Grant Bafus St. John-Endicott Year: Senior Sport: Basketball Position: Guard

Grant Bafus has noticed that his best games are the ones in which he starts strongly.

The St. John-Endicott senior showed that last week. In an important Whitman County League matchup with LaCrosse-Washtucna on Friday, he scored 16 of his 25 points in the first half as the Eagles won the battle of league unbeatens 67-48.

“I find I always play better for the whole game if I come out and do well right off the bat,” said the 6-foot-1 Bafus. “As a team, that’s how we do better, too, if we come out and play well from beginning.”

Bafus, 18, a four-year varsity player, also had a big game Saturday when he scored 19 points in a 63-48 win over Tekoa-Oakesdale. He is four points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.

The game with L-W was the team’s most important of the season so far, Bafus said.

“They scored the first two points, but after that, we pretty much had them,” he said. “Defense is doing the trick for us. Our defense is always there. It is a constant for us.”

Bafus knows the Eagles probably will have to face the Tigercats again at the Whitman County League tournament. Friday’s win should give them confidence, Bafus said.

“This kind of set a precedent,” he said.