Team Preparation Key Factor Heading Into Gsl Season
Boys basketball
Rogers basketball coach Rick Mergenthaler believes the top coaches in Washington are in the Greater Spokane League.
“No one can go into a game unprepared because the opponent will always be ready,” Mergenthaler said.
He knows his Pirates could finish as high as second in the GSL, battling Ferris and Central Valley for league positioning. But they will have to earn their spot.
Mt. Spokane has a large crop of returning players after struggling through its first season last year. Shadle Park is more experienced this season while North Central is young.
Things will look different at Mead this winter as the Panthers begin with new coach Glenn Williams. Williams replaced Jim Preston.
Gonzaga Prep has one starter back from last season’s team that was sixth in the GSL.
Rogers returns six
There’s no arguing that the Pirates have experience. They are quick and also have good height and depth.
Sam Dempsey, a 6-foot-5-inch senior center is the team’s top returner after earning honorable-mention all-GSL last season. Rogers also has 6-4 senior centers Greg Pugh and Ross Rother. Senior guards are Brett Oglesbee, Adam Hooper and Dashawn Bedford.
The Pirates’ top newcomer is 6-3 junior Josh Wallen.
“Our kids are pioneers,” said Mergenthaler. “We’re not used to being expected to win. We must be unselfish, hard working and dedicated to have a chance to live up to expectations.”
Mt. Spokane thankful for seniors
Mt. Spokane coach Bill Ayers says “having seniors this season will be big.”
The Wildcats, who were 0-18 in their first season for last place in the GSL, have nine players returning with varsity experience. They also have 10 players taller than 6 feet.
“We have yet to win that first league game,” Ayers said. “Being competitive early will be key.”
Senior Casey Clark, a 6-5 guard who was honorable mention all-GSL last season, leads the Wildcats crop of returning starters. Also back are 6-4 junior guard Matt Tabisz, 6-7 junior forward Justin Lewis, 5-9 senior guard Jared Adams, 5-11 junior guard Jake Swanson and 6-3 senior guard Ian Gordon.
Other varsity returners include 6-5 senior forward Corey Freuen and 6-2 senior forward Cole Young. Junior guards Adam Ferguson and Matt Pederson have moved up from junior varsity. Sophomores on the team are guards Adam Hornstein and Casey Franklin, and forward Kyle Vessey.
Senior forward Desmir Basic rounds out the roster. Shane Hammond, on varsity last year, has transferred.
Two returners back at NC
North Central returns just two players from last year’s squad that went 7-13 for seventh place in the GSL. Four juniors have joined the varsity after playing junior varsity ball together last season. But third-year coach Jay Webber says his team lacks height and is somewhat inexperienced.
Junior forward Jake Martyn is the Indians’ lone returning starter. Senior guard Corey Allen also returns.
The new juniors are 6-4 center David Smith, 6-0 forward Jeff Peterson, 5-11 forward Ben Johnson and 5-11 guard Zach Liljenberg.
“We hope to mature as the season progresses and make some noise in the latter part of the year,” Webber said.
New look for Mead
All five of the Panthers starters graduated and Williams is in his first season after coaching stints at West Valley and Lewis and Clark.
Mead has two returners who played sparingly on varsity last year. They are junior guards Dan Stucky and Andy Zelinski.
A handful of newcomers are battling to make the rotation, Williams said. Senior Kyle Zeller, a 6-3 post, led the junior varsity in scoring last season. Other seniors include guards Mike Schafer and Randy Degenhart, the JV’s second-leading scorer. The Panthers’ height is in the junior class in posts Dan Thigpen (6-2), Ben McNaghten (6-3) and Keith Strasburg (6-3). Yet Williams expects rebounding to be a challenge. Shooting and perimeter quickness will be strengths, he said.
Guard Brandon Stallings is another junior. Rounding out the roster are sophomores Chris Cwik and Sameer Hatem.
“Our inexperience may be our biggest shortcoming,” Williams said. “We are working extremely hard and that work ethic along with consistent improvement will create a successful season.”
Shadle has more experience
The Highlanders have five returners, three of whom started last winter, when Shadle finished 6-14 for eighth in the GSL. Senior returners are guard Charlie Howlett and 6-4 forward Eric Singleton. Forwards Jeremy Johnson and Steve Gabriel and guard Demetrius Scott are returning juniors. Scott has recovered after suffering a season-ending knee injury early last season.
Three of last year’s junior varsity starters have been elevated to varsity. They are senior guards Andrew McGinn and Derek Bishop and sophomore forward George Bell.
“We feel that with our experience and quickness we can be a factor in determining the standings in the league,” seventh-year coach Darcy Weisner said. “We have good scorers but our lack of size could hurt us in the post.”
G-Prep is young
Junior Greg Johnson is the Bullpups’ lone returning starter. The 5-11 guard earned honorable mention all-GSL recognition last season.
Senior guard Matty McIntyre was the sixth man last year and will start this year. Kelvin Bacon also has moved into the starting lineup. He was the first forward off the bench last season.
Juniors Jon Ryan and Adam Frankovic split time between varsity and junior varsity last season and are expected to start this winter. Ryan is a 6-0 guard and Frankovic is a 6-4 post.
Rounding out the roster are senior forward/center Nick Freuen, juniors Dan Sullivan and Joe Nickol, and sophomores Andy Bloom and Ryan Simpson.
Seventh-year coach Mike Haugen said he likes his team’s quickness, defense and shooting accuracy. Yet the Bullpups lack height and experience, he said.
G-Prep is setting its sights on a top-6 league finish to get into the district tournament, Haugen said.
“After that anything can happen,” he said.