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The Marysville Globe • November 25, 2009
Lakewood basketball has wealth of experience Cougars rich with seniors, adding athleticism BY TRAVIS SHERER sports@marysvilleglobe.com
LAKEWOOD — When looking at the prospect of this season, Lakewood coach
Matt Hart has a hard time holding back his smile. “I have been looking forward to this since the beginning of summer,” he said. “If you’ll notice, we’re the only team without a banner in there.” And if any year is theirs to compete for a league or conference championship, this
Travis Sherer/Staff Photo
Junior forward Dustin Stanton (shooting) works with Lakewood coach Matt Blair on post moves and finishing around the basket.
FACES FROM PAGE 10 Leading those five seniors are co-captains Lucas Stevens and Danny Stokes. “Those two are the most familiar with varsity experience because they split time (between varsity and junior varsity),” he said. “They are a pair of solid players that have taken the leadership role to heart.” They will have the responsibility of showing a strong sophomore class of Don Kiblinger, Ryan Shannon and Marc Oden the ropes. Shannon, 6’5” is one of four Tomahawks standing at least six and a half feet tall. “We’re not very tall, but we do have more players on the taller side than most teams,” Gould said. “And we’re going to look to push the ball up the floor because our bigs are faster than most.”
would be it as the Cougars return eight players from last year’s effort, and have 10 seniors scratched into the roster that remember what finishing 3-17 felt like. “The guys are excited and we’ve got a great opportunity in the front of us,” Hart said. “We’re loaded with experience.” This seasoned group is headlined by Cameron Fry (2nd Team) and Nathan Hesselman (Honorable Mention), who both received all-Cascade Conference honors last season. Hart is hoping that Fry, the team’s leading scorer at guard, will have more opportunities to spread the wealth in a much more up-tempo offense than Lakewood is used to playing in the past. “We’re going to get out and run,” said Hart, who is emphasizing quick shots and transition offense even on the first day of team practice. “We had some trouble scoring last year and I don’t think that will be the case. We’re real athletic and focusing on going straight to the hoop.” Other returners for the Cougars are forwards Michael Leach, Joseph Hawkins and Beau Wiersma, along with guard Jacob Von Pein. And Lakewood will need the experience to face a trio of teams that Hart said could top the league, including Class 1A state runner-up King’s. “King’s always reloads,” he said. “They lost a couple but
“We’re going to have to win the close games and that means defense. It mean making free throws and finding the right guys in the right spots at the end.” Bary Gould, Head Coach Along with the new 35-second shot clock this season, Gould said he plans to quicken the tempo and is instructing his team to play as hard as they can because there will always be someone to sub in. “We have a lot more depth than we’ve had in the past,” he said. “So we’re going to look to mix it up on defense and get in people’s faces. I told them not to save anything because we have the players to rest anybody.” And he’ll need to call on all his players against a tough Wesco Conference that includes a sustained
Lake Stevens squad that qualified for the state tournament, along with a senior dominated Stanwood team. “I think the rest of us will be trying to get in those second and third spots for a chance to play for state,” he said. What could make the difference? “We’re going to have to win the close games, and that means defense. It means making free throws and finding the right guys in the right spots at the end,” he said.
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Travis Sherer/Staff Photo
Senior guard Jacob Von Pein directs his teammates in a quick-hit offensive drill. they’ll be right up there.” Hart also mentioned Archbishop Murphy, Sultan and South Whidbey as being in a good position this year. In this high-scoring league, Hart said he will have to focus on defensive awareness to not let the game get out of hand while trying to get as many quality
Perfect seasons for Kodiaks The Marysville Kodiaks completed a perfect season (10-0) in the Greater Snohomish County Youth Football League with a 28-16 win over the Monroe Bearcats in the senior division championship for ages 12 and 13. Coached by Don Blacker, Mike Thompson, Marty Martinis and Jeff Rosten, the Kodiak’s roster includes Andrew Schafer, Jake Lutton, Parker House, Reagan Gordon, Dakota Williams, T.J. Rosten, Noah Hoorn, Forest Herr, Tynan Vincent, Lazarus Scarborough, Shane Anderson, Alex Rosten, Austin Wilde, Hunter Treaux, Landon McGarry, John Clark, Kyle Durick, Andrew Davis, Michael Painter, Devan Palfrey, Cameron Kammers, Josh Pinca, D.J. Ward and Dominic Barashkoff.
shots as quickly as possible. “We play a defense that keeps other people out of certain places and forces them to take difficult shots in difficult spots on the floor,” he said, noting that it wasn’t a style that is predicated on length of the possession. Also helping the Cougars this year will be junior
transfer Trey Haslen, who looks to be a spark plug and a major addition to Hart’s rotation. “He’ll give us a boost, that’s for sure. Everybody is really excited to see what he can do,” Hart said. Lakewood opens the season with an exhibition at Lynden Christian Dec. 1.
Student Athlete of the Week
A.J. Kvangnes __________ Marysville-Pilchuck __________ Football __________ This week’s Everett Silvertips Marysville Athlete of the Week was chosen for their outstanding athletic performance in football. A.J. Kvangnes was highlighted in the Nov. 18 online edition of The Marysville Globe and was chosen by The Everett Silvertips for his ‘Tips “Goal-d” Standard of Excellence. A.J. will receive 4 tickets to an Everett Silvertips game a framed copy of the Athlete of the Week profile in the The Marysville Globe and a possible live mention at the Tips game they attend! You could see this week’s Athlete of the Week at our upcoming game(s) on November 25th or 27th. Check online at www.everettsilvertips.com for a full game schedule.
Congratulations! The Athlete of the Week is brought to you in partnership with the Everett Silvertips, The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times each week. Weekly winners will be notified by the Everett Silvertips.