Boys Preview

Snohomish County Christian Lions

Record: 14-12

Coach: Steve Hudson, 13th year, 180-102

First-round opponent: St. George’s

Route to state: Defeated Seattle Lutheran 50-48 (2OT) at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: David Staal, 5-9, sr., guard, 15.9 ppg; Micah Brown, 5-10, sr., guard, 13.5 ppg; Matt Peterson, 6-0, jr., forward, 8.7 ppg; Shane Quinlan, 5-11, sr., guard, 5.7 ppg; J.J. Hudson, 5-10, jr., guard, 5.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 5 apg.

Fast fact: Brown played for the ‘95 Lions who placed fourth.

Outlook: Coach Hudson has had the players practicing at 5:50 a.m., but the early birds probably won’t get the trophy.

St. George’s Dragons

Record: 20-7

Coach: Jennifer Mountain, fourth year, 78-28

First-round opponent: Snohomish County Christian

Route to state: Defeated Odessa 56-50 at District 7 tournament

Top players: Tom DePonty, 6-2, jr., forward, 14.1 ppg, 6 rpg; Drew Moser, 5-11, fr., guard, 9.7 ppg; Dan Dhillon, 5-8, jr., point guard, 7.8 ppg, 5 apg, 3 spg; Zach Blume, 5-11, sr., guard, 6.6 ppg; Ryan Thomsen, 6-3, sr., center, 6.4 ppg.

Fast fact: DePonty and Blume rode the bench for the ‘96 state runner-up Dragons.

Outlook: St. George’s faces a tall order after its opener.

Napavine Tigers

Record: 17-9

Coach: Jim Prather, fifth year at Napavine, 52-58; career 246-134

First-round opponent: St. John-Endicott

Route to state: Defeated Wishkah Valley 57-41 at District 4 tournament

Top players: Chris Wisner, 5-8, soph., guard, 11.4 ppg; Tim Edmonds, 6-2, sr., post, 10 ppg, 8.6 rpg; Jason Styger, 5-9, sr., guard, 9.5 ppg, 5.6 apg; Ryan Barr, 6-0, jr., forward, 9 ppg, 8 rpg.

Fast fact: The Tigers won four loser-out games at district to qualify for state for the first time since ‘61, when they placed a school-best third.

Outlook: Advancing to Saturday’s placing round will likely be just out of reach.

St. John-Endicott Eagles

Record: 20-5

Coach: Darrell Miller, third year

First-round opponent: Napavine

Route to state: Defeated Waitsburg 48-38 at District 9 tournament

Top players: Grant Bafus, 6-0, jr., guard, 14.1 ppg; Karl Scheuerman, 6-2, soph., guard, 11.8 ppg; Josh Siler, 6-1, sr., forward, 6.5 ppg; Ryan Stolmeier, 6-4, sr., forward, 5.9 ppg; John Stoner, 6-0, sr., guard, 5.7 ppg.

Fast fact: The Eagles have landed for the first time since ‘90, when they completed a string of five trophies in five years.

Outlook: A swarming defense looks like it will push SJE into its first final in 10 years.

Odessa Tigers

Record: 18-9

Coach: Myron Kramer, first year back after 20-year hiatus

First-round opponent: Chief Leschi

Route to state: Defeated Almira/Coulee-Hartline 49-38 at District 7 tournament

Top players: Ryan Floch, 6-5, jr., post, 14.8 ppg, 12 rpg; Scott Kramer, 5-8, jr., point guard, 11.1 ppg, 7 apg; Michael Jeske, 6-6, soph., post, 8.5 ppg, 10 rpg; George Schafer, 6-1, jr., guard, 6.6 ppg; Daniel Pitts, 6-1, jr., guard, 5.5 ppg.

Fast fact: All three Tigers coaches, Kramer (Odessa High), Neil Jeske (Odessa) and John Strohmaier (Lind) played two years at the State B. Outlook: The Tigers, using their rebounding abilities, should sneak into the trophy round for the first time in 27 years.

Chief Leschi Warriors

Record: 22-3

Coach: Michael Bradley, third year, 54-17

First-round opponent: Odessa

Route to state: Defeated Seattle Lutheran 67-57 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Lamont Trent, 6-3, jr., forward, 18.3 ppg; Borin Lach, 5-8, sr., guard, 12.3 ppg, 5 apg; Jonathan Redding, 6-7, sr., center, 9.6 ppg, 10 rpg, 5 bpg; Doug Johns, 6-5, sr., forward, 8.2 ppg; Michael Richardson, 5-4, jr., point guard, 6.8 ppg, 6 spg.

