Eagles Guard Gets Open, Fires When Ready

When asked to explain a recent scoring streak in which guard Josh Sweet averaged 24 points per game, coach Joe Feist answered with a smile.

“That’s what he’s supposed to do,” Feist said, only half kidding. “When you’re open, make the shot.”

Obviously, it isn’t quite that easy. But Sweet has gotten open enough this year to average 17.6 per game for the 8-2 Eagles.

Their weekend Frontier League sweep left them alone in first place with important games upcoming Friday and Saturday against Colville and at Cheney.

Sweet has scored double figures in 7 of 10 games. Included have been outings of 31 and 32 points.

Like his coach, Sweet dismisses that as merely doing what’s expected.

“That’s my job,” he said. “Play defense and take shots when I’m open. They’ve just been falling lately.”

Sweet grew up in the West Valley system and even though currently living with his father at Liberty Lake, he never entertained a thought of transferring to Central Valley.

“It’s coach Feist,” he said. “He brings out the best in you. To be honest, without his system, I wouldn’t play.”

Sweet had been the point guard in his formative years of basketball, but it was tough to break into the WV varsity lineup with four-year player David Schillinger already on board.

Last year as a starter, Sweet played mainly at the wing and displayed the shooting touch that matches his name.

Much of the credit for his high-scoring success, he continued, is because of the makeup of this year’s Eagle basketball team.

Instead of attacking from the perimeter with a fleet of springy outside shooters, this year’s team is inside oriented. The players are bigger and more physical than past Eagle teams.

Guys like 6-foot-6, 250-pound Vinnie Pecht and 6-3, 250-pound Ty Gregorak can be intimidating. Aaron Mortensen and Austin Gerrells, at 6-3, also have styles centered around inside moves.

“It actually helps a lot,” said the 6-foot Sweet. “When the big guys get physical and hit the boards, they feed like crazy and I feel I can shoot.”

With the emergence of Jade Cardwell at point guard, who is more assister than scorer, Sweet was able to remain WV’s off guard shooter. That is where, Sweet said, he would rather play.

“Jade does a good job of finding people,” said Sweet. “He knows where I’ll be. When I get the looks, I shoot.”

On Friday, Sweet scored only nine points in the Eagles’ 75-54 win over East Valley. The Knights played zone defense with man-to-man coverage on Sweet.

“They started a chaser on him tonight,” said Feist. “When a team opens with a box and one (defense) it’s a sign of respect.”

The next night he scored 14 in a comeback win at Pullman which left WV 3-0 in league.

“Our deal is as long as he works hard on defense and his total skills,” said Feist, “he can pull the trigger any time.”

That’s the West Valley way. Teach players what you expect, get them to work hard and turn them loose in a game. But that still doesn’t explain why Sweet has become such a deadly shooter.

“A kid is not a scorer unless he plays a lot from the time he’s young,” said a deadly-serious Feist. “There’s a feel for it.”

Josh Sweet has the feel.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo