Prep Basketball 2016

Two Show

2016-17 Prep Basketball

for the

W.F. West’s Shasta Lofgren and Centralia’s Hodges Bailey are two of the 17 storylines to watch in the 2016-17 Lewis County basketball scene — See page 3

2 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

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Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 • 3

17 for ’17: Storylines for a New Season

By Aaron VanTuyl

avantuyl@chronline.com

Football season ended with a bang.

What about basketball season?

Lewis County’s had a boys and girls team in the state finals, at some level, each of the last four years. Mossyrock’s boys and Napavine’s girls each took second last year; Morton-White Pass boys won it all, and W.F. West’s girls took second, in 2015; the MWP boys and W.F. West girls both won in 2014; and Toledo’s boys won, and W.F. West’s girls took second, back in 2013.

Will the streak end this year? Only time will tell. Here’s 17 things to keep an eye on around Lewis County over the course of the 2016-17 prep basketball season. (Disclaimer: The list gets a little iffy towards the end.)

1. PLAYOFFS?: The WIAA’s state playoff format now incorporates computer rankings and a four-day, 12-team state tournament (up from eight, but still not the old 16) while keeping the regional playoff games the week after districts.

The RPI will be released in early January and updated regularly, though it won’t be impacted by the results of district tournament games. Confused? Just wait until February.

2. HODGES BAILEY: Bailey, the cover boy for this year’s prep basketball preview, played just six games last season for Centralia. In those six games, though, he made at least one run at the Tigers’ single-game scoring record, despite playing limited minutes in that contest. This year, the 6-foot-1 senior guard scored 41 — a point off the record — in Centralia’s season-opening win against Steilacoom.

He shot 31 of 35 from the foul line in that game, both of which are Centralia records, but it’s a safe bet we’ll see him chase that magic number a few more times before it’s all said and done.

3. SHASTA LOFGREN: The Bearcat senior cover girl is headed for Warner Pacific College, though her own stats this season might be a bit tempered. W.F. West’s rotation has developed, meaning Lofgren — who ran the point, rebounded, and was the team’s main scoring threat last year — can focus on the finer things in life, like knocking down the plethora of open 3s that are sure to come her way.

WHAT’S INSIDE WHAT TO WATCH EVERGREEN 1A BOYS EVERGREEN 1A GIRLS C2BL BOYS C2BL GIRLS EVERGREEN 2A BOYS EVERGREEN 2A GIRLS

3 6 7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15

of the season they’ll throw ‘em all in the same pile and take the top chunk to the playoffs, just like in the old days.

8. MELISSA & MOLLIE: Napavine graduated 60 percent of its starting lineup and doesn’t have much in the way of experience — at least not outside of guardforwards Melissa Lee and Mollie Olson.

The two All-Area guard/forwards have a ton of postseason experience and basketball savvy, which should be enough on its own to keep the Tigers in the postseason conversation.

FILE PHOTO / The Chronicle

Shasta Lofgren averaged 18 points with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals a game last year for W.F. West. The senior will be a mainstay in the Bearcats’ starting lineup for the third year this season.

4. HOLY KALAMA: The Chinooks are the new team in the C2BL, which adds a bit of intrigue to a league that provided four of the eight teams in last year’s State 2B girls basketball tournament — and three of the top five, in Napavine (second), Toutle Lake (fourth) and Wahkiakum (fifth). Mix in Kalama, which returns every one of its starters from a team that finished fourth in the 1As last year, and you’ve got an interesting playoff race.

5. MATT POQUETTE: For the first time in his prep career, Poquette doesn’t have his older brother on the team — or, for that matter, living under the same roof.

He seemed to be alright with that in the Timberwolves’ season opener, scoring 39 points and hauling in 20 rebounds. If the 6-foot-5 junior can dominate like that all year, Morton-White Pass should be able to make its fifth straight trip to Spokane in March.

6. WYATT STANLEY: A few minutes after the Tigers won the state football title last

week I asked Stanley if he had considered just taking the rest of his senior year off — no basketball, no baseball, just a little time to kick back and take it easy. “No,” he said, “I’m ready to go win another one!” That’s a bit scary for the rest of the state; the Tigers were a late bucket away from upsetting eventual fourth-place finisher Life Christian in the regional round last year, and return all but one starter off that team. Sophomore shooters Peyton Stanley and Jordan Purvis are year older and bigger, Austin Filley’s still a solid forward, Dawson Stanley’s not a freshman any more, and Wyatt’s trimmed down from a junior year that saw him flirt with a triple double on plenty of occasions.

7. C2BL DIVIDED: The Central 2B League is up to 12 teams, which means a North and South division. For basketball, this only means that the teams play their own division twice and the other division once for a 16-game regular season. The standings won’t be divided; at the end

9. THE BIG 1: W.F. West will move Brandon White to point guard this year with Nole Wollan out with an injury. Why is this news? Because Brandon White stands 6-foot-7, making him not only the tallest point guard in Evergreen 2A Conference but — along with Black Hills’ Hunter Grabski — the tallest player in the league.

10. SHIPPING OUT: A pair of non-local players whose names frequented The Chronicle’s sports pages have moved out.

Okanogan’s now in the 1A classification, meaning Jill Townsend — star of the last two State 2B girls basketball tournaments — is off our radar, while Black Hills’ T.J. Mickelson has transferred out of the 2A classification to play with his younger brother at Capital High School.

Mickelson made a nonleague appearance against Centralia on Monday, and will make another on Dec. 28 when the high-scoring point guard’s Cougars host W.F. West.

