Breaking Down The Boys

Wed., March 3, 1999

Evergreen Lutheran Eagles

Record: 22-3

Coach: David Habeck

First-round opponent: Odessa

Route to state: Defeated Quilcene 79-61 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Karl Rodmyre, 5-9, sr., guard, 13.1 ppg; Jack Thiesfeldt, 6-3, sr., forward, 12.9 ppg; Andy Hartwig, 5-9, sr., guard, 12.6 ppg; Josh Marlow, 5-10, jr., forward, 5.1 ppg.

Fast fact: The Eagles, of Des Moines, are the only first-timers in the field.

Outlook: The Eagles, who entered district with a 16-game winning streak, should finish one day short of a trophy.

Odessa Tigers

Record: 18-6

Coach: Myron Kramer, second year, 39-16

First-round opponent: Evergreen Lutheran

Route to state: Defeated Almira/Coulee-Hartline 64-62 (OT) at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Ryan Floch, 6-6, sr., post, 20.8 ppg. 11 rpg; Scott Kramer, 5-8, sr., point guard, 12.4 ppg, 7 apg; Michael Jeske, 6-6, jr., post, 11.1 ppg, 9 rpg; George Schafer, 6-3, sr., wing, 10.4 ppg, 6 rpg; Daniel Pitts, 6-0, sr., wing, 3 ppg, 5 rpg.

Fast fact: Seven of the team’s eight seniors have played together since second grade.

Outlook: Expect the Tigers to snare their second consecutive trophy.

Orcas Island Vikings

Record: 14-8 Coach: Gregg Sasan, first year

First-round opponent: Sunnyside Christian

Route to state: Defeated Quilcene 67-65 (OT) at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Reggie Harris, 6-3, sr., center, 22 ppg; Matt Stolmier, 5-8, sr., guard; Shea Sasan, 5-8, sr., guard; Jacob Linnes, 6-0, sr., forward; Saul Sasan, 5-9, fr., forward.

Fast fact: Harris hit a 12-footer at the buzzer against Quilcene to force the overtime. He finished with 37 points and 31 rebounds.

Outlook: Orcas has never won a state game. Its average size will likely prevent the big breakthrough.

Sunnyside Christian Knights

Record: 21-1

Coach: Dean Wagenaar, fifth year, 87-30

First-round opponent: Orcas Island

Route to state: Defeated Bickleton 49-47 at District 5 tournament.

Top players: Michael Van Beek, 6-1, sr., forward, 23.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Michael Van Wingerden, 5-11, jr., guard, 14.5 ppg, 2.8 spg, 72 3-pointers; Bodie Jones, 6-1, jr., forward, 7.2 ppg; Jared Haak, 6-1, sr., forward, 2.7 ppg.

Fast fact: The Knights had lost the last three district championships by a total of seven points. But they passed the test this year and have a 21-game winning streak.

Outlook: The hunch here is that Sunnyside will edge Odessa to qualify for the semifinals.

Naselle Comets

Record: 16-7

Coach: Ryan Bjornsgaard, second year, 28-19

First-round opponent: Mount Vernon Christian

Route to state: Defeated Napavine 56-54 at District 4 tournament.

Top players: Justin Queral, 6-1, sr., forward, 15.9 ppg; Jay Nedry, 6-4, sr., forward, 11.6 ppg; Troy Salme, 5-10, soph., guard, 11.1 ppg; Tyler Salme, 5-9, soph., guard, 9.4 ppg; Alan Wirkkala, 5-11, jr., guard, 5.3 ppg.

Fast fact: Ex-Comets player Bjornsgaard is tied for sixth in all-time tournament scoring (248 points) with Ron Cox, coach of Tekoa-Oakesdale’s girls.

Outlook: Naselle has won 15 of its last 17, but the hot streak probably won’t continue.

Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes

Record: 17-6

Coach: Joe Krivanek

First-round opponent: Naselle

Route to state: Defeated Orcas 49-44 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Matt Vanderkooy, 6-6, sr., center, 18.6 ppg; Justin VandenBosch, 6-6, sr., center, 12.3 ppg; Adam Toeset, 5-8, jr., guard, 8.1 ppg; Aaron Klein, 6-0, sr., guard, 5.9 ppg; Matt Kaemingk, 6-4, sr., forward, 5.6 ppg.

