Kingco Boys Basketball Capsules

DIVISION I

BELLEVUE

Nickname - Wolverines

1993-94 record - 5-10, third in division; 7-15 overall (elminated at Wes-King bi-district tournament).

Head coach - Dave Belmonte, third season (11-31).

Top returning players - G Tim Pugh (6-1, sr.), G Robbie Ault (6-2, jr.), G Jeff Wise (6-1, jr.).

Key newcomers - G/F Jason Kollack (6-3, jr.), F Caleb Eggleston (6-2, jr.), F Chris Robinson (6-3, jr.).

Outlook - Wolverines return starters Pugh and Ault and add O'Dea transfer Robinson. Size is weakness, but team is quick, shoots well and plays strong defense. Should again be in top-seven fray for a district berth.

BOTHELL

Nickname: Cougars.

1993-94 record - 3-12, fourth in division; 3-17 overall.

Head coach - Jon Sanchez, third season (7-33).

Top returning players - P Dan Parshall (6-3, sr.), F Chris Wood (6-3, sr.), G Rod Westman (5-10, jr.).

Key newcomers - G Todd Roche (6-0, jr.), F Brian Trofholtz (6-2, so.).

Outlook - Cougars return two starters (Parshall, Westman) after a third transferred to Shorecrest. Height and experience are weaknesses. Long shot for playoffs.

LAKE WASHINGTON

Nickname: Kangaroos.

1993-94 record - 11-4, second in division; 17-6 overall (eliminated at district).

Head coach - Jon Palarz, first season.

Top returning players - G Donald Watts (6-4, sr.), C David Sturing (7-0, sr.), G Jeremy Deshazer (5-11, so.).

Key newcomers - F Todd Bowser (6-3, sr.), F John Storbeck (6-5, sr.), G Jesse Atwood (6-2, jr.), F Robbie Danninger (6-3, jr.), F Scott Rethke (6-3, jr.), G Terry Johnson (6-2, jr.), G Joe Morrison (6-0, so.), F Scott Trueblood (6-3, so.), F Tim Vanwierengen (6-4, so.).

Outlook - Kangs have top player in state (two-time league scoring-champ Watts) and tallest senior in KingCo. Beyond that, experience is thin. Can't-miss district qualifier. Might-miss state qualifier.

MERCER ISLAND

Nickname: Islanders.

1993-94 record - 12-3, division champion; 17-8 overall (eliminated at district).

Head coach - Ed Pepple, 28th season (564-143).

Top returning players - F Jamal Hill (6-2, jr.), G Terik Brown (6-1, sr.), G Matt Schreck (6-2, sr.), G Mark Maimon (5-8, jr.), F Ryan Houle (6-1, jr.), F Sailesh Katara (6-5, jr.), C Jeff Knoll (6-11, sr.), G Scott Sprowls (5-11, sr.).

Key newcomers - F Will Russell (6-4, so.), F Michael Fallquist (6-3, sr.), G Diron Mobley (5-11, so.).

Outlook - Islanders have five players with starting experience but two - Knoll and Katara - missed almost all of last season with injuries. If they're healthy, M.I. joins Juanita as one of KingCo favorites. If Brown (18.4 ppg as jr.) is hot, could be in title game anyway.

DIVISION II

INGLEMOOR

Nickname: Vikings.

1993-94 record - 2-13, third in division; 4-17 overall.

Head coach - Greg Lowell, seventh season (72-71).

Top returning players - G Evan Herring (5-9, sr.), G Chris Perkins (6-2, jr.), G Ryan Wilkerson (6-2, jr.), F Todd Heinemann (6-2, sr.), C Jim Bush (6-6, jr.).

Key newcomers - G Al Minahar (6-3, so.), C Obinna Acholonu (6-3, so.), F Justin Stolmeier (6-2, so.), G Steve DeVoe (6-0, so.), F Kurt Sherwood (6-1, so.), F Travis Perritt (6-2, jr.), F Kyle Bynum (6-2, jr.).

Outlook - Vikings return five starters for what should be return to district tournament after one-year absence.

INTERLAKE

Nickname: Saints.

1993-94 record - 1-14, fourth in division; 1-19 overall.

Head coach - Stan Mayhew, first season.

Top returning players - G/F Dennis Mitchell (6-2, jr.), G LeSean Duckworth (6-0, sr.), F Jason Benedict (6-4, sr.), G Mike Leach (6-0, so.), F Boyd Brown (6-4, jr.), F/C George Wittren (6-5, sr.).

Key newcomers - G Brian Brown (6-2, jr.), F Marco Quinto (6-4, fr.).

Outlook - First-year coach takes over program with four wins past two seasons combined. Experience and size are weaknesses. Quickness and chemistry look like strenghts in early going. Likely a year away from playoffs.

NEWPORT

Nickname: Knights.

1993-94 record - 12-3, second in division; 20-10 (placed eighth in AAA state tournament).

Top returning players - G/F David Oswell (6-7, sr.), G/F Shane McCormick (6-3, jr.), F/C Travis Anderson (6-4, jr.), C Jeff Besecker (6-7, jr.).

