Kingco 3A Boys Basketball Capsules

Dec 10, 1998

Bellevue Wolverines

Coach - Jeremy Eggers, second year (16-11).

Last season - 8-5 league, 16-11 overall. Tied for second in Sky Division, fourth in KingCo tournament, eliminated in winner-to-state, loser-out game in district tournament.

Returning starters (2) - F R.C. Carr, 6-3, sr.; G Aaron Smith, 6-3, sr.

Other returning varsity - G Tom Bishop, 6-0, sr.; G Jeff Razore, 5-11, jr.; G Jack Groseclose, 6-0, sr.; C Matt Airy, 6-6, sr.

Key newcomers - C Dan Dicks, 6-6, jr.

Outlook - Program in good shape for Eggers' second season. Carr and Smith provide excellent athleticism on the perimeter and Dicks, who weighs 280 pounds, is the league's strongest inside player. Must successfully replace Chris Whitacre at the point if going to challenge Newport and Issaquah for second place in Sky Division and a possible state-tournament berth.

Cedarcrest Red Wolves

Coach - Ray Wilson, third year (14-29).

Last season - 3-10 league, 7-16 overall. Tied for third in Valley Division, eliminated in KingCo tournament.

Returning starters (1) - F Mike Smith, 6-3, jr.

Other returning varsity - G Derek Berg, 5-10, sr.; G Matt Sato, 5-10, sr.

Key newcomers - F Mike Gentry, 6-1, sr.; F Larry Burns, 6-2, sr.; G John Fanzone, 5-9, sr.; C Joe Van Nausdale, 6-3, sr.; F Ryan Dunn, 6-2, jr.; G Morgan Henley, 5-9, jr.; F James Conrick, 6-0, so.; G Jeff Coy, 5-10, so.; F Nick Rich, 6-0, so.

Outlook - Red Wolves have almost no size - their tallest player is 6-3 - and very little experience with only one starter and three varsity players returning. But they are fairly quick and always play hard. Smith, who averaged 12.6 points and six rebounds last season, may be the league's best junior. If Red Wolves qualify for district tournament, season will be a super success.

Interlake Saints

Coach - Brian Kissinger, second year (16-9).

Last season - 11-2 league, 16-9 overall. Valley Division champions, KingCo tournament runners-up, eliminated in winner-to-state, loser-out game in district tournament.

Returning starters (5) - G Joe McDermott, 6-1, sr.; F Xavier Smith, 6-3, sr.; G Steve Pham, 5-8, sr.; F Tui Alailima, 6-4, sr.; G Chris Pilkey, 5-8, jr.

Other returning varsity - F William West, 6-4, sr.

Key newcomers - F Will Smith, 6-5, jr.; F Zach Glaser, 6-3, so.

Outlook - Saints favored to repeat as Valley champs despite loss of league MVP Marco Quinto. McDermott, a second-team all-league selection last season, has been hot early. Xavier Smith might be the league's best rebounder and, with Alailima, Will Smith and West, Saints are one of league's biggest teams. They are maybe the deepest. If any team can challenge MI, this might be the one.

Issaquah Indians

Coach - Sam Moscatel, seventh year (69-68).

Last season - 8-5 league, 13-11 overall. Tied for second in Sky Division, sixth in KingCo tournament, eliminated in district-tournament pigtail game.

Returning starters (3) - G Landon Dyksterhouse, 6-4, sr.; F Julius Marshall, 6-4, sr.; G Garin Cohn, 5-11, jr.

Other returning varsity - F Jason Pilon, 6-4, sr.; G Matt Thompson, 5-11, jr.; C Matt Amundson, 6-5, sr.

Key newcomers - G Peter Gonnason, 6-0, jr.

Outlook - Dyksterhouse and Marshall form one of the league's most explosive 1-2 combinations and Cohn is solid at the point. Pilon and Amundson provide size to compete with any in league and Moscatel's teams always play tough defense. Last season's discipline problems disrupted team chemistry and contributed to early exit. This season should be different. State is a possibility.

Liberty Patriots

Coach - Jon Kinsley, first year.

Last season - 3-10 league, 6-14 overall. Tied for third in Valley Division, eliminated in mini-playoff to qualify for KingCo tournament.

Returning starters (2) - G Drew Dunning, 6-0, sr.; G Chris Hedien, 5-11, sr.

Other returning varsity - G Chris Moeller, 5-11, sr.; G Bao Phung, 5-10, sr.

Key newcomers - F-C Seth Pennington, 6-3, sr.; F Bryan LaFranchi, 6-2, jr.; C David Callahan, 6-6, sr.

Outlook - Six seniors return for Patriots, including the backcourt combination of four-year starter Dunning and Hedien. But the decisions of Andy Jarvis, an honorable mention all-league selection last season, and Robbie Enhusen, not to turn out will hurt them inside. Win over Chief Sealth shows Patriots capable of improving upon last season, when they failed to advance to league tournament.

Mercer Island Islanders

Coach - Ed Pepple, 33rd year (735-232)

Last season - 13-0 league, 26-4 overall. Sky Division champions, KingCo tournament champions, third in district tournament, sixth at Class 3A state tournament.

Returning starters (3) - G Elliott Prasse-Freeman, 6-3, sr.; G Tyler Besecker, 6-6, sr.; G Josh Fisher, 6-3, sr.

