Talent, Attitude Make Good Chemistry For U-Hi Relaxed Titans Notch Winning Record In Gsl, Earn Lamb Weston Regional Tournament Trip
Chemistry is a word bandied about freely by coaches describing their team’s chances to succeed.
But there’s no denying that the ingredients of this year’s University High School boys basketball squad blended nicely together.
The result was University’s first winning Greater Spokane League record since 1993, a share of third place and a trip to the Lamb Weston Regional Tournament which begins next Tuesday.
The Titans will be on the road, either against Richland or Kamiakin, then continue the double-elimination tourney at Eastern Washington University on Friday. Three teams qualify for state, March 12-15.
“I don’t know if our success was so much based on talent - although it was there - as it was on attitude,” said coach Jay Humphrey. “There were very few distractions.”
Coaches and players were able to concentrate on the task at hand, said Humphrey, which wasn’t always the case during his previous three years.
“Maybe they were not pleased, but people accepted their roles,” he said. “That’s worth its weight in gold.”
U-Hi qualified for the regional tournament with last Tuesday’s overtime win over Gonzaga Prep.
Thursday, the team lost 66-42 to Shadle, unable to buy a basket inside or out, necessitating next Tuesday’s road game.
Getting there was particularly gratifying for Humphrey, whose teams went 3-17, 6-14 and 11-10 overall during his first three years. Going into Friday’s game against Mead, the team was 12-10 in all games.
“It’s really exciting,” he said, “and nice to look back knowing we’ve gotten better and better.”
Seven players were back from last year’s team. But five players graduated who saw the bulk of action.
The most experienced returnee was two-year starter Erik Carlson. Back-up point guard Aaron Fryer, Nick Earling and Zaq Flanary got in varsity playing time.
Carlson because of his experience was this year’s cornerstone.
“We don’t necessarily go to him,” said Humphrey, “but I suppose we do. We always start every game wanting to go inside out.”
Play of the other seniors was instrumental in U-Hi’s upper division finish.
Fryer runs the point. Earling is the team’s most cerebral player and defensive star. Flanary controlled offensive tempo, although chicken pox kept him out of the lineup during the district playoffs. Hopefully, he’ll be recovered by Tuesday.
“We miss his presence on the court,” said Humphrey. “The last couple of weeks he has really come around and been rebounding well.”
Marc Heimbigner provided front-court relief for Flanary and Carlson.
But the biggest contributions may have come from Jeff Price and Andy Dunham, whose main action last year, like Heimbigner’s, was with junior varsity.
Price is the team’s second-leading scorer and fifth in the GSL at 12.5 points per game. In the first two games of district, he scored 29 to lead the team.
“I knew he would play but he has put up more points than I thought,” said Humphrey.
Dunham came off the bench and scored 13 points against Gonzaga Prep. That was typical of his contributions in various games this year.
“Andy has really been terrific,” said Humphrey. “He’s accepted his role as sixth player, is smart and a good shooter and defender.”
The result was a 9-7 league record, nearly identical to last year’s 8-8 but a rise of four spots in the standings.
“One of our goals was to win the GSL,” said Humphrey. “Then we wanted to be third because it was as good as we could get.”
They got help when Central Valley was upset by North Central in the GSL season finale.
In the playoffs against Prep, the Titans trailed nearly from the outset but caught up to force overtime.
“Most games are nerve wracking, but when we went to overtime it was almost a feeling that we were OK,” said Humphrey. “I don’t know why it was but I felt we were a lot more relaxed.”
Chalk it up to team chemistry.
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