11. SMALL WONDERS: Pe Ell’s enrollment for this cycle, per the WIAA, is 60 students, which is small enough to make the Trojans — who opt up a classification to play against longtime familiar foes and rivals — the tiniest high school in the 2B ranks. Given that Willapa please see PREVIEW, page 4

4 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

Preview Continued from page 3

Valley isn’t much larger (70 students, the third-smallest in the 2Bs; only Pe Ell and Seattle Waldorf are smaller) and the combined PWV football, baseball and softball teams have seen plenty of success, it’s worth wondering when the “All In or All Out” debate will heat up in the greater Pluvius/Frances metro area. The largest 2B school is Ilwaco (207), while the smallest non-opting school is Waterville (83).

FILE PHOTO / The Chronicle

Centralia head coach Ron Brown offers instruction to Isaiah Trevino during the 2016 District 4 tournament. Brown is now in his 56th year as the Tigers’ head coach.

12. OLD NAMES IN NEW PLACES: Two former hardwood standouts have taken over girls basketball programs this season. Tori Nelson, a 2000 Mossyrock grad (and former Vikings coach) is now the head coach at Winlock, where she’s been a teacher for 10 years. And Brandi Thomas, a familiar name for Centralia and W.F. West girls hoops fans from her days as an All-State forward forn Elma, is two years removed from playing college ball at Washington State University and coaching Tenino’s girls program. please see PREVIEW, page 5

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Preview

16. OVERWORKED COACHES: We send out a list of preseason questions to all the local coaches, and some of them are too busy watching game film to get all their homework done. (It happens.) This year’s “Players to Watch” question included notes on Adna’s Tanner Rigner (called “Adna kid?” in a different reply), Toutle Lake guard Ryan Hoff (who graduated in 2006), and Toledo’s “very athletic” David Wallace (who graduated in 2010).

Continued from page 4

13. RON BROWN: An oldie but a goodie!

Coach Brown is in his 56th year as the head coach in the Hub City, a career that’s seen the 3-point line introduced, dunking banned (in college, anyway) and reinstated, Detlef Schrempf, a few state championships, and nary a technical foul. Will this be the season Ron finally breaks down and gets in a referee’s ear? … Probably not, but it’s fun to imagine what he’d say to finally get that first whistle.

14. MOSSY-IR-OCK: The Vikings made a great playoff run last year with Jaron Kirkley leading the way (and earning the 2B Player of the Year award). Kirkley’s off playing at Whitman College, and the other four starters on that state finalist team — save gritty Taylen Clevenger — are hurt. Griffin Coleman’s likely out til midDecember, Levi Munoz and Danny Nelson won’t be back until January, and Bo Miles is gone until at least February. The rest of the team’s going to have to grow up

FILE PHOTO / The Chronicle

Wyatt Dean and the Cardinals will try to make their first postseason appearance since 2013.

in a hurry for the Vikings to make it back to districts, let alone the state finals.

15. KALAMA (THE BOYS): The Chinooks’ boys team finished third in the 1As last year, which is pretty impressive, particularly for a now-2B team. And a fun fact: Kalama coach Jody Stemkoski’s been to Lewis County before! His

dad, John, was the longtime principal at Winlock High School (where Jody went to school), and his grandparents lived in Pe Ell. His uncle, Jan, runs the engineering department for the City of Centralia. Let’s just say the Chinooks won’t get lost on their road trip to face the Trojans on Jan. 13.

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17. WINLOCK: It’s been a rough few years for the Cardinal boys’ athletic teams; none of this year’s seniors have had the opportunity to play in a district playoff game (the Toledo-Winlock United boys soccer team notwithstanding).

This, however, could be the year they change that. The Cardinals hung with a veteran Ocosta team in their opener and trounced Three Rivers Christian in Game 2 behind 31 points from Wyatt Dean. Given how much fun it was to watch the Cardinals’ last playoff basketball team — back in 2013, when they snuck into regionals and upset Adna to make state — it’s safe to say a Winlock postseason run would be eggsellent entertainment.

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6 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

EVERGREEN 1A LEAGUE — boys basketball

Beavers Eager to Carve Out Identity

By The Chronicle

If one thing is for certain in the Stone City this season, it’s that there are a lot of uncertainties.

“After graduating five seniors last year, we don’t have too many returnEvergreen ing (players) that 1A League were big contribuPreseason tors. (We) had a Picks few role players that 1. HOQUIAM had very minimal 2. FORKS minutes that will be 3. MONTESANO asked to play big4. ELMA ger roles this year,” explained Tenino boys hoops coach Joe Chirhart.

In his third season as head coach, Chirhart will be depending on a big crop of unknown roundballers to navigate a tough Evergreen 1A League.

However, Chirhart has a sneaking

JORDAN NAILON / jnailon@chronline.com

Tenino freshman Chuck Malantich shoots a pressure free throw as his teammates watch during an early season practice on Nov. 28. Malantich did not choke and promptly sank the shot.

suspicion that when the chips eventually fly it will be sophomore stretch forward Yngwie Dowies chomping at the bit.

“He will end up being our stud and workhorse this year,” said Chirhart of Dowie, who started started six games

as a freshman before settling into a key sixth man role. “(He) really has a natural knack for basketball, (and) just needs to grow and mature both physically and mentally.”

Chirhart added that Dowie has lead the Beavers in scoring so far in 2016 and he is the “guy we'll be counting on for the next three years.”

Senior captains Riley Wright and Robbie Wall are expected to anchor the Beavers defensively through the thicket of the EvCo 1A this year. Chirhart noted Wright’s defensive energy and called Wall a “hard-nosed kid that works his tail off.”

Looking outside of his own roster Chirhart says it’s a no-brainer which team should be favored to claim the EvCo crown.

“Hoquiam is hands down the favorite to win our league this year,” said Chirhart of a Grizzlies squad that brings back the core of a team that placed sixth at state last season. “Last year’s (Evergreen MVP) Jack Adams is back and will be a handful this year for all the teams

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in our league… (Coach Curtis) Eccles has them playing together and on track for another state run. We’ll be lucky if we can slow em down.”

Searching for a defining characteristic for his own evolving team Chirhart had a good idea of where to start.

