Experienced Eagles headed back to 3A
They say experience is the best teacher. If so, West Valley’s boys basketball team has had plenty of instruction.
The Eagles, making their third State 3A trip in four years and fifth since 1999, return eight players, including all five starters, from last year’s state fourth-place finishing team.
That trophy stamped WV as a GSL favorite this year, but the team finished fourth. Season-long, coach Jamie Nilles talked about finding chemistry and working to get better.
“We know we’re not clicking all the way, which is really OK,” he said following one loss. “We need to keep getting better and be the best we can be at the end of the year.”
After losing to Gonzaga Prep in its 18th game of the season, Nilles inserted senior Maurice Swan as a starter and the Eagles won their last five games, including three in the postseason.
Tyler Hobbs, a 6-foot-4 wing/post, leads the scoring with an 18.0 average; 6-6 E.J. Richardson and wing Greg Bradley are also double-figures scorers.
They’re joined by Greater Spokane League rival North Central for the 3A tournament, the Indians’ first appearance in six decades, beginning Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome.
The Indians are led by 6-4 post Damal Neil (16.6 ppg) and guard Eric Beal (14.4).
History repeats: The general consensus – backed amply by history – is that to win a State 3A tournament is to go through Seattle’s Metro League. And NC opens against one Metro team, O’Dea.
Since 1993, Metro teams have won 10 of 13 state titles. Two-time defending champion O’Dea has four and played in the finals one other time. Rainier Beach has three titles and been to the finals twice. And Seattle Prep was state champion in 2000.
All three are in the field again and among the tournament favorites. District champion Seattle Prep (22-3) beat Rainier Beach for the title, reversing the Metro tourney final outcome.
Returnees: Besides the Eagles’ fourth-place finish, three of last year’s semifinalists, O’Dea (21-6), second-place Mark Morris (21-3) and Rainier Beach (20-6), are back. Also returning are unbeaten Renton (24-0) and Squalicum (15-10), which didn’t place.
Nine girls teams return, including unbeaten defending champion Chief Sealth (25-0) and runner-up River Ridge (22-2). Clarkston’s first-round foe, Tumwater (16-7), was eighth. Fourth- and seventh-placers Issaquah (20-5) and White River (20-5) are also back.
Notable: McDonald’s All-American Spencer Hawes, 7-foot son of former University of Washington standout Steve Hawes, is Husky-bound and averaging 20.1 points for Seattle Prep. … Jamelle McMillan, son of former Sonics and current Portland Trailblazers coach Nate, is one of O’Dea’s standouts. … Regina Rogers, Chief Sealth, is the daughter of former UW football player and NFL draft choice Reggie Rogers. … Renton’s Dante Calcote will play football next year at Eastern Washington. … Colleen Betteridge of Rainier Beach was the third-leading scorer last year for Redmond’s 4A state qualifier. … Lynnwood is making its first state trip since 1986 when it lost to West Valley in the first round. The two could meet in the second round.