Wildcats keep teams guessing

Mt. Spokane’s basketball defense, to paraphrase Forrest Gump’s mother, is like a box of chocolates. Opposing teams never know what they’re going to get.

“We’ve run probably five different defenses this year,” said guard Jordon Poynor. “It (may seem) ridiculous, but it works really well. We’re a smart bunch of guys and can pick up anything he throws at us.”

The “he” is Wildcats coach Bill Ayers, whose strategy in holding Ferris to 44 points this year was to not contest the jump ball or free-throw rebounds, but to beat feet up court and pack the defense in at the other end.

The night before holding West Valley-Yakima to less than 40 points, Ayers said, “I don’t know if I’ve done this before, but we’re going to have fun with it.”

He ran a tandem zone, starting 6-foot-4 Brad VanderLinden for size and clamping down on the Rams’ three scorers, essentially with five players daring the other two to beat them.

When they take the court in Seattle’s KeyArena for the 9 a.m. State 3A opener against high-flying Mount Rainier, those Rams might find something entirely different.

“We’re going to have to do a heck of a job in terms of protecting the paint and limiting the team as best we can to one shot,” he said.

There is one constant, however, in Mt. Spokane’s first state appearance since 2002 and second in school history. They’ll find Poynor and Ryan Selland on the floor providing offense.

Both have been integral to Mt. Spokane’s program for the last three years. Selland was the second-leading scorer for the team as a sophomore and has been the leader the past two seasons. Poynor, whom Ayers calls one of the best defenders in the Greater Spokane League, has steadily increased his scoring from role player to two-year starter during his career.

They are the perfect complement to point guard Chaz Johnson, who has had 11 assists in five different games this year and whose go-go style defines the Wildcats’ offense.

“We’ve got two great shooters,” Johnson said. “My role is to work hard for 32 minutes and get them so they can knock down 3s.”

The pair will gladly do that. Entering state, Poynor has made 46 from behind the 3-point arc and Selland has 42.

Selland seems an unlikely perimeter player with a husky 6-3 frame, seemingly more suited for football, a game he didn’t play.

Selland and Johnson go back to grade school. Selland and Poynor didn’t join forces until seventh grade on traveling basketball teams. Poynor first played with Johnson last year on the Wildcats’ varsity. Both Poyner and Selland said Johnson is the best point guard with whom they’ve played.

“I think he’s probably the most important player on the team,” Poynor said. “He never comes off the floor and distributes the ball well.”

Together as captains, the trio helped get the Wildcats to state. They say it’s a dream come true, and agree the reason is more than 3-point shooting and defense. It’s been about team chemistry and buying into Ayers’ defensive-scheming and work-ethic mantra.

“These kids are amazing,” Ayers said. “They have been so committed to achieving this goal.”