Wesco 3A South Boys
Edmonds-Woodway
Coach - Daun Brown, first season (seventh overall).
1996-97 record - 14-11 overall.
Returning starters - Mark Arington, sr., W/P, 6-4.
Others to watch - Alan Cartwright, sr., W, 6-2; Ben Somoza, sr., G, 6-0; Marc Keeney, jr., P, 6-4; Scott Alseth, jr., W, 6-0; Sam Prichard, jr., W, 6-2.
Outlook - The Warriors finished one game short of a Class AAA state-tournament berth last season. Arington, recognized as the best player in the league by several coaches, led WesCo AAA in scoring (21.9) last season. Brown says the Warriors are inexperienced and need to mature quickly with better rebounding a must. Brown, who coached Lynnwood Coach Dean Wiley in high school, returns to E-W after four years away from basketball. Brown guided Woodway to a third-place finish at state in 1988, Wiley's junior season, and a sixth-place finish the following year.
Jackson
Coach - Greg Garrison, third season.
1996-97 record - 15-1 in WesCo AA (first), 18-8 overall.
Returning starters - Ryan Erickson, sr., F, 6-5; Nate Collord, jr., G, 6-0.
Others to watch - Kegan O'Toole, jr., G, 5-11; Brent Vicklund, sr., F, 6-1; Drew Thompson, jr., G, 5-11.
Outlook - Collord, a two-time all-league selection and one of the best outside shooters in the league, averaged 20 points and four assists per game last season; he moves to point guard this winter. Erickson averaged 17.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. After its most
successful season since opening in 1994 (Jackson won the WesCo AA title and placed third at district before losing in overtime in a state quarterfinal last March), Jackson should be competitive but must overcome its lack of size and inexperience. Ability to rebound and play solid defense is key.
Lynnwood
Coach - Dean Wiley, first season.
1996-97 record - 7-13 overall.
Returning starters - Ryan Pike, sr., F, 6-2.
Others to watch - Monty Champoux, sr., G, 5-10; Dyandre Gamble, sr., F/C, 6-3.
Outlook - The Royals placed sixth in the nine-team WesCo AA last season. Seven seniors graduated from last season's squad, and Lynnwood fields a young and inexperienced team this winter. Excellent team leadership must continue, and a talented junior class must contribute early to improve over last year's losing record. Wiley, who played one season at Edmonds C.C. in 1989-90, also has served as an assistant basketball coach (one season) and an assistant football coach (two seasons) at Edmonds-Woodway.
Mariner
Coach - Scott Reinecke, second season.
1996-97 record - 5-13 in league, 7-13 overall.
Returning starters - Nick Wold, sr., G, 5-9; Jon Eraham, sr., G, 5-9; Stew Willis, sr., F, 6-3; Teyo Johnson, so., P, 6-6; Tom Jensen, jr., F/G, 6-4.
Others to watch - Amon Gordon, so., P, 6-4.
Outlook - Johnson, who averaged 16.8 points during the regular season last year, is among top returning players in league. He ranked fourth in scoring in WesCo AAA, and was the top rebounder (11.4). Gordon, a transfer from Oak Harbor who should relieve Johnson of some offensive responsibilities this winter, averaged 9.2 points as a freshman, and was a WesCo AAA North Division honorable mention pick. Said Reinecke: "We must maintain poise and confidence in close games with a young frontcourt and relatively inexperienced backcourt."
Meadowdale
Coach - Troy Parker, first season.
1996-97 record - 5-11 in league, 9-12 overall.
Returning starters - Brian Dennis, sr., P, 6-6; James Christiansen, sr., W, 6-2.
Others to watch - Jordan Church, jr., G, 6-0; Andy Streit, sr., G, 5-9; Josh Cram, sr., W, 6-2.
Outlook - Great senior leadership and depth at the post position are keys, but "the ability of our players to adapt to a new system will dictate the speed of our success," Parker said. "We will be better later in the year." Parker and new Lynnwood Coach Dean Wiley were part of Dave Dickson's coaching staff at Bellingham High School.
Shorecrest
Coach - Greg Tacon, first season (eighth overall).
1996-97 record - 5-15 overall in WesCo AAA.
Returning starters - Robby Wood, sr., C, 6-4; Luke Winslow, sr., F, 6-3; Matt Ehrichman, sr., G, 6-2.
Others to watch - B.J. Lasconia, jr., G, 6-1; Yousef Arefi-Afshar, jr., F, 6-5; Shawn Patrick, sr., F, 6-1.
Outlook - The Scots must adjust to a new coaching scheme with the departure of Marv Morris, who retired after last season. Wood averaged 6.9 points per game and Winslow averaged 5.3. Experience and depth are lacking, but team speed and work ethic could balance things out.
Shorewood
Coach - Larry Stewart, third season.
1996-97 record - 15-5 in WesCo AAA; 15-8 overall.
Returning starters - None.
Others to watch - Fesum Kebede, sr., P, 6-7; Jay Crowell, sr., G, 6-1.
Outlook - The Thunderbirds won the South Divison title last season, but all five starters from the 1996-97 season graduated. Defense will determine success.
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. Last season's WesCo boys basketball leaders .
. Mark Arington, a senior at Edmonds-Woodway, led the Western AAA Conference in scoring last season. Nate Collord, a junior at Jackson, led WesCo AA. With the revamped WesCo 3A, Arington and Collord, as well as Ryan Erickson of Jackson and Tehyo Johnson of Mariner will battle this season in the South Division. Mariner, Jackson and Edmonds-Woodway are the early favorites. Final statistics from 1996-97 regular season .
. Player G Pts Hi Avg .
. Mark Arington, Edmonds-Woodway 20 438 35 21.9 .
. Nate Collord, Jackson 20 408 37 20.4 .
. Ryan Erickson, Jackson 19 329 29 17.3 .
. Teyo Johnson, Mariner 20 336 27 16.8 .