Other returning varsity - G Matt Logie, 6-5, sr.; G P.J. Krug, 6-2, sr.; G Jason Edwards, 6-1, jr.

Key newcomers - F Gavin Cree, 6-4, jr.; G Justin Waldie, 6-2, so.; G Justin McCullum, 6-3, so.

Outlook - Pepple refers to this team as "the doughnuts," because they have great guards but almost no size. Prasse-Freeman, Besecker, Fisher and Logie all will play at Division I schools next year, which gives the Islanders the state's best perimeter play. Losing shotblocker Ben Jordan will definitely hurt on defense, however, and they admit their national ranking (No. 22 in one poll) is probably too high. Still, a second state title in three years is possible.

Mount Si Wildcats

Coach - Garrick Phillips, sixth year (36-76).

Last season - 3-10 league, 7-17 overall. Tied for third in Valley Division, eiliminated in KingCo tournament.

Returning starters (2) - F Justin Odom, 6-4, sr.; F Jason Arriaga, 6-3, jr.

Other returning varsity - G Isaiah Cormier, 6-0, so.; G Ben Eaton, 5-11, jr.; F Sam Stevens, 6-3, sr.

Key newcomers - G Vince Longbucco, 5-9, so.; G Marc Dahm, 6-1, so.; G Mike Dahm, 6-1, so.; F Chris Kaplan, 6-5, jr.; G David Lynch, 6-0, sr.

Outlook - With Odom, a physical football stud, and Arriaga, one of the league's better athletes, Wildcats can compete inside with any team. The key is in the backcourt, where sophomores Cormier and Longbucco will start in part because Chris Riley, last season's starter at point guard, decided not to turn out. Too much youth to contend, but could be competitive by season's end.

Newport Knights

Coach - Kermit Foltz, fourth year (38-33).

Last season - 7-6 league, 17-12 overall. Fourth in Sky Division, fifth in KingCo tournament, sixth in district tournament, 0-2 at Class 3A state tournament.

Returning starters (3) - G Brett McDonald, 5-8, sr.; W Gio Pupo, 6-0, sr.; C Brian Caton, 6-5, sr.

Other returning varsity - G Brent Vetvick, 6-2, sr.; F Peter Storlie, 6-3, jr.

Key newcomers - F Collin Perschon, 6-4, sr.); G Chris Behrens, 6-0, jr.; G-F Jay Riffkin, 6-3, jr.

Outlook - This could be Newport's most talented team since Mark Pope graduated. Caton has improved and should be a factor. Pupo averaged 11 points during Knights' playoff run, and if McDonald can recover from ankle sprain suffered in football, he is one of league's best point guards. Not very deep, however, particularly until Storlie returns from knee injury. Must develop leadership, defensive intensity last year's team had if want to make it back to state.

Sammamish Totems

Coach - Travis DeCuire, first year.

Last season - 9-4 league, 15-12 overall. Second in Valley Division, third in KingCo tournament, fourth in district tournament, 0-2 at Class 3A state tournament.

Returning starters (7) - F Ethan Rohde, 6-4, jr.; G Wesley Newton, 6-0, sr.; G Kamal Goomansingh, 6-0, sr.; F-C Mike Baldwin, 6-6, sr.; C Winston Cordes, 6-4, sr.; G Darren Nelson, 5-9, sr.; W Carl Wright, 6-2, sr.

Other returning varsity - G Milan Compton, 6-0, sr.; G John McPherson, 6-1, so.

Key newcomers - G Tygann Billow, 6-0, jr.; G James Johnson, 6-1, so.; G Tyler Griffin, 5-10, jr.; F Larry Mann, 6-2, sr.

Outlook - Totems return tons of experience from last season's state-tournament team. Leland Reese and David King graduated, but seven players started at least one game. Defense will be strength in DeCuire's first season. The key is on offense. Totems, particularly new guards Billow and Griffin, must shoot better for them to challenge Interlake for Valley title and another state berth.

Skyline Spartans

Coach - Chuck Lee, second year (1-17).

Last season - 0-13 league, 1-17 overall. Fifth in Sky Division.

Returning starters (4) - G Gabe Bramlette, 6-0, sr.; G Nate Bramlette, 5-10, jr.; F John Simon, 6-3, jr.; F-C Bryan Swanson, 6-5, so.

Other returning varsity - G-F Chris McHale, 6-0, jr.

Key newcomers - G Chad Nelson, 5-10, fr.; F Dan Nelson, 6-4, so.; G Jon Wilson, 5-9, fr.

Outlook - Spartans have been pleasant surprise early in their second season, with a win over West Valley-Yakima, a state-tournament team last season. Swanson will be one of league's better inside players by the time he graduates, and the Bramlettes anchor a decent backcourt.

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KingCo 3A boys hoops / 15 to watch.

P Name, school Ht. Yr.

G Tyler Besecker, Mercer Island 6-6 Sr. Comment: Smooth shooter going to Stanford.

F R.C. Carr, Bellevue 6-3 Sr. Comment: Among league's best athletes.

G Drew Dunning, Liberty 6-0 Sr. Comment: Four-year starter for Patriots.

G Landon Dyksterhouse, Issaquah 6-4 Sr. Comment: Second-team all-league in '98.

G Josh Fisher, Mercer Island 6-3 Sr. Comment: Great athlete; going to Pepperdine.