“Maybe it’s that we are young,” said Chirhart of a Beaver roster that shows only four, largely unproven seniors and exactly zero juniors. “We have a great sophomore class that I hope will lead this team for the next few years. Other than that we are a makeshift team of multisport athletes that are all looking to make a name for themselves.”

TENINO BEAVERS

Coach: Joe Chirhart (3rd) 2015-16: 7-13 Returning Starters: Riley Wright (5-11, G), Robbie Wall (5-9, F), Yngwie Dowies (6-1, G/F) Key Newcomers: To be determined The Line: Beavers will try to turn group of athletes into an athletic, competitive 1A squad

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Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 • 7

EVERGREEN 1A LEAGUE — girls basketball

Young Tenino Under New Tutelage

By The Chronicle

OUR LOCAL TEAMS!

JORDAN NAILON / jnailon@chronline.com

Tenino sophomore Kaylee Schow gets an edge on her defender and takes the ball to the hoop during a practice on Nov. 28. Schow, a returning varsity letterman, will help anchor a young Tenino team this season.

cate at practice.

“I’m a believer in the theory that you practice like you play,” she said.

Despite her well-honed desire to press and run, Thomas pointed out that the long-term goal is to implement a cohesive program so she’s not afraid to cover fine details, like off-ball rotations and screening the screener, to her team.

“If you have a question, ask. That’s something we stress,” said Thomas. “We want you to know why we’re asking you to do things.”

With back-to-back victories over rivals Rochester and Rainier already tucked away in the early going, Thomas has been pleased with the initial efforts, but she’s making sure not to get ahead of herself.

“Their energy is so high right now and our is too as coaches, but we just preach take it one game at a time,” she said.

TENINO BEAVERS

Coach: Brandi Thomas (1st) 2015-16 : 2-18 (8th in Evergreen) Returning Starters: Rhian Mathis (5-8, F), Kaylee Schow (5-8, G), and Charlie Letts (5-7, PG) Key Newcomers: Olivia Bailon (5-4, PG), Emma Homann (5-8, C) The Line: Solid sophomore and freshmen classes have the Beavers building for the future

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Old fans of the Tenino Beaver girls basketball team may not recognize many faces when they look down the bench this season.

For starters there’s a new head coach Brandi Thomas, fresh off a collegiate career at Washington State University and a short profesEvergreen sional foray over1A League seas. Then there’s Preseason the fact that this Picks year’s team has only 1. MONTESANO one senior on the 2. ELMA roster and will de3. HOQUIAM pend largely on the 4. TENINO efforts of a slew of frosh and sophomore hoopers to clear a path through a deep Evergreen 1A League.

Put all the shiny new pieces together and no one in Tenino is quite sure what they’ve got just yet.

For her part, when Thomas talks of her new charges she uses phrases like “clean slate” and “new beginnings.”

“I feel like the best way to describe our team is to say we’re young with a lot of potential,” explained Thomas.

Eventually that potential will likely be fulfilled by the likes of sophomore wing Kaylee Schow, freshman guard Olivia Bailon and freshman center Emma Homann. It’s just a matter of how long it takes the pieces to jam together.

Thomas added that sophomore forward Rhian Mathis and sophomore point guard Charlie Letts also figure to play important roles in the Beavers’ hard work on the hardwood this year.

One team that’s already got the kinks worked out in their formula is Montesano, which Thomas predicted will once again win the Evergreen.

“They have a lot of upperclassmen that have been playing together for four years, as well as Jordan Spradlin who is a presence in the key for Monte compared to the other post players in our league,” noted Thomas. She added that Josie Toyra, likely the league's second best player, also plays for the big-bite Bulldogs.

In an effort to get her team up to speed with the Evergreen competition Thomas has been preaching an up-tempo style of play, which she tries to repli-

R T O P P U S O T D PROU

8 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

CENTRAL 2B LEAGUE — boys basketball

Fresh Off a Football Title, Tigers the Favorite in C2BL of people with their offense this year, as well,” Adna coach Luke Salme said.

Morton-White Pass isn’t expected to be a state favorite again this year, but forward Matt Poquette — MWP’s only returning starter — brings plenty to the table. The 6-5 junior averaged 15.8 points a game last year, with 8.9 rebounds, while

By The Chronicle

Their first full-team practice of the season was cancelled due to snow, but that doesn’t mean anyone expects the Tigers to spend all season sleeping in.

Napavine, with a roster loaded with returning talent and a handful of Stanleys on the roster, is the presumptive favorite in the Central 2B League.

The new-look C2BL features a North and South division, with six teams each, for a 16-game regular season. Teams Central play their in-division opponents 2B League twice and non-diviPreseason sion foes once, with Picks the final standings North combining the two 1. NAPAVINE divisions to deter2. ADNA mine district tour3. MORTON-WP nament seeding.

4. RAINIER Napavine sits 5. ONALASKA in the North Divi6. PE ELL sion, with Adna, Rainier, MortonSouth White Pass, Pe 1. TOLEDO Ell and Onalaska, 2. TOUTLE LAKE while Toledo is ex3. KALAMA pected to be atop 4. MOSSYROCK the South Division, 5. WAHKIAKUM which also includes Kalama, Toutle Lake, Mossyrock, Winlock and Wahkiakum.

THE TIGERS’ basketball team — like their state champion football team — will revolve around 6-foot-3 forward Wyatt Stanley, who averaged 17.4 points

PETE CASTER / pcaster@chronline.com

please see C2BL, page 9

Morton-White Pass’ Matt Poquette goes to the hoop against St. George’s during the State 2B basketball tournament last March in Spokane. Poquette, now a junior, will be the main offensive weapon for the Timberwolves this year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH North Division WYATT STANLEY, NAPAVINE: 6-3 All-Area forward scores (17 ppg), rebounds (13 ppg) and can run the offense from the post for the leaguefavorite Tigers MATT POQUETTE, MWP: 6-5 junior was an All-Area pick last year and rarely misses from inside 15 feet TANNER RIGDON, ADNA: Senior guard averaged 14 ppg last year and heads up a tough Pirate backcourt

and 13.9 boards a game last year. He should be even better this year, after shedding a few pounds last summer while recovering from a torn labrum that hampered him throughout the 2015-16 hoops season.

