BALTIMORE, Md. – The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers opened their boys basketball season by dropping three games in the Rosedale Baptist tournament over the weekend.

On Friday, the Blazers lost 63-45 to Lanham Christian and 57-27 to Grace Brethren; those teams eventually wound up in the tournament championship game. Then on Saturday, the Blazers dropped a 43-32 decision to Heritage Christian of Virginia.

“This was definitely a different style of tournament than we are used to, but at the same time it was a great experience for us,” Blazers coach Austin Sanders said. “We figured out some good things and will work in practice to change some of the bad habits, but all in all I was pleased with how the guys competed.”

In the first game, sophomores Caleb Eckert (16 points) and Blaine Minnier (15) combined for 31 of the Blazers’ 45 points. Isaac Kauffeldt added six, Nathan Statler five, Jacob Russell two and Kenneth Hott one.

Against Grace Brethren, Eckert had 12 points and nine rebounds. Minnier added six points, Statler three, and Kauffeldt, Triston Horn and Eladio Pena two apiece.

In Saturday’s game, the Blazers fell behind 26-16 at halftime and never recovered. Minnier led the team with 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Statler had eight points, Eckert four (and 15 rebounds), and Pena, Kauffeldt and Hott two points each.

The Blazers play Broadfording in their home opener tonight at 8:15.