Wesco AAA Boys Basketball Capsules

CASCADE

-- Nickname - Bruins.

-- Coach - Charlie Cobb, 15th year.

-- 1992 record - 17-7.

-- Returning starters - Ryan French, 6-8, P, Sr.; Iyan Walker, 6-7, W, Jr.

-- Others to watch - Mat Johnson, 6-5, W, Sr.; Trevor Gish, 6-0, G, Sr.; Eric Gish, 6-0, G, Sr.; Danny Kiem, 6-0, G, Jr.; Josh Heron, 6-3, W, Sr..

-- Outlook - The Bruins will be one of the biggest teams, with French, Walker, who showed flashes of offensive explosiveness last season, and Johnson. Getting steady play from the backcourt will be a key for the two-time WesCo champions.

-- Coach's comment - "Cascade has won back-to-back WesCo titles. I think that gives us some points in every game. However, I don't know if those points alone can win games for us. . . . If we can stay close to the pack in the early going, I think we can make a run at the end."

EDMONDS-WOODWAY

-- Nickname - Warriors.

-- Coach - Andre Barashkoff, first year.

-- 1992 record - 11-12.

-- Returning starters - Chris Thompson, 6-1, G, Sr.; Sean Joyner, 6-2, F, Sr.; Andrew Leckie, 6-3, F, Jr.

-- Others to watch - Yoon Kim, 5-11, G, Jr.; Eli Morse, 5-11, G, Sr.; Steve Escandon, 5-9, G, Sr.; Peter Sellers, 6-2, F, Sr.

-- Outlook - The Warriors will be fun to watch, led by scoring machine Thompson, a first team all-WesCo player last season. Leckie is a talented player in the low post, Joyner can shoot from anywhere inside the gymnasium and Barashkoff expects big things from Kim. If Edmonds-Woodway can rebound and take care of the basketball, they will make a strong run at the playoffs.

-- Coach's comment - "We'll emphasize rebounding and free throws. . . . Any player on the squad has the potential to play well and make the big play."

EVERETT

-- Nickname - Seagulls.

-- Coach - Roger Haug, ninth year.

-- 1992 record - 10-11.

-- Returning starters - Jessen Schilaty, 6-3, G, Jr.

-- Others to watch - Cory Rettenmier, 6-1, F, Sr.; Ector Juarez, 6-2, F, Sr.; Mike Pedersen, 6-4, C, Sr.

-- Outlook - Schilaty showed flashes of offensive potential last season, and should be among the top scorers in the league. Pedersen has played well early, and he'll help the Seagulls overcome a lack of height. Juarez should help with the scoring. Should compete for a playoff spot.

-- Coach's comment - "We are very inexperienced. We must play good, aggressive team defense. We will try to run when possible and have patience when needed. We need to be ready early. I see us in the middle of the standings."

MARINER

-- Nickname - Marauders.

-- Coach - Tom Lowery, third year (25-20).

-- 1992 record - 12-11.

-- Returning starters - Dante Bunch, 6-3, G, Sr.; Carlos Jones, 6-5, P, Sr.

-- Others to watch - Brian Zimmerman, 6-2, G, Sr.; Harold Robinson, 5-10, PG, Sr.; Billy Johnson, 5-10, G, Sr.; Ryan Williams, 5-9, G, Jr.; Scott Stebing, 6-4, C, Sr.

-- Outlook - Look for big things from Bunch from the outside and Jones from the inside. Mariner shared the WesCo title last season, and a good bet to make a return trip to district.

-- Coach's comment - "We'd like to be up-tempo. We feel we can contend with the top teams. It'll be close."

MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK

-- Nickname - Tomahawks.

-- Coach - Mike Lowery, 10th year.

-- 1992 record - 13-15 (went 1-2 at state tournament).

-- Returning starters - Brooks Meek-Anderson, 6-0, G, Sr.; Zach Ward, 6-3, C, Sr.

-- Others to watch - Darrell Walker, 5-11, G, Jr.; Chris Joseph, 6-0, F, Sr.; Justin Brager, 6-3, F, Jr.; Josh Rosenbach, 6-1, F, Sr.; William Wagner, 6-1, G, Jr.; Brian Ainsworth, 6-1, G, Jr.; Brent Cearley, 6-8, C, Jr.

