Lakeside, Riverside Hope For Season Repeat
Boys basketball
Post-season proved very good for a pair of small school North Side basketball teams last year, Lakeside High in particular.
A second-place finish in its Northeast A League district tournament qualified the Eagles to state, where they were a surprising semifinalist and third-place finisher.
Like Lakeside, Riverside finished second in the Frontier League and in district, losing twice to Cheney after reaching the finals unbeaten.
But the Frontier only had one AA state entrant and the Rams stayed home.
This year, two teams qualify for state in each league and the two schools will attempt to at least duplicate last year’s performances.
Deer Park will have a young team this season.
After this year Riverside is expected to rejoin Lakeside and Deer Park when the Northeast League is reconfigured into a newly-designated AA enrollment classification.
Lakeside returnees seek repeat
Seven players return from last year’s storybook season in which the Eagles finished four games behind unbeaten Chewelah, but placed at state while the Cougars faltered.
“We’re going to try and be competitive again,” said coach Kevin Mulligen.
Replacing two starters is the major task. Seniors Mike Dasenbrock and Ryan Day will join high-scoring George Petticrew, Bill Bender and Brian Coe in the lineup. All are 6-foot-1 or taller.
Adam Feider and Vince Nelson are other varsity veterans. Newcomers are juniors Jim Spiger and Bobby Purkhiser from junior varsity and transfers Kyle Skinner, a junior, and James Wilson, a senior.
Last year’s state performance helped the program. There is a turnout of 45 and excitement at the school, said Mulligen.
Success also has its pitfalls.
“People will definitely be gunning for us and we’ll have to be playing our best all the time,” he said. “Hopefully we’ve earned a little respect but we can’t live in the past. We have to live in the future.”
New players on Riverside roster
Although much of Riverside’s lineup is new, coach Brent Monroe is seeking similar results.
“I think we’ll do well, to be honest with you,” he said. “I feel we are stronger with our inside people than last year and better balanced.”
Four players are back, including third-year starter Ryan Monroe, the coach’s son.
“A lot of the burden will fall on Ryan,” said his dad.
He’s joined by Micah Lundberg, Cliff Otto and Phil Daubel from last year’s just-miss state team.
Newcomers are senior Joe Beckham, who missed last year because of injury, juniors Josiah Boone and Jerod Frowick at guard.
Inside players are 6-foot-4 juniors Danny Leaf and Derek Crance, 6-5 Matt Miller and 5-11 Doug Kapelke.
“We had a real good junior varsity team,” said Monroe. “The juniors are very competitive. I feel good where our program is, to be honest. I think we’ll be in the hunt.”
Deer Park young, small
With only two seniors and no one taller than 6-foot 1, the Stag basketball team will be hard-pressed to contend in the Northeast A League.
Two sophomores, Jesse Fricke and Brad Martin will start. Up from junior varsity, junior Greg McCullough will see playing time.
“We’re really young and inexperienced,” said coach Ben Widman. “With no height, what we’re working on is being very disciplined.”
Returnees are senior Sean Stevens, juniors Lynden Harris, Brett Hall, Josh Mitchell and 5-5 point guard Steve Bryant.
New senior Gene Webb didn’t play last year because of injury. Junior Russell Santonocito moves up from junior varsity.
“We’re going to really have to execute, moreso than ever before,” said Widman. “We’ll hope for the best and see what happens.”
, DataTimes