HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers put together a furious second-half rally but fell short at Grace Academy in a 70-62 Mason Dixon Christian Conference boys basketball defeat.

Grace scored the game’s first 12 points and led 23-8 at the end of the first quarter, a lead they stretched to 23 early in the third quarter. The Blazers, however, battled back to get within three late but could not complete the rally.

“We knew coming into this game that Grace was going to be prepared and have high energy,” Blazers coach Austin Sanders said. “Unfortunately, we dug ourselves a hole early and had to play catch-up the rest of the game. I’m proud of the way our guys battled down the stretch. It seemed pretty bleak when we were down 23 early in the third. Finishing the third quarter the way we did was a huge confidence boost, and we took that momentum into the fourth, but we just didn’t have enough to get the job done. I hope this can be a learning experience for us as the playoffs get closer and closer.”

Nollin Egolf led the Blazers (8-10, 4-7 MDCC) with 36 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Aaron Minnier, Reece Hunsberger and Josh Rudy each scored eight points, and Thomas Garvin added two. Minnier grabbed six rebounds and Rudy five.

The Blazers host Shalom on Tuesday, needing a victory to earn a first-round home game in the MDCC playoffs.