Conference call

After more than two months of non-conference play that included eight games with nationally-ranked Division I teams, the Blazers are heading down a crucial conference stretch that will end with the Metro Athletic Conference tournament and a shot at heading to the Division III championships.

"I don't think any team in America has played the schedule we've played," said Coach Tim McGraw. "It's been a little ridiculous."

The Blazers planned to play a tough schedule, but took on even more tough matches when games fell through for other local teams and McGraw volunteered his Blazers.

Eight of the team's first ten games were played on the road and contributed to a rocky start.
North Lake finished up non-conference play by squeaking out a victory against Clarendon College, taking their record to 6-14. Among the victories was one at then-nationally ranked Pensacola, Fla., and a strong showing at San Jacinto, Texas, now ranked first in the nation.

"We're better than our record shows. We have a young team with only 4 or 5 returning sophomores," said freshman guard Lynn Medcafe.
The team has only one returning starter from last season's squad.

Such is the case in junior college sports, where most athletes move on after a year or two. The turnover rate is high. That doesn't leave a lot of time for guys to conform to a coaching style and each other's abilities
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"Things have just started to come together in the last two weeks," said McGraw. "We're where we want to be."

Where McGraw wants to be is where he was in 2000, when the Blazers took the conference and went on to place third in the nation in their division.
The Blazers are in the middle of 10 straight conference games. This will be their final preparation for the tournament on February 25-27 in Dallas.

The Division III national championships will be held in Delhi, New York, on March 11-13.