Sun | Sports

Eric D. Williams and Dusty Lane - Nov 30th, 2000

OLYMPIC LEAGUE

CLASS 4A

Bremerton Knights

Coach: Casey Lindberg, 3rd year

Last year: 8-12, 7th in OL

Top Returners: Michael Stitt (5-10, G, jr); Kellen Alley (6-4, F, jr.); Sam Flemister (6-3, F, sr.); Joe Bollinger (6-0, G, jr.)

Key Newcomers: Marcus Mitchell (5-9, G, sr.); Noah Garguile (6-4, F, so.); Ijohn Taylor (6-4, F, so.); Ken Justice (6-4, C, sr.); Garrett Tate (5-9, G, sr.)

Outlook: See preview.

Central Kitsap Cougars

Coach: Tim Dower, 2nd year

Last year: 6-14, 8th in OL

Top Returners: Will Pence (6-3, G, sr.); Dyame Lemming (6-2, G, sr.); Dylan Robbins (6-1, PG, sr.); Eric Roy (6-1, F, sr.); Casey Sullivan (6-3, C, sr.); Mike Malala (6-3, W, jr.)

Key Newcomers: Jeremy Webb (6-5, C, sr.); Josh Webb (6-5, C, sr.); Ian Stenerson (6-3, P, sr.); Nick Hoisington (6-4, F, so.); Dwayne Thibodeaux (5-11, pg. so.); Aaron Brien (6-3, G, so.)

Outlook: The Cougars finished eighth in the Olympic League last season, but most of the team is returning. "We're a lot farther along,"Dower said. "I think other teams are overlooking us." Dower said the team is placing its hopes in solid man-to-man defense and a big season from Pence.

North Kitsap Vikings

Coach: Bob Fronk, 4th year

Last year: 10-9, 5th in OL

Top Returners: Marc McNall (6-2, G, sr.); Bryan Haupt (6-8, F, jr.); Josh Mathews (5-11, G, jr.); Thomas Jordan (6-2, F, jr.); 6-4; Ty Hildebrand (6-4, F, jr.); Clint Thomas (6-4, F, sr.); Brandon Cari (5-11, G, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Reid Ammann (6-4, G, so.) 6-5 Devon Reed (6-5, F, so.); Jerrod Gonzales (6-1, G, jr.); Tanner Huget, (6-2, G, sr.); Landon Acohido, jr., (5-11, G, jr.)

Outlook: See story.

Olympic Trojans

Coach: Robert Polk, 4th year

Last year: 15-8, 2nd in OL

Top Returners: Geoff Kelstrup (5-11, G, jr.); Ernie Parsons (6-0, G, sr.); Casey Manchester (5-11, G, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Chris Lambert (6-2, F, jr.); Aldwin David (5-6, G, jr.); Joel Ackley (6-2, F, jr.); Ferbien Encomienda (5-9, G, so.)

Outlook: The Trojans will try to play a little quicker this season with perimeter players Kelstrup, Parson and Manchester leading the way. "Our philosophy has to change,"Polk said. "I've always been a believer in inside-out basketball, but we do need to make it a length-of-the-court game."

Port Angeles Roughriders

Coach: Lee Sinnes, 16th year

Last year: 17-6, 1st in OL

Top Returners: Jordan Rhoads (5-11, PG, jr.); Jacoby Pender, (6-0, G, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Jordan Tschimperle (5-11, G, jr.); Mike Ridgway (6-2, F, sr.); Owen Golden (5-10, G, jr.); Colin Anderson (6-3, F, jr.); Henry Ochs (6-2, G, jr.); Matt Sinnes (6-4, F, so.)

Outlook: The Roughriders return only two starters, but Sinnes says his team is more athletic than in the past. Most of the players moving up played on PA's junior varsity team, which won the Olympic League last year. "They've got some basketball experience, and I think that they understand our tradition," Sinnes said. "They understand that when they come up to varsity, we're expected to be one of the the top teams."

Count on the Roughriders to play a physical man-to-man defense and run a bit more this year. PA is shooting for its eighth consecutive 4A district berth.

CLASS 3A

Bainbridge Spartans

Coach: Jeff Eller, 5th year

Last year: 10-11, 7th in OL

Top Returners: Nick Thompson (6-0, G, sr.); Zach Whedbee (6-3, F, sr.); Mike Botefuhr (6-0, PG, jr.); Teddy Picha (6-3, F, jr.); Travis Guterson (6-1, G, jr.); Adam Brenneman (6-1, G, jr.); Chris Mandell (6-5, F, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Henry Guterson (5-11, G, so.)

Outlook: Nine starters return for Eller, who is looking for more consistent play from his Spartans this year. Bainbridge's top player from last season, Drew Stenesen, is playing at Olympic College this year.

"We have plenty of talent," Eller said. "Last year, we ran a lot of stuff through Drew. This year we have a lot more weapons. We may give away some inches, but I think we're going to match up well with most teams."