Fast fact: The Hurricanes were 1-2 in their only appearance, 1994.

Outlook: Size inside may whisk the Hurricanes into the trophy round. The call here: a near-miss for hardware.

Pateros Billygoats

Record: 16-9

Coach: Mike Hull, 14th year, 229-108

First-round opponent: LaCrosse-Washtucna

Route to state: Defeated Manson 42-38 at District 6 tournament.

Top players: Clint Hull, 6-2, jr., guard, 23.9 ppg; Jerad Evans, 6-1, sr., guard, 10 ppg; Mark Stennes, 6-1, jr., center, 12.2 ppg; Kevin Stennes, 6-1, jr., forward, 4.3 ppg; Jorge Lopez, 5-5, jr., guard, 3.5 ppg.

Fast fact: Clint Hull holds the tourney record for 3-point percentage in one game (10 or more attempts). He went 6 for 10 last year vs. Pe Ell.

Outlook: Look for the Billygoats to take home their third trophy in four appearances.

LaCrosse-Washtucna Tigercats

Record: 18-5

Coach: Brian Koller, first year

First-round opponent: Pateros

Route to state: Defeated St. John-Endicott 53-46 at District 9 tournament.

Top players: Cole Schweiger, 5-11, sr., guard, 14.1 ppg, 3.8 apg; Derek Henley, 6-0, sr., guard, 10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 spg; Greg Whitman, 6-2, sr., forward, 7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Shane Hammond, 6-3, jr., forward, 7.7 ppg; Dustin Colter, 5-10, jr., guard, 4.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg.

Fast fact: Schweiger started for the 1996-97 team that placed eighth at state. L-W stumbled last year when he missed a month with an injury.

Outlook: Bench strength and the mental boost from their recent district title will send the Tigercats into the championship game.

Willapa Valley Vikings

Record: 16-10

Coach: John Peterson, second year at WV, seventh overall, 59-83.

First-round opponent: Waterville Route to state: Defeated Napavine 56-43 at District 4 tournament.

Top players: Chris Bannish, 5-10, fr., guard, 13 ppg, 6 rpg; Andrew Sells, 6-5, jr., forward, 12 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Jamie Ping, 5-7, sr., guard, 10 ppg; Sean Griss, 6-0, soph., guard, 9 ppg; Kris Basil, 5-7, jr., guard, 7 ppg.

Fast fact: Bannish is the nephew of Matt and Mark Bannish, who played for WV’s 1981 championship team coached by current Valley Christian coach Steve Altmeyer.

Outlook: The matchups don’t look favorable for the Vikings.

Waterville Shockers

Record: 21-2

Coach: Jim Evans

First-round opponent: Willapa Valley

Route to state: Defeated Manson 52-33 at District 6 tournament.

Top players: Zach Gormley, 6-1, sr., guard, 14.2 ppg; Kellen Biggar, 6-3, jr., center, 12.4 ppg; Tyler Greenwood, 5-11, soph., guard, 11.1 ppg; Kieth Finkbeiner, 6-2, sr., forward, 8.2 ppg; Michael Brandt, 5-10, sr., guard, 6.4 ppg.

Fast fact: Gormley and Finkbeiner started for the 1996-97 Shockers who qualified for state.

Outlook: These players seem too good not to place, but the bracket appears to work against them.

Liberty Lancers

Record: 17-9

Coach: David Baird, fifth year

First-round opponent: Chief Leschi

Route to state: Defeated Republic 43-18 at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Jeremy Engle, 5-11, sr., guard, 12.6 ppg; Brad Wiman, 6-0, sr., guard, 9.2 ppg; Matt Horlacher, 6-2, sr., forward, 8 ppg; Jake Holling, 5-10, jr., guard, 7.2 ppg; Ben Holling, 6-1, soph., forward, 7 ppg.

Fast fact: The Lancers, 1986 champs, are one of six former champions in the field.

Outlook: Offensive balance and rugged defense should equate to a trophy, but Liberty’s opener isn’t desirable.