Key newcomers - F/C Russell Stewart (6-5, jr.), G Steve Haizlip (6-0, sr.), G Chris Bilanko (6-0, sr.), G Paul Hupp (6-2, sr.).

Outlook - Knights graduated three three-year starters but return one of KingCo's top forwards (Oswell) and have three more juniors who played during state-tournament run. Backcourt might take a while to catch up to varsity speed, but has head start after leading '93-94 KingCo JV champ. Division favorite.

REDMOND

Nickname: Mustangs.

1993-94 record - 14-1, division champ; 24-6 overall (seventh in AAA state tournament.

Head coach - Craig Dexter, first season.

Top returning players - G/F Jeremy Hodges (6-2, sr.).

Key newcomers - F Brian Falkenberg (6-5, r.), G/F Chris Hunter (6-2, jr.), F Jeff Linville (6-3, jr.), G Paul Kennedy (5-9, jr.), G Greg Martineau (6-0, sr.), F Brian Martin (6-1, jr.), C John Poort (6-5, jr.), G Kolby Dexter (5-8, jr.).

Outlook - Mustangs graduated nine seniors from last season's state quarterfinalist, and eight-year coach Jerry Koester took job at Cascade. Dexter faces biggest rebuilding task at Redmond in a decade. Still, team should play tough defense and could surprise some front-runners.

DIVISION III

EASTLAKE

Nickname: Wolves.

1993-94 record - 3-13, fifth in division; 3-17 overall.

Head coach - Ray Rodriguez, first year.

Top returning players - G Tyson Radloff (6-4, sr.), G Erik Wolsky (6-1, sr.), P Mike Keyser (6-9, sr.), G Travis Whitaker (6-0, sr.), G Brant Ust (6-2, jr.), C Tyler Kopkas (6-8, jr.), P Maui Borden (6-2, jr.), F Jared Lewis (6-7, jr.), F Sean Simmons (6-3, jr.), G Ryan Gile (6-1, jr.), F Brent VanAntwerp (6-4, sr.).

Key newcomers - P/F Mike Shane (6-4, so.), PG Tim Wahlquist (5-10, so.), F Matt Gunther (6-2, so.).

Outlook - Wolves return almost everybody from school's first season, although coach isn't one of them. Good size, good inside-outside balance and plenty of varsity experience should have Eastlake district-bound.

ISSAQUAH

Nickname: Indians.

1993-94 record - 10-6, second in division; 16-10 overall (eliminated at district).

Head coach - Sam Moscatel, third season (22-24).

Top returning players - F Dave Verscheuren (6-4, sr.), G Austin Cohn (5-9, jr.).

Key newcomers - C Jason Heide (6-9, so.), G Jake Kurz (5-10, sr.), F/G Ryan Sackville (6-3, sr.).

Outlook - Issaquah graduated nine seniors from last season. Young, inexperienced team is long shot for playoffs.

JUANITA

Nickname: Rebels.

1993-94 record - 14-2, division champ; 23-6 (KingCo runner-up, Wes-King champ; AAA state runner-up).

Head coach - Jim McDonald, fourth season (63-24).

Top returning players - F Matt Halverson (6-7, sr.), G Marques DeCottle (6-1, sr.), F Rob Peterson (6-4, sr.), F/C Art Pannell (6-6, sr.), G Tom Headlee (6-2, sr.), F Jeff Hill (6-4, sr.).

Key newcomers - G Mark Anderson (6-2, sr.), F Jason Lee (6-5, soph.), G Kris Casebeer (6-2, jr.).

Outlook - Despite opening one-point loss to Garfield Friday, Rebels are KingCo favorites and league's best bet for state trophy with four returning starters (Halverson, DeCottle, Peterson, Pannell) from state finalist. Would be fourth straight state appearance, could be fourth straight year in quarterfinals.

SAMMAMISH

Nickname: Totems.

1993-94 record - 9-7, third in division; 11-11 overall (eliminated in KingCo tournament).

Head coach - Ron Bollinger, fifth season (40-48).

Top returning players - F Chris Walcott (6-7, sr.), F Jimmy Potts (6-4, sr.), G Josh White (5-10, sr.), F Rory Matson (6-2, sr.), F Kirk Fuhriman (6-3, sr.), G Greg Wu (5-7, jr.), C Tyson Knaevelsrud (6-3, sr.), G John Gross (6-0, sr.).

Key newcomers - C Page Boudreau (6-6, jr.).

Outlook - Totems return three starters and six of top eight for run at Juanita for division title. Should challenge for spot in KingCo semifinals. Could challenge for state berth.

WOODINVILLE

Nickname: Falcons.

1993-94 record - 4-12, fourth in division; 5-16 overall.

Head coach - Joe Meagher, third season (19-27).

Top returning players - G Kevin Rohrich (6-3, sr.), F Jason Crotts (6-4, sr.), G Tim Burrows (5-7, jr.), P Steve Coram (7-0, jr.).

Key newcomers - F Curt Mason (6-4, jr.), G Jeremy Harris (6-1, jr.), F Sean Brix (6-2, jr.), G/F Marques Tuiasosopo (6-2, so.).

Outlook - Falcons have shooting, depth, height and strong chance at returning to district after one year away.