-- Outlook - The Tomahawks won't surprise anyone this season. After going 0-20 in the 1991-1992 season, Lowery and Marysville-Pilchuck shocked many by qualifying for state last season with a sub-.500 record. Meek-Anderson should be one of the top players in the league. Walker and Ward are proven veterans, and Brager could develop into a force for the Tomahawks. A lack of height could be the Tomahawks' stumbling block.

-- Coach's comment - "We are very fortunate to have kids who know how important hard work is and the value of team play. Hopefully, we will play an aggressive, intelligent style of basketball. We hope to be balanced on both ends of the floor and fundamentally sound."

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE

-- Nickname - Hawks.

-- Coach - Roger Ottmar, 17th year (182-154).

-- 1992 record - 13-10.

-- Returning starters - None.

-- Others to watch - Bob Pierson, 6-6, C, Sr.; Ben Goodrich, 6-0, G, Sr.; Robert Sheeka, 6-4, C, Jr.; Nate Flesch, 6-0, G, Jr.; John Dick, 6-4, F, Jr.; Phil Deesing, 6-6, C, Sr.

-- Outlook - The Hawks make the jump to AAA without any returning starters from last season's AA district playoff team. But they have several tall and talented players from last season's junior varsity team that went 18-2 and should compete well in their first AAA season.

-- Coach's comment - "We are in a retooling stage. . . . We will need to get very good play out of our three seniors and we will have to see how we adjust from JV to varsity and AA to AAA."

OAK HARBOR

-- Nickname - Wildcats.

-- Coach - Jeff Stone, second year (10-14).

-- 1992 record - 10-14.

-- Returning starters - Bryan Johnson, 6-0, F, Sr.

-- Others to watch - Maurice Perigo, 5-10, G, Sr.; Robert Barnett, 6-0, F, Sr.; Anthony Lopez, 5-11, G, Sr.; Josh Sarpy, 5-5, G, Jr.; Paul Kellogg, 6-6, P, Sr.

-- Outlook - The Wildcats will need to overcome a lack of size and experience to make a run at the playoffs. Stone likes the athletic ability of the Wildcats, and plans to run more to take advantage of that.

-- Coach's comment - "This year's team will play hard for four quarters. I look for us to be in the middle of the pack, depending on if we can stay healthy and avoid injuries."

SHOREWOOD

-- Nickname - Thunderbirds.

-- Coach - Doug Porter, second year (62-43).

-- 1992 record - 9-11.

-- Returning starters - None.

-- Others to watch - Eddie Anderson, 6-2, F, Sr.; Troy Lager, 6-0, G, Sr.; Lanzo Wilson, 6-0, G, Sr.; Chris Dodd, 6-2, F, Sr.; James Ausby, 6-4, F/C, Jr.

-- Outlook - The Thunderbirds have no returning starters and just two varsity letter winners back. But several coaches picked Shorewood as a dark horse for a district playoff spot. Porter loves to play all-out basketball and isn't afraid to try something new to throw off opponents. The Thunderbirds will create a lot of scoring opportunities with their style of play.

-- Coach's comment - "I feel that if all our parts come together in harmony - and that is a big if - we can compete with anyone in the league. We will play pressure basketball this year; up-tempo, full-court on both offense and defense. We will utilize the full 84-foot floor for 32 minutes of in-your-face basketball. I believe that we can finish in the upper half of the league this year, and with some luck and avoiding injuries, we should have a shot at the Wes-King playoffs."

SNOHOMISH

-- Nickname - Panthers.

-- Coach - Jim Adams, 17th year.

-- 1992 record - 8-12.

-- Returning starters - None.

-- Others to watch - Adam Eaton, 6-1, G, So.; Jay Hilton, 6-1, G, So.; Kyle Sweet, 6-7, P, So.; Glenn Pallow, 6-3, F, Sr.; Andy Wagner, 6-2, F, Sr.

-- Outlook - The Panther roster will be dominated by underclassmen. Adams likes the athletic potential of the sophomore class. This season should be a good learning experience and a good start as the Panthers rebuild for the future.

-- Coach's comment - "I expect improvement with every game as the younger players gain experience. Our objective is to learn the system, gain confidence and not be intimidated. We're looking for improvement every game, learning as we go along."