers

Head coach: Mark DeStefano, 3rd year (11-35; 13th overall, 69-73)

State classification: 4A

Last year's record: 7-18

Last regional title: 1979 (11th)

Last state title: 1979 (9th)

Players to watch: F Mike McLain, C Leon Sampson