“They’ve got great athletes and they’re deep,” one C2BL coach said.

“Wyatt Stanley’s a leading candidate for league MVP. They’ve got great shooters and athletes, and they’re well coached.”

Peyton Stanley provides a hot hand outside, as does 6-3 fellow junior Jordan Purvis. Austin Filley and Dawson Stan-

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JOE WALLACE, TOLEDO: Senior guard/ forward provides size (6-3), speed and a midrange game for South Division favorites NATE HOFF, TOUTLE LAKE: Junior point guard has been starting for three years for an improved Ducks squad BLAKE STEMKOSKI, KALAMA: Senior point guard scored 9.8 ppg last year in helping the Chinooks to a third-place finish in the State 1A tourney

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ley also return to the starting lineup, and Noah Lantz joins the team after missing all of last season with a knee injury. Five of those six players, however, were key members of the football team and will likely need a few weeks to find their basketball legs.

Elsewhere in the North Division, Adna brings back All-League secondteam guard Tanner Rigdon (14 ppg) and backcourt buddies Cody Young and Conner Weed.

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C2BL

ADNA PIRATES

Continued from Page 8

shooting nearly 69 percent from the field.

“An absolute stud,” one C2BL coach said. “Everyone will understand that more clearly this year as he’s forced into a more prominent role.”

Poquette lived up to that billing in the Timberwolves’ opener, when he scored 39 points with 20 rebounds.

Newcomer Rainier went 7-16 last season while playing in the Pacific 2B League but brings back veterans Dillon and Devan Stancil, while Onalaska will try to develop a handful of freshmen — MATT BAIDE / mbaide@chronline.com including Alex Frazier, Ashton Haight Tanner Rigdon leads a dangerous Adna backand Cade Lawrence — into varsity concourt. tributors. Pe Ell, with new coach Rich Mendes, returns starting guard Kaelin head up the show for newcomer Kalama.

Jurek and will try to pick up a new sys- The Chinooks went 17-9 last season and tem in the early portion of the season. finished third in the 1A tournament, but graduated four of their top six scorers.

TOLEDO was an upstart team last year, Mossyrock, meanwhile, finished secwhen it rolled out a lineup with no re- ond in the state last season, but boasts turning starters and a ton of underclass- a vastly different lineup early on. Point men. The Indians proceeded to finish guard Bo Miles is likely out until Februsecond in the C2BL, and won’t be taking ary with an ankle injury, forward Grifanyone by surprise this year as the South fin Coleman will miss games early on Division favorite. Cousins Reece and Joe with a knee issue, second-leading scorer Wallace lead the attack, with 6-5 post JuDanny Nelson is out until January after nior Arroyo providing hustle down low and Gabe Fuentes bringing defensive in- ACL surgery, and guard Levi Munoz is out until January after meniscus surgery. tensity.

“Reece and Joe are built and play so All four players started last season, leavdifferent, but are a terrific high school ing Taylen Clevenger as the only Viking who saw meaningful minutes last year. combo,” one coach pointed out.

Toutle Lake will be led by veteran Winlock has already shown improvepoint guard Nate Hoff, in his third year ment from last year’s 2-16 league camrunning the Ducks’ offense, while for- paign, with starters Wyatt Dean, Dawward Cam Swanson can light it up from son Hall and Nicholas Patching back in the lineup. Zach Weinert and Brady Stelong range.

Point guard Blake Stemkoski (10 ppg veson are back, and the Cardinals figure last year), Cameron Walker (7.5 ppg) and to have three freshmen playing signifi6-2 sophomore swingman Alex Dyer cant minutes by the end of the year.

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Coach: Tony Gillispie 2015-16: 25-4 (1st in C2BL, sixth in state) Returning Starters: Matt Poquette (6-5, F) Key Newcomers: Kade Gillispie (5-10, G), Rylan Collette (6-1, G), Carson Lewis (5-11, F), Kaleb Rashoff (6-1, G/F) The Line: The Timberwolves are rebuilding, but All-Area forward Matt Poquette is one of the best building blocks in the C2BL

MOSSYROCK VIKINGS Coach: Kelly Ross (3rd) 2015-16: 20-8 (3rd in C2BL, second in state) Returning Starters: Taylen Clevenger (5-9 G/F), Bo Miles (5-6, G/injured), Danny Nelson (61, G/injured), Levi Munoz (6-0, G/injured) Key Newcomers: Dillon Lamotte (6-1, F), Evan Gootgeld (6-0, G), Justin Gootgeld (6-2, G/F) The Line: The Vikings graduated just one starter in 2B Player of the Year Jaron Kirkley, but injuries will have three key returning starters out until the new year

Coach: Rich Mendes (1st) 2015-16: 7-15 (7th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Kaelin Jurek (5-10, G) Key Newcomers: Dawson Duncan (5-10, G), Caleb McCalden (6-1, G), Ryan Shepherd (6-1, G), Bradley Prestegord (6-4, F), Josh Prestegord (6-0, F), The Line: Coach Rich Mendes took over shortly before the season started, but do the Trojans have enough firepower to compete in a tough C2BL?

