Eagle Juniors Come Out From Under Wing Underclassmen Vital To Sixth Straight Title

As long as West Valley’s boys basketball team played ugly the results were pretty.

Carrying nine juniors on its 13-player roster, WV won its sixth straight Frontier League championship and eighth title in nine years under coach Joe Fiest.

Ugly is Feist’s euphemism for the Eagles’ effective style of play.

“We’re best when we’re flying around making plays,” he said. “When we get too cute and try something special is when we get in trouble.

“A lot of it comes with youth.”

A half-dozen juniors provided ample support for returning starters David Schillinger and Joe Bonner.

Three - Vinnie Pecht, Josh Sweet and Austin Gerrells - are or have been starters this year.

“Vinnie might be the most important,” said Feist. “We’re not big and with him on the floor we’re so much better defensively.”

At 6-foot-5, Pecht has averaged 11 rebounds per game, giving the Eagles an inside presence they haven’t had since 1991.

“He’s carrying a load,” said Feist.

Although struggling offensively at season’s end, Sweet provided outside shooting that took some of the pressure off Schillinger.

“We need him to score 15 points on the perimeter,” said Feist, “and defend hard on the ball so David doesn’t have to guard their best player all the time.”

The 6-foot-3 Gerrells, who came over from Valley Christian School, has made the Eagles more physical than in past years. The final two weeks, however, mononucleosis limited his playing time.

Three other juniors - Ty Gregorak, Mike Schroder and Aaron Mortensen - have rotated through a position.

“They have given us solid minutes,” said Feist.

Even as the Eagles continue their amazing string of Frontier League success - the team was 9-3 in league and 16-4 overall - they are are young this year by necessity.

“We didn’t have any options,” said Feist. “We knew they would work hard and improve. To be honest, they improved more than I thought they could.”

And they fit nicely with Schillinger and Bonner who, Feist said are still the main ingredients in WV’s most recent league title.

“I don’t remember a 5-foot-10 player like David with the impact on a game, night in and night out,” said Feist. “I think people spent so much time stopping him that others were able to expand their games. And I haven’t seen anyone who has taken the verbal abuse he does. He’s done a good job of controlling himself.”

Ever relentless in a game, Bonner improved over last year. What he may lack in talent, said Feist, he makes up for with determination and leadership.

Feist also lauded senior guard Jason Whitney who has given the team some perimeter help off the bench.

Because of the unpredictable nature of Frontier League district playoffs, a four-team double elimination tournament that sends just one team to state, a league championship is no guarantee that the Eagles, despite a top 10 ranking, will qualify. In fact, the Eagles, after losing to Riverside last Saturday night, were in a loser-out game with Cheney Wednesday night.

Feist likes to think a league title says more about the consistency of a basketball program.

“Don Haskins (coach of Texas-El Paso) says that winning a league championship is more important to him,” said Feist. “Anyone can get hot and get into the NCAA tournament. But winning league means you’re best over the long haul.”

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