Sequim Wolves

Coach: Brian Roper, 2nd year

Last year: 12-8, tied for 2nd in OL

Top Returners: Chris Pendleton (5-10, G, sr.); James McCutcheon (6-0, G, sr.); Tyler Millet (6-3, F, sr.); Joe Allen (6-7, C, sr.); Steve Shinkle (6-6, C, sr.); Jeff Word (5-11, G, sr.); Dan Gebhardt (6-1, F, sr.); D.J. Rutherford (5-10, G, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Mark Millet (6-4, F, jr.)

Outlook: With eight seniors, the Wolves are exceptionally experienced this season. Three of those seniors, Pendleton, McCutcheon and Mellet, were all-league selections last year, and two more stand taller than 6-5. After finishing tied for second last season, watch for the Wolves to have an outstanding season. "We have high expectations, but we're certainly taking nothing for granted," Roper said.

CLASS 2A

Port Townsend Redskins

Coach: Russ Hickman, 2nd year

Last year: 13-8, 3rd in OL

Top Returners: Max Mook (6-1, G, Sr.); Brian Blevins (5-9, G, Sr.); Silas Holm (6-3, F, Sr.)

Key Newcomers: Pete Rasmussen (5-11, G, Sr.); Chris Pittman (6-4, F, Sr.)

Outlook: The Redskins bade a sad farewell to three of the top players from last year's team, which took third in league. But they should be competitive again. "We lost the nucleus of our team, but we've got eight kids that could start,"Hickman said. "That's what's going to give us some depth and help us out." Hickman has nine seniors at his disposal.

Klahowya Eagles

Coach: Scott McMinds, 2nd year

Last year: 2-19

Top Returners: Eddie Bullock (5-9, G, Sr.); Josh Merry (6-1, F, Sr.);Ben Salo (6-1, F, Sr.); Robert Tyree (6-5, C, Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Dusty Rasmussen (6-4, F, So.); Charlie Merry (5-11, G, So.)

Outlook: McMinds acknowledges that it's difficult for the Eagles to compete with 4A teams, but said his teams should be able to win some games this season. "We led the league last year with turnovers, but our point guards work really hard on possesion and not turning the ball over,"McMinds said. "We have a good chance of being competitive each night."

NARROWS LEAGUE

CLASS 4A

SouthKitsap Wolves

Coach: John Callaghan, 3rd year

Last year: 13-9, 3rd in Narrows League

Top Returners: Buck Savage (6-4, F, sr.); Justin Dudley (6-1, G, sr.); Jake Whitford, (6-5, F, sr.); Beau Pilon (6-5, F, sr.); Jason Boyd, (5-10, PG, jr.); Tyler Mayfield (5-10, G, jr.)

Key Newcomers: Nate Seitz (6-3, G, so.); Brian Cox (5-10, G, so.); Aaron Metz (6-5, F, jr.); Boya Quichocho (5-9, G, jr.); Tremaine Curry (6-0, G, jr.); Jacob Beitinter (6-7, F, fr.)

Outlook: Callaghan lost a lot of experience, with seven seniors leaving from last year's team. But he feels he has a talented group this season, and should be stronger inside with Savage and Pilon back. Pilon received a fifth year of eligibility and is not eligible to play until Jan. 2.

A lot of responsibility will be handed to junior point guard Jason Boyd, who saw limited action as a sophomore last season.

"Boyd is not tested, but he will be," Callaghan said. "He's really looked good and he's ready to go. The one down side (for us) is just experience."

The Wolves will not have much time to learn on the run because they'll face some stiff competition in the Narrows League, probably the toughest basketball conference in the state. Class 4A state champion Foss is primed for another state title run.

NISQUALLY LEAGUE

CLASS 2A

Chimacum Cowboys

Coach: Bob "Torpedo"Thompson, 2nd year

Last year: 9-12, 5th in Nisqually League

Top Returners: Cody Huntingford (6-0, G, sr.); Steve Melnick (6-4, C, sr.); Robert Glenn (6-0, G, sr); Steve Alm (6-2, F, sr.)

Key Newcomers: Robby Andrus (6-3, C, so.)

Outlook: The Cowboys worked their way into the playoffs last season, and Thompson said they've improved this year. "We should be a lot deeper on the bench than we were last year,"Thompson said. "We're working on rebounding and stopping other people from scoring, which was a big headache for us in the past."

SEA-TAC LEAGUE

CLASS B

King's West Warriors

Coach: Rick Walker, 9th year

Last year: 10-13, 3rd in Sea-Tac League South

Top Returners: Jon Gagliardoni (6-1, F, sr.); Garret Anderson, (6-0, G, sr.); Brandin Jones (5-9, PG, so.); Blake Anderson (6-3, F, so.); Emil Rogstad (5-11, G, jr.)

Key Newcomers: Peder Rauen (6-1, F, so.)

Outlook: The Warriors have five varsity players returning and a talented up-and-comer in Rauen. Walker said this year's team has the talent to win the league title and advance to districts. "We're looking to play pressure defense and create turnovers for fastbreak points," Walker said. "We haven't had a team like this in a long time. If we can get them on the same page, they'll be dynamite."