TOLEDO INDIANS

Coach: Grady Fallon (3rd) 2015-16: 17-8 (2nd in C2BL) Returning Starters: Joe Wallace (6-3, G/F), Reece Wallace (5-9, G), Carmen Robles (6-1, G/F), Junior Arroyo (6-5, F), Fano Arceo-Hansen (6-1, G/F), Gabe Fuentes (6-0, F) Key Newcomers: Dawson Marcil (5-11, G) The Line: Indians hope an experienced, balanced lineup can return to state after losing out in districts last year

Coach: Rex Stanley (17th) 2015-16: 18-9 (3rd in C2BL; lost in regionals) Returning Starters: Wyatt Stanley (6-3, F), Austin Filley (6-0, F), Peyton Stanley (5-10, G), Dawson Stanley (5-10, G), Jordan Purvis (6-3, G/F) Key Newcomers: Noah Lantz (5-9, G) The Line: Tigers are loaded with returning talent, but how long will it take to shake off the rust from the long football season?

Coach: Nick Bamer (2nd) 2015-16: 4-16 (9th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Wyatt Dean (6-1, F), Dawson Hall (6-3, F), Nicholas Patching (5-8, G) Key Newcomers: Zach Weinert (6-1, G); Brady Steveson (5-10, G); Chase Miller (6-3, F); Farley Youckton (5-2, G) The Line: Cardinal seniors have never played in a district tournament game, but have mapped that out as a team goal this year

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Coach: Dennis Bower (26th) 2015-16: 6-17 (8th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Zach Huffman (6-0, F), Matt Swett (6-3, F) Key Newcomers: Jack Beck (6-3, F), Alex Frazier (6-0, G), Cody Cooper (5-8, G), John Wells (6-0, G/F), Ashton Haight (5-8, G), Cade Lawrence (5-8, G) The Line: Loggers are inexperienced but hoping a few freshmen can complement the six seniors on the roster

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Coach: Luke Salme (2nd) 2015-16: 13-13 (6th in C2BL, lost in regionals) Returning Starters: Tanner Rigdon (6-1, G), Cody Young (5-6, G), Conner Weed (6-1, G) Key Newcomers: Austen Apperson (5-9, G), Preston Ashley (6-3, F), Colman Stewart (6-6, F) The Line: Adna will try build around one of the toughest guard combos in the league in coach Luke Salme’s second year

10 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

CENTRAL 2B LEAGUE — girls basketball

Kalama’s Arrival, New Divisions Shift Landscape in C2BL Wahkiakum, with C2BL co-MVP Peyton Souvenir back from last year’s state qualifier, should be a solid squad.

Toutle Lake brings back guards Britzy Hockett and Kelsey Wason, but will try to compete at its usual high level without

By The Chronicle

Kalama’s arrival in the 2B ranks changes everything.

The Chinooks dropped down from the 1As in the WIAA’s latest reclassification, moving into the Central 2B League — along with former Pacific 2B Central League squad Rain2B League ier — to push the Preseason C2BL into a twoPicks division system.

North During bas1. ADNA ketball season, this 2. NAPAVINE means the league’s 3. MORTON-WP 12 teams will play 4. ONALASKA their in-division op5. RAINIER ponents twice and 6. PE ELL their non-division opponents once, for South a 16-game league 1. KALAMA schedule.

The 2. WAHKIAKUM standings, however, 3. TOUTLE LAKE will reflect each 4. MOSSYROCK team’s league re5. TOLEDO cord, without separation of divisional games, to determine playoff qualifiers.

And the early word is that the South Division — with Kalama, Wahkiakum and Toutle Lake — is the stronger of the two.

Kalama went 21-6 last season and returns the entirety of its lineup from a squad that finished fourth in the State 1A tournament. That includes senior posts Kaelyn Shipley (6-foot) and Parker Esary (6-1), each of whom scored over 19 points and grabbed almost 12 rebounds

please see GIRLS, page 11

PLAYERS TO WATCH North Division KENYA LORTON, ADNA: Sweet-shooting senior guard averaged 14 points a game last season to help Adna to the state tournament MOLLIE OLSON, NAPAVINE: Athletic junior guard and three-year starter averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds a game for C2BL champ Tigers MELISSA LEE, NAPAVINE: Junior guard/forward averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds a game last year in leading the Tigers to the state title game

South Division

PETE CASTER / pcaster@chronline.com

Wahkiakum’s Peyton Souvenir (4) gets a hand on a shot from Napavine’s Melissa Lee (33) during the State 2B tournament last March in Spokane. Souvenir, a senior, ane Lee, a junior, are two of the top players in this year’s Central 2B League.

a game last year. Point guard McKenna Roy also returns to run the show.

“We went against them when they were freshmen, when we were in the Tri-

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co League, and had a tough time dealing with them,” Toledo coach J.B. Ewers said.

“So imagine what they are like now as seniors.”

PEYTON SOUVENIR, WAHKIAKUM: Regular triple-double threat and All-State guard averaged 18.6 points a game and led Mules to the state tournament last year as a junior KAELYN SHIPLEY, KALAMA: Senior forward led Chinooks in scoring (19.5), rebounds (12.2), steals (3), blocks (2) and assists (4.9) last year PARKER ESARY, KALAMA: Senior scored 19.4 ppg with 11.7 rpg last year for fourth-place Chinooks

Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 • 11 ADNA PIRATES

Coach: Chris Bannish (fifth) 2015-16: 19-9 (4th in C2BL, made state) Returning Starters: Kenya Lorton (5-7, G), Devanie Kleemeyer (5-10, G) Key Newcomers: Lili Glover (5-3, G), Isabella Elwood (5-10, F), Morgan Trotter (5-11, F), Darian Humphrey (5-8, G), Sam Foster (6-0, F) The Line: Pirates should have no trouble scoring, but can their defense keep up with their offense?

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F)

PETE CASTER / pcaster@chronline.com

Adna’s Kenya Lorton shoots against Toutle Lake in the State 2B tournament last March in Spokane.

Girls Continued from Sports 10

four-year starter and C2BL co-MVP Sam Woodley.

