Johnson, NC benefit from ‘feeder’ school

North Central 6-foot-7 junior Justin Anderson, whose rebounding had a hand in the Indians’ Friday win over Mount Rainier, got his start at Spokane Lutheran School.

Indians assistant coach Len Long kiddingly calls it NC’s “feeder program,” saying Anderson told him they had practiced – “about three times a week.” How long? “About an hour.”

When Anderson was asked what he learned there, he answered, “They actually had me at point guard.”

All-tournament team

NC’s Eric Beal and West Valley’s Tyler Hobbs both made the all-tournament second team, which is voted on by members of the media.

First-team members included: Spencer Hawes, Seattle Prep (MVP); Jamelle McMillan, O’Dea; Ryan Anderson, Rainier Beach; Matt Argyropoulos, Mark Morris; and Chris Bolt, Lynden.

Other second-team members are Michael Duty and Chris Banchero, O’Dea; and Emeka Iweka, Rainier Beach.

Good move

Two summers ago, Alex Ellig was thinking about his junior year and upcoming role at quarterback for the University Titans.

This week the senior starter helped the Lynden Lions roar into the State 3A semifinals.

The family moved when his father Scott, a U-Hi graduate and former Montana football player, got a new job.

Alex quarterbacked two years at Lynden, reaching the state semifinals as a junior when, he said, he threw for nearly 1,700 yards and lost to eventual champion Bellevue.

He said this year he threw for more than 2,000 yards, but Lynden lost 57-56 in two overtimes in a preliminary playoff game against Shorecrest.

“At first it was traumatic leaving all my friends,” said the 6-3 Ellig of the move to Lynden from Spokane Valley after his sophomore year.

“But everyone welcomed the new kid.”

By making two football playoffs and earning a state basketball trophy, Lynden’s sixth-leading scorer has profited from the move.

Speaking of Lynden

WV is hoping to benefit from a drop to 2A next year. But so will Lynden, which at times had five underclassmen on the court during their 41st state appearance.

Most state trips came as a 1A school.