By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Vikings’ coach Alon Margalit has changed the culture at Blair in dramatic fashion. The Vikings won the most games (25) in school history this season. It was 1981 the last time Blair even approached these numbers. The Vikings went 5-2 in the postseason, including a trip to the CIF-SS Division […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Vikings’ coach Alon Margalit has changed the culture at Blair in dramatic fashion.
The Vikings won the most games (25) in school history this season.
It was 1981 the last time Blair even approached these numbers.
The Vikings went 5-2 in the postseason, including a trip to the CIF-SS Division 4-AA finals, and fell just short to West Torrance.
But just as you thought their season was over, Margalit received word that his star junior had earned a prestigious accolade.
Dez Washington, a 6-foot-7 forward, has been named the John R. Wooden award winner, as the CIF-SS Division 4 Player of the Year. (Click to view letter)
Washington will receive the award on the ESPN Network on Friday, April 7, at The Novo in downtown Los Angeles.
The Event will air live on ESPN 2.
Washington was a monster this year, but never more so than in the postseason.
He scored 181 points in 7 playoff games.
For those under the age of 30, and not rabid basketball fans, the award is named after legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.
Wooden won a record 10 NCAA national championships with the Bruins and died in 2010 at age 99.
Blair won CIF-SS playoff games over Ontario, Flintridge Prep, Jurupa Valley and Woodcrest Christian.
They also rebounded from a late 9-point deficit in the CIF State Division 4 opener, and defeated Palisades, 55-53, when Washington grabbed a Jordan Hall miss, and put it back just before the buzzer sounded for the win.