Fast fact: The Warriors twice defeated Class 1A fourth-ranked Life Christian.

Outlook: Size alone makes these first-timers a semifinal threat.

Cascade Christian Cougars

Record: 16-13

Coach: Joel Kortus, first year at CC; 31 years’ experience

First-round opponent: North Beach

Route to state: Defeated Seattle Lutheran 47-44 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Thomas Kortus, 6-2, jr., forward, 7.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg; Sean Davis, 6-2, jr., forward, 8.6 ppg; Steve Fenton, 5-10, jr., guard, 8.4 ppg; Dustin Boburka, 5-10, jr., guard, 7.8 ppg.

Fast fact: The Cougars’ top scorer, senior guard Adam Barringer (16.7 ppg), broke his hand at the district tourney and is lost for the year.

Outlook: Matters were tough enough for the first-time qualifier without losing Barringer.

North Beach Hyaks

Record: 19-4

Coach: Larry Moore, 12th year

First-round opponent: Cascade Christian

Route to state: Defeated Morton 68-41 at District 4 tournament

Top players: Mike Lilja, 6-8, sr., center, 16.4 ppg; Glenn Goldman, 6-2, sr., wing, 12.5 ppg; Kelly Ferguson, 6-1, sr., wing, 11.7 ppg; Sam Sage, 6-0, sr., guard, 9.6 ppg; Marty Carlson, 5-8, sr., guard, 8.5 ppg.

Fast fact: Carlson, Sage and Lilja have two years’ experience at state and played big roles in the school’s first placing, a seventh last year.

Outlook: The Hyaks should place, even if they don’t get past a tough quarterfinal.

Curlew Cougars

Record: 21-6

Coach: Steve Brown, sixth year

First-round opponent: Pateros Route to state: Defeated Republic 66-34 at District 7 tournament

Top players: Gunner Olsen, 6-3, sr., forward, 22.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.4 spg; Jeremy Groth, 5-11, soph., guard, 17 ppg, 36 3-pointers, 6.4 rpg, 5.9 apg, 5.4 spg; Erich Prazak, 6-3, sr., forward, 15.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.8 apg; Caleb Edwards, 5-11, jr., guard, 9.6 ppg, 2.6 spg; Seth Cribby, 5-10, sr., guard, 10.3 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.6 spg.

Fast fact: The Cougars have outscored rivals by an average of 78-40.

Outlook: The worst possible opener will either have the Cougars growling or plowing their way to fifth place.

Pateros Billygoats

Record: 23-1

Coach: Mike Hull, 13th year, 213-99

First-round opponent: Curlew

Route to state: Defeated Manson 50-47 at District 6 tournament

Top players: Jason Crawley, 6-5, sr., center, 20.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 80-percent free-throw shooter; Clint Hull, 6-2, soph., guard, 18.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 47 percent on 3-pointers; Carlos Morales, 6-3, sr., center, 9.8 ppg, 4 rpg; Greg Molkjer, 6-1, sr., forward, 7.2 ppg; Jerad Evans, 6-1, jr., forward, 6.5 ppg.

Fast fact: The ‘96 champions’ lone loss was to Class 1A state-bound Liberty Bell.

Outlook: The bracket is loaded, but the Billygoats should climb their way toward the top three.

Pe Ell Trojans

Record: 18-6

Coach: Brent Moon, sixth year, 77-73

First-round opponent: La Conner

Route to state: Defeated Wahkiakum 49-48 at District 4 tournament

Top players: Matt Coleman, 6-1, sr., point guard, 17.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 apg; Kai Maxwell, 6-0, jr., guard, 12.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Mike Chown, 6-5, jr., center, 7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg; Dana Cox, 5-11, jr., point guard, 5.4 ppg, 3.2 apg; John Nelson, 6-6, jr., center, 5 ppg, 4.5 rpg.

Fast fact: Moon played with La Conner coach Scott Novak on the ‘82 Adna team that placed eighth at the State B. Outlook: The Trojans won’t overcome a draw that pits them, at every turn, against teams ranked in the top four of the final Associated Press poll.