Chief Leschi Warriors

Record: 15-11

Coach: Michael Bradley, fourth year, 69-28

First-round opponent: Liberty

Route to state: Defeated Evergreen Lutheran 60-52 at District 1-2-3 tournament

Top players: Isaac Richardson, 5-4, jr., point guard, 12 ppg, 8 apg, 5 spg; Brandon Brown, 6-3, jr., forward, 16 ppg, 10 rpg; Anthony Andrisek, 5-11, sr., guard, 20 ppg; James Trent, 6-3, jr., forward, 16 ppg, 12 rpg; Rahmad Lawrence, 6-1, jr., guard, 8 ppg, 7 rpg.

Fast fact: The Warriors called up four junior varsity players to fill out a roster that has hovered around six or seven much of the season.

Outlook: Thin numbers and not much height, but this team will show moves on the court that others dream about. Semifinalist, at least.

St. John-Endicott Eagles

Record: 22-3

Coach: Darrell Miller, fourth year

First-round opponent: Pe Ell

Route to state: Defeated DeSales 63-55 at District 9 tournament.

Top players: Grant Bafus, 6-0, sr., guard, 19.2 ppg; Karl Scheuerman, 6-3, jr., guard, 12.4 ppg; Josh Hames, 6-3, jr., post, 13.5 ppg; Derek Miller, 5-10, jr., guard, 5 ppg; Todd Strader, 6-0, sr., forward, 3.4 ppg.

Fast fact: Bafus enters the tourney with 1,162 career points.

Outlook: Another trophy for the Eagles, but probably a step shy of last year’s third-place finish.

Pe Ell Trojans

Record: 20-3

Coach: Brent Moon, seventh year, 99-75

First-round opponent: St. John-Endicott

Route to state: Defeated North Beach 58-34 at District 4 tournament

Top players: Chris Phelps, 6-2, soph., post, 22 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.4 spg; Kai Maxwell, 6-1, sr., guard, 10.1 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2 spg; Dana Cox, 6-1, jr., point guard, 8.3 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3 spg; John Nelson, 6-6, sr., center, 7 ppg, 5.5 rpg; Jordan Coleman, 6-2, sr., wing, 8.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 2.6 spg.

Fast fact: Phelps (22 ppg) was on the roster last year, but scored all of eight points in four games.

Outlook: Pe Ell might do well to win its first game at state since 1967.

Darrington Loggers

Record: 18-7

Coach: Jeff Bryson, eighth year, 111-90

First-round opponent: Valley Christian

Route to state: Defeated Orcas 48-43 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Ned Miller, 6-1, sr., point guard, 17 ppg, 8 rpg; Dennis Pomeroy, 6-0, sr., forward, 6.3 ppg; John Fromong, 6-4, jr., center, 13.3 ppg, 6 rpg; Josh Padgett, 5-11, jr., guard, 6.4 ppg; Todd Wright, 5-10, jr., guard, 6.1 ppg.

Fast fact: Miller, second all-time in tourney 3-point shooting (46 percent), needs six to pass Toutle Lake’s Kevin Grabenhorst for most 3-pointers in a tourney career. Grabenhorst had 28.

Outlook: The Loggers, 70-43 losers last year, must wonder what they need to do to open against someone other than Valley Christian.

Valley Christian Panthers

Record: 22-2

Coach: Steve Altmeyer, third year, 61-11

First-round opponent: Darrington

Route to state: Defeated Curlew 61-40 at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Eric Smith, 6-2, jr., forward, 15.7 ppg; Jeremy Decker, 5-10, sr., point guard, 5.7 ppg; Brent Decker, 6-2, soph., forward, 15.6 ppg; Jared Evans, 6-2, jr., forward, 11.6 ppg; Matt Barreiro, 5-8, soph., guard, 7.4 ppg.

Fast fact: Four Panthers were named to the Bi-County all-league team.

Outlook: We predicted them first place last year, when they were second. Here’s another chance, Panthers.

1. TOP EIGHT Predicted placings 1, Valley Christian 2, LaCrosse-Washtucna 3, Chief Leschi 4, St. John-Endicott 5, Liberty 6, Sunnyside Christian 7, Odessa 8, Pateros Chris Derrick

2. PLAYERS TO WATCH Best of the boys Ned Miller, 6-1, sr., guard, Darrington Isaac Richardson, 5-4, jr., guard, Chief Leschi Michael Van Beek, 6-1, sr., forward, Sunnyside Christian Clint Hull, 6-2, jr., guard, Pateros Ryan Floch, 6-5, sr., post, Odessa

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