Adna’s the early favorite in the North Division, with point guard Kenya Lorton (14 points a game last year) and guard/ forward Devanie Kleemeyer (12 ppg) back in the lineup. The Pirates welcome in Chehalis transfer Samantha Foster, a 6-foot junior forward, and post Isabella Elwood brings athleticism to the post, according to coach Chris Bannish.

Lili Glover moves into a starting guard role, and Morgan Trotter and Darian Humphrey have both improved offensively.

The big question for the Pirates is

how well they can match up, Bannish noted.

“Are we going to be able to defend?” he wondered. “We can score.”

Also in the North Division, Rainier started the season with a pair of losses, while Morton-White Pass and Onalaska are both breaking in groups of young players. Pe Ell is building around forward Dakota Brooks and working on getting back to the district tournament.

In the South Division, Mossyrock started the season off with two wins and has all but one player back from last year’s squad, headlined by two standouts in post Paige Moorcroft and point guard Stephanie Fried. Toledo is building around veterans Anna Tauscher and Ally Bacon, while former Mossyrock coach Tori Nelson is taking over a relatively young Winlock squad.

Coach: Tom Griffith (second) 2015-16: 13-11 (5th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Sierra Dotson (5-10,

Key Newcomers: Belen Salguero (5-11, F), Taylor Nilius (5-9, G/F), Jacie Dunlap (5-7, G), Kyla Goble (5-4, G/F), Elexcious Hampton (5-0, G) The Line: Young Morton-White Pass squad features just one senior and one junior, with seven sophomores

MOSSYROCK VIKINGS

Coach: Darrin Bullock (second) 2015-16: 2-18 (9th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Paige Moorcroft (60, G/F), Ava Nelson (5-9, G/F), Jamie Carlson (5-8, G), Stephanie Fried (5-5, G) Key Newcomers: Whitney Anderson (60, F), Heather Edgar (5-10, F), Lainee Grose (5-8, G) The Line: The Vikings are young, with just one senior, but experienced, with all but one player back from last year’s lineup

NAPAVINE TIGERS

Coach: Jeremy Landram (third) 2015-16: 23-4 (1st in C2BL; 2nd in state) Returning Starters: Mollie Olson (5-9, G/F), Melissa Lee (5-10, G/F) Key Newcomers: Becca Snaza, Lucy Sevilla, Xoee Pope, Halee Williams, Chloe Stewart The Line: Mollie Olson and Melissa Lee

are two of the best players around, but can the rest of the lineup adjust to varsity action in the competitive C2BL?

ONALASKA LOGGERS

Coach: Dracy McCoy (third) 2015-16: 11-13 (5th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Kasey Hoyt (5-8, G); Heather Pannkuk (5-3, F) Key Newcomers: Aby Bogar (5-8, F), Carmen Cleveland-Barrera (5-7, F), Eryn Duryea (5-6, G) The Line: Do-it-all guard Kasey Hoyt leads a Logger team with five seniors, but not a ton of in-game varsity experience

PE ELL TROJANS

Coach: Chris Phelps (fourth) 2015-16: 1-19 (9th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Railey Smith (5-3, PG), Dakota Brooks (5-5, F), Chloe Zoch (5-2, G) Key Newcomers: Maggie Elliott (5-7, F), Danielle McCarty (5-5, F), Katie Davis (5-9, F) The Line: Can the smallest 2B school in the state (enrollment: 60) compete in the C2BL?

TOLEDO INDIANS

Coach: J.B. Ewers (7th) 2015-16: 10-13 (6th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Anna Tauscher (5-7, G), Ally Bacon (5-5, G) Key Newcomers: Emily Tyner (5-8, F), Kal Schaplow (5-7, G) The Line: Veterans Tauscher and Bacon lead an Indian squad with just two seniors

WINLOCK CARDINALS

Coach: Tori Nelson (first) 2015-16: 5-17 (8th in C2BL) Returning Starters: Rianna Whitehead (5-10, G), Mika Hammond (5-9, F), Cheleena Squibb (5-8, F), Makayla Allbritton (5-3, G) Key Newcomers: Jenna Jones (5-8, F), Madison Lofberg (5-8, G/F) The Line: Can a new coach and a crew of seasoned sophomores move the Cardinals up in the C2BL hierarchy?

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12 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

EVERGREEN 2A CONFERENCE — boys basketball

New-Look Evergreen 2A Conference is Wide Open

By The Chronicle

There’s been plenty of changes in the Evergreen 2A Conference.

The biggest? The league has two new members in Aberdeen and Rochester.

The most interesting? No one really has much of an idea as to how it’ll turn out.

Last year’s EvCo MVP — Black Hills’ T.J. Mickelson — has transferred to Capital, where he’ll play with his brother Matt. Both Mickelson boys are now seniors.

Every member of Evergreen the All-League first 2A team has graduatConference ed, along with three of the five honorPreseason able mention picks.

Picks 1. CENTRALIA What’s left? A wide-open six-team 2. TUMWATER conference.

3. BLACK HILLS 4. W.F. WEST Just ask Ron Brown, a coach who’s seen 5. ABERDEEN plenty in his 56 years in black and orange.

“Tumwater’s the defending league champs, but they lost three or four of their starters … I don’t think they’ll be as good, but they certainly will be a solid team,” he said. “I dunno much about Aberdeen; I think they’ve got some pretty active players, but not much size.”

That’s a start.

“Black Hills … they’ve got some players I thought weren’t bad, but they’ve got quite an adjustment to make without (Mickelson),” he continued. “Chehalis

PLAYERS TO WATCH Evergreen 2A Conference HODGES BAILEY, CENTRALIA: Senior guard averaged 22.3 points a game last season, but played just six games while recovering from a foot injury BRANDON WHITE, W.F. WEST: The biggest guard in the EvCo at 6-foot-7, White averaged 8.5 points a game last season and now, as a junior, moves to point guard to start the year CADE OTTON, TUMWATER: Otton’s a UW signee on the football field, and an savvy, powerful 6-foot-5 forward (5.5 points a game last year) on the basketball court

FILE PHOTO / The Chronicle

Brandon White (33) and Dakota Hawkins both started last year as sophomores and return to the starting lineup at point guard and forward, respectively, for W.F. West.