La Conner Braves

Record: 20-3

Coach: Scott Novak, first year back after five-year hiatus; career 75-30

First-round opponent: Pe Ell

Route to state: Defeated Cascade Christian 45-41 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Andy Otis, 5-9, jr., guard, 19.5 ppg, 2.5 spg; Brandon Odell, 6-0, sr., wing, 16.8 ppg; Richard Koss, 6-1, sr., forward, 9.1 ppg, 7 rpg; Dane Lundberg, 5-8, sr., guard, 3.9 ppg, 7 apg.

Fast fact: Novak’s parents are both from Pe Ell.

Outlook: La Conner, which has placed in the top six just three times in 29 previous appearances, would match up better with upper-bracket teams.

Darrington Loggers

Record: 16-9

Coach: Jeff Bryson, seventh year, 91-81

First-round opponent: Valley Christian

Route to state: Defeated Cascade Christian 69-52 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Dennis Sherrill, 6-4, sr., forward, 17.1 ppg, 12 rpg; Ned Miller, 6-0, jr., point guard, 15.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg; Dennis Pomeroy, 6-0, jr., forward, 9.7 ppg; John Fromong, 6-4, soph., center, 8.4 ppg; Ryan Tanner, 6-1, sr., center, 7.1 ppg.

Fast fact: Sherrill and Miller have their sights set on the tourney century club after last year’s thirdplace finish.

Outlook: The Loggers took the tourney by surprise last year, nearly zipping into the final, but they’re running into a Valley Christian speed trap.

Valley Christian Panthers

Record: 22-2

Coach: Steve Altmeyer, second year, 39-9

First-round opponent: Darrington

Route to state: Defeated Curlew 65-62 at District 7 tournament

Top players: Michael Spuler, 6-0, sr., guard, 15.4 ppg; Brian Sears, 6-4, sr., center, 12.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg; Derek Sandin, 6-2, sr., center, 9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg; 2.9 apg, 2.4 spg; Eric Smith, 6-1, soph., forward, 7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg; Jeremy Decker, 5-11, jr., point guard, 5.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4 spg.

Fast fact: Altmeyer coached Willapa Valley to the B title in ‘81 and also led Davenport to state.

Outlook: The first-time qualifiers will take home the gold if they perform up to their standards.

DeSales Irish

Record: 18-5

Coach: John Lesko, 11th year, 152-103

First-round opponent: Lyle

Route to state: Defeated Waitsburg 72-56 at District 9 tournament

Top players: Scott Zea, 6-6, jr., center, 15.9 ppg, 8 rpg; Brian Lindgren, 6-4, jr., forward, 12.6 ppg; Joe Levens, 5-10, sr., point guard, 8.1 ppg, 8 apg, 7 rpg; Kris Wolfram, 5-11, sr., guard, 7.3 ppg; Colin Baffney, 6-3, sr., center, 5.6 ppg.

Fast fact: The Irish have won three consecutive games at state - all in 1954 when the school was called St. Patrick’s.

Outlook: Add a basketball trophy to a school case overloaded with baseball and football awards.

Lyle Cougars

Record: 19-2

Coach: Joe Bales, fourth year, 78-18

First-round opponent: DeSales

Route to state: Defeated Sunnyside Christian 58-56 at District 5 tournament

Top players: Gabe Moore, 5-9, sr., forward, 20.5 ppg, 9 rpg, 40-percent 3-point shooting; Ricky Knowles, 5-7, sr., guard, 6.9 ppg, 6 apg, 5 spg; Ryan Smith, 5-11, jr., center, 6.4 ppg, 75-percent free-throw shooting; Josh Whitecotton, 5-10, sr., forward, 9.3 ppg; Elian Sexton, 5-5, sr., guard, 4.8 ppg.

Fast fact: The four seniors and Bales all started together in their drive to reach this plateau.

Outlook: Lyle has never placed at state (‘64, ‘65, ‘83) and doesn’t figure to this time.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Players to watch Mike Lilja, 6-8, sr., center, North Beach Gunner Olsen, 6-3, sr., forward, Curlew Jason Crawley, 6-5, sr., center, Pateros Ned Miller, 6-0, jr., guard, Darrington Michael Spuler, 6-0, sr., guard, Valley Christian Projected placings 1, Valley Christian; 2, St. John-Endicott; 3, Pateros; 4, DeSales; 5, Curlew; 6, North Beach; 7, Chief Leschi; 8, Odessa Chris Derrick