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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Seniors set tone for Saxons

Morgan Hyslop missed traveling Tuesday morning in the van with his teammates headed to the State 4A basketball tournament in Tacoma.

He wasn’t, however, about to miss his final basketball experience with Ferris.

The lean, 6-foot-7 post, one of just three seniors on the Saxons team – Tyler Lynn and Andre Jennings are the others – was floored with a stomach virus and forced to travel with family later to catch up to the team.

The Saxons open the State 4A boys tournament in the Tacoma Dome against Kentwood today at 5 p.m.

“I knew I’d be going,” Hyslop said, despite his bout with the flu. “I definitely wouldn’t miss this.”

Common wisdom in athletics says that you win with seniors. These three Ferris seniors are winners, said their coach Don Van Lierop, by accepting subordinate roles to a talented Saxons underclass.

“They are great, great guys,” said Van Lierop. “To be in a supporting role and to understand, you appreciate seniors like that.”

The 25-0 Saxons relied heavily on juniors on their journey to the state tournament.

Nine of the 12 players on the state roster are juniors (seven) or sophomores. The three-headed Saxons beast of Shawn Stockton, Jared Karstetter and DeAngelo Casto led the Saxons in scoring and headlines.

But Hyslop, Lynn and Lewis and Clark transfer Jennings have had their moments.

Lynn started early in the season at guard before making way for Jennings. Hyslop backs a pair of junior posts. The two have readily adapted to their situations.

“When you’re winning, it’s pretty easy to accept what’s going on,” said Lynn, part of a four-guard rotation and 3-point shooting threat.

He said he took the summer off from golf, his primary sport, to prepare for an anticipated start. Seven games into the season Jennings, who had played three years at LC, took over.

“I just thought, hey, it’s your senior year, and give it everything you’ve got no matter how much time you get,” said Lynn. “Even though I’m not starting, I still get really good minutes.”

Jennings was more of a scorer at LC, averaging 10 points per game the two previous years, before accepting his roles as a playmaker on offense and tough defender.

“I just bring energy, play tough defense and set up my teammates for easy baskets,” Jennings said.

His new environment and reaching state as a senior, he added, have been good experiences.

Hyslop, a late developer who played junior varsity until this year, has a soft outside shooting touch suited for his play at the high post.

“Early, I wasn’t sure where I’d fit in,” Hyslop said. “A lot of those (younger) guys have been on varsity longer than I have.”

But he’s enjoyed practicing against Casto – “he just pushes you to get better because he’s so talented” – contributing when he can while planning to continue playing at a community college.

For now he’s savoring his experience at Ferris with a state-caliber team.

“It’s pretty exciting to go back thinking we’ll be more competitive,” he said. “Hopefully, we go all the way.”

With seniors like these, the Saxons can’t lose.