… I don’t think they’ll be bad, but I don’t think they’re a state-caliber team, necessarily.”

That leaves Rochester (“They’re not loaded, and they lost (Josh) Kennedy from that team, the only big kid…”) and … Centralia?

“I’d say we’re one of the teams — and, maybe, the team to beat, in my mind,” he concluded.

W.F. West coach Chris White concurred, for the most part.

“They’ve got guys that know coach

Brown’s stuff and they run it well and shoot well,” White said. “They’ll be right near the top.”

The coaches have a point. Centralia brings back the early candidate for the league’s MVP award in Hodges Bailey, a high-scoring senior guard who averaged 22.3 points a game in just six appearances last season due to a foot injury — and opened the season with 41 points in an overtime win against Steilacoom.

“He looks very healthy, which makes me feel good, and he looks good,” Brown

said. “But it’s early season, and he hasn’t rounded into playing shape. The team has to shape up, but Hodges is healthy, and that’s a plus for us.”

Forwards Cale Shute (6-foot-2) and Layne Pertzborn (6-foot-3) return to the starting lineup, and 6-foot-3 junior Jordan Thomas — who saw limited time last year following an injury — is healthy and should be an athletic contributor on both ends of the court.

Tyler Ashmore, a 6-foot-2 junior wing who transferred from Chehalis, provides outside shooting and ballhandling, and Isaiah Trevino brings speed to the guard position. please see BOYS, page 13

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Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 • 13

Boys

CENTRALIA TIGERS Coach: Ron Brown (56th) 2015-16: 11-13 (3-3 EvCo) Returning Starters: Cale Shute (62, F), Layne Pertzborn (6-3, F), Hodges Bailey (6-1, F) Key Newcomers: Jordan Thomas (6-3, G/F), Nick Edwards (6-5, F), Tyler Ashmore (6-2, F), Isaiah Trevino (5-6, G), Mininderjit Singh (6-0, G) The Line: Can Bailey lead the Tigers to the state playoffs in his final year?

Continued from page 12

“I’m happy with the experience,” Brown said. “There’s a number that have started or played a lot. We don’t have great speed from the individuals, and two or three of the players help us in that area. It’s kind of a mixture as far as whether we can press successfully.”

Across town, meanwhile, the Bearcats are shuffling the lineup a bit. An injury will keep Nole Wollan, who started at point guard the majority of last year, out for the regular season, which means Brandon White will handle the ball and become the EvCo’s biggest point guard at 6-foot-7.

“He’s comfortable facing the basket, and he’s been working on his ballhandling. We just feel like he’s a playmaker and we need to get it in his hands,” Bearcat coach Chris White said. “He’s going to be able to do it in, we hope, a way that we think is going to be real beneficial to us.”

Dakota Hawkins, who averaged just shy of 10 points a game last year, also returns. Hawkins and White are both juniors who started last season. Bailey Cooper and Camden Bull move into the starting lineup in the post, and Bryce Dobyns jumps into the lineup at shooting guard.

“Our team chemistry’s really great, and the work ethic is better than ever,” White said. “Some of our new ideas are much more fluid for us. We’re hoping to just play a lot looser style — not so robotic — and really try to attack the basket and find guys on kickouts.”

The team is, however, young. Drew Forgione, who saw limited action last year, is the team’s lone senior. Trevor Thornburg, Colby White, Luke Schwarz

W.F. WEST BEARCATS MATT BAIDE / mbaide@chronline.com

Layne Pertzborn (left) shoots against Capital on Monday night. Pertzborn is one of three starters back in the lineup for Centralia.

and Jordan Waring have all moved up from JV and should contribute.

Tumwater only has one starter back, but 6-foot-5 senior Cade Otton is a solid building block.

“They lost a lot of seniors, but Otton does all the dirty work you need, and just gives them a lot to work with there,” White said. “They’re just really reloaded and ready to make a good push.”

Rochester, coming off a 3-17 campaign last year as a member of the Evergreen 2A/1A League, will try to build around 6-foot-3 guard Noah Escott, who scored 8 points a game a year ago. The Warriors also bring back Keegan Goldrick, Stephen Robinson, Riley Erickson and Jacob Valley — each of whom started at least five games last year.

“We had a little exposure to most of the teams in the offseason, and we will have to play at a high level to compete with any of them,” Rochester coach Mark Goldrick said.

Big guys Chris Cabrera and Bradden Schneider should help on the boards and in replacing 6-7 forward Josh Kennedy, who moved out of town. Ethan Worden and Bryce Lollar — fresh off his first season quarterbacking the Warrior football team — have worked hard to improve, Goldrick added.

Black Hills will be a bit of a wild card, adjusting to life with Mickelson a few miles away at Capital.

“He’s been so vital to whatever they do,” Brown said.

Six-foot-3 forward Noah Brewer returns for the Wolves, who will otherwise be lacking in experience.

And Aberdeen, moving into a fulltime 2A league, brings back forwards Braden Castleberry-Taylor and Victor Gomez, along with guard Josh Collett.

“I think they’re going to keep improving and be somebody that could be, maybe, underestimated,” White said.

Coach: Chris White (second) 2015-16: 5-17 (0-6 EvCo) Returning Starters: Brandon White (6-7, G), Dakota Hawkins (6-0, F), Nole Wollan (6-0, G) Key Newcomers: Camden Bull (5-11 F), Bailey Cooper (6-2, F), Bryce Dobyns (6-2, G) The Line: Bearcats have plenty of pieces, but can they improve enough for a playoff run?

