HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers put together a big first half and rolled to a 52-17 victory over Highland View Academy Tuesday in their non-league girls basketball season opener.

After a 4-4 score in the first few minutes, the Blazers called time out and then blitzed Highland View from that point on. They pulled out to a 34-11 lead at the half.

“We started slow,” Blazers coach Corey Collins said. “About halfway through the first quarter, our defense got us going, creating a ton of steals leading to fast breaks.”

Sydney Wiegand led the Blazers with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six steals. Victoria Price scored 14 points, Haven Moats and Makenna Morris each scored six, and Emmalyn Hott added four. Morris also provided six assists.

“It was a good first win of the season in a loud gym,” Collins said. “It was a great confidence builder for the girls. It was also encouraging to watch the girls figure the game out as it went along.”

The Blazers enter this season with a revamped team, having lost two 1,000-point scorers from last year in Laurel Reitz and Amber Yanosik. Collins is relying on a talented group of up-and-coming ninth graders to improve as the season progresses.

“We have a young team, with eight freshmen and one sophomore,” Collins said. “Emmalyn Hott, our lone senior and captain, is the only main rotation player returning from last season after we graduated five senior starters.”

Juniors Hannah Vandersleen and Julia Waltz have some varsity experience to offer. Also hoping to earn playing time are sophomore Morgan Ward and freshmen Chloe Smith, Reagan Witmer, Braelyn Posey and Sophie Healey.

“Julia is our other captain and brings a lot of energy,” Collins said. “We are a young team with a lot to learn. It is also my first season as a varsity head coach, being assisted by Danielle Sanders.”

The Blazers reached the final four of the Mason-Dixon Christian Conference tournament the last four years and would love to bring home a championship sooner rather than later.

“We are looking to build on the success of the past four years of the program,” Collins said. “It is going to be fun watching the team grow and mature as the season rolls on. I really believe that this team is going to surprise a lot of people.”