ROCHESTER WARRIORS Coach: Mark Goldrick (fifth) 2015-16: 3-17 Returning Starters: Noah Escott (63, G), Keegan Goldrick (6-2, G/F), Jacob Valley (6-2, F), Stephen Robinson (6-0, G), Riley Erickson (5-8, G) Key Newcomers: Chris Cabrera (6-3, F), Bryce Lollar (6-0, G/F), Ethan Worden (5-11, F), Bradden Schneider (6-4, F), Jarrett Smith (6-1, F) The Line: Warriors need to keep improving to be competitive in a full-time 2A league

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14 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

EVERGREEN 2A CONFERENCE — girls basketball

Wolves the Popular Pick in Evergreen 2A Conference

By The Chronicle

On paper, it’s easy to see why Black Hills is the favorite in the Evergreen 2A Conference.

That’s not to say the Wolves won’t have any competition.

Black Hills brings back four starters from last year’s sixth-place State 2A tournament squad, including last year’s CoMVP Emma Duff.

Duff, a 6-foot senior wing, averaged 18 points a game last year and has since signed with Western Washington University. Lindsey Nurmi, an All-League first team pick last year, is back at point guard, and 6-0 shooter Maisy Williams and wing Kayley Moloney also return to the lineup.

Evergreen “That’s a good team,” W.F. West 2A Tom Kelly Conference coach said of the Wolves, Preseason who went 6-0 in the Picks EvCo last year.

1. BLACK HILLS “Black Hills is very 2. W.F. WEST long and athletic,” 3. TUMWATER Rochester coach 4. CENTRALIA A.J. Easley said.

5. ROCHESTER “They cause a lot of problems for other teams.”

The Bearcats, meanwhile, are the top candidate to keep the Wolves from repeating as league champs. Senior guard Shasta Lofgren leads a lengthy list of returning starters from a squad that was an overtime loss away from playing for a regional berth.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Evergreen 2A Conference EMMA DUFF, BLACK HILLS: Western Washington University signee and EvCo co-MVP averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds a game in leading the Wolves to the State 2A tournament.

SHASTA LOFGREN, W.F. WEST: The senior leader of the Bearcats averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals a night last year.

LINDSEY NURMI, BLACK HILLS: The Wolves’ junior point guard was an AllLeague first-team pick a year ago.

FILE PHOTO / The Chronicle

Julia Johnson, left, and Kiara Steen both started at guard for W.F. West last season and are back in the starting lineup this year.

W.F. West is, again, a young team; Lofgren, 6-2 post Lexie Strasser and guard Carly Noble are the only seniors,

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and Strasser will miss the first few weeks of the season while recovering from a back injury. Juniors Julia Johnson and

Kiara Steen are back in the starting lineup at guard, with Steen moving to the point guard slot, and 6-3 sophomore Erika Brumfield returns in the post.

Throw in a handful of sophomores — Madi and Sarah Haakenson and Courtney Bennett— with a few freshmen and Centralia transfer Maddie Fast, and the Bearcats have a deep lineup, which is perfect for Kelly’s uptempo style.

“They’re all a lot better. Everybody’s a year older and a year better, and they’ve put a lot of time in,” Kelly said. “I’m not

Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 • 15

CENTRALIA TIGERS

MATT BAIDE / mbaide@chronline.com

Centralia’s Ellie Corwin puts up a shot while contested by River Ridge’s Ashlee Erixson (00) and another defender during a nonleague basketball game at Centralia last Friday.

Coach: Doug Ashmore (third) 2015-16: 13-10 (2-4 EvCo) Returning Starters: Ellie Corwin (5-11, F) Key Newcomers: Chelsea Petrino (58, F), Rachel Wilkerson (5-9, G), Hannah Porter (5-7, G), Carissa Kaut (5-8, G) The Line: Can the Tigers build a contending team around talented post Ellie Corwin?

W.F. WEST BEARCATS Coach: Tom Kelly (second) 2015-16: 14-9 (3-3 EvCo) Returning Starters: Shasta Lofgren (5-6, G/F), Kiara Steen (5-2, G), Julia Johnson (5-5, G), Erika Brumfield (6-3, F), Lexie Strasser (6-2, C) Key Newcomers: Maddie Fast (56, G), Sarah Haakenson (5-8, G), Madi Haakenson (6-0, F), Courtney Bennett (5-4, G) The Line: Bearcats have a deeper rotation and a focus on defense in their second year in coach Tom Kelly’s uptempo system

Girls Continued from page 14

sure how good we are yet, but we’ll be real fun to watch.”

Across town, the Tigers will build around forward Ellie Corwin, a 5-11 junior who averaged 7.9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots a game last year. Outside of Corwin, though, Centralia will be moving in a new crew of starters, including

junior wing Chelsea Petrino, Hannah Porter, Carissa Kaut and Rachel Wilkerson.

“They’re great kids and the work hard,” Tiger coach Doug Ashmore said.

EvCo newcomer Rochester is in the same boat, returning only junior wing Hunter Hahn to the starting lineup from a team that went 7-13 in the Evergreen 2A/1A League last season.

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Coach: A.J. Easley (10th) 2015-16: 7-13 (6-8 Evergreen 2A/1A) Returning Starters: Hunter Hahn (5-5, G/F) Key Newcomers: Paige Winter (61, C), Lexie Sederberg (5-6, G), Emilee Gedney (5-5, G/F), Amanda Lewis (5-9, G/F) The Line: Can the inexperienced Warriors grow up quickly and compete for a playoff spot in a new league?

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Tumwater graduated point guard Mackenzie Bergquist but returns guard Sierra Snyder, who averaged 16 points a game last year, along with forwards Brooke Hare and Ali Smith.

Aberdeen will be led by 5-7 guard/ forward Reagan Glanz, who averaged 8 points a game last year for a 10-10 Bobcats squad.

16 • Prep Basketball • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016

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