Enumclaw's Hornets hold solid hand
DOUG PACEY; Staff writer
All eyes are on Enumclaw.
The top-ranked Hornets enter the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament today at the Tacoma Dome undefeated and intent on claiming the first championship in school history.
Yet, while the rest of the 16-team field is trying to figure out how to bring down Enumclaw, the Hornets have their own approach.
“For a senior-laden group with six days left,” coach Phil Engebretsen said, “we’re just holding on to every part of the season we have left.”
If everything goes Enumclaw’s way, the rest of the season amounts to four games. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they can’t carry over any extra credit they earned in winning their first 24 games of the season. With an experienced starting lineup of five seniors, that might not be such a problem.
Enumclaw lost no starters from the team that reached the state tournament last season and is making its third straight state-tournament appearance. Behind guard Riley Carel, the South Puget Sound League 3A MVP, and forward Tarren VanTrojen, a first-team all-league selection, the Hornets have put together a résumé that contains seven victories against state-tournament teams – including No. 3 Bellevue, No. 4 Lakes (twice) and No. 9 Franklin Pierce (twice).
Lancers coach JoJo Rodriguez knows all too well what the Hornets are capable of.
“They don’t make mistakes,” he said. “They wait for you to make mistakes and then they capitalize on them.”
Last week, Enumclaw fended off Foster and Union in the West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament semifinals and finals.
Engebretsen believes the Hornets are peaking at the right time.
“Our consistency of effort and execution has been pretty high,” he said. “We feel like we’re playing our best basketball right now. It’s a good feeling.”
That’s bad news for the rest of the field.
At the tournament draw Sunday, most coaches regarded second-ranked Rainier Beach (22-3) and Bellevue (22-3) to be the biggest obstacles in Enumclaw’s path. Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea said he had seen the Hornets in-person a few times. He left the games impressed by Enumclaw’s shooting and the inside play of the 6-foot-6 VanTrojen.
“They shoot the ball really well,” he said, “and they got the big fella inside.”
Bethea’s Vikings have played exceptionally well, too, and might even be flying a bit under the radar. Well, as much as a team that wins Metro League and Sea-King District titles can.
Rainier Beach’s three losses all came to out-of-state teams at an Oregon tournament in December. Since then, the Vikings have reeled off 18 consecutive victories.
“The biggest thing is our chemistry is finally coming together,” Bethea said. “Kids are clicking, really getting to learn about each other.
“We’re a typical Rainier Beach team; we try to play pressure defense. One good thing we’ve got going for us this year is we’re pretty deep.”
If Enumclaw is to face Rainier Beach in the finals, the Hornets will probably have to get past Bellevue in the quarterfinals first, and Meadowdale in the first round, too, of course.
Bellevue point guard Aaron Bright carried his team to the semifinals last season and is capable of taking over games.
“Everything goes through Aaron and Nate Sikma,” said Bethea, whose Vikings beat the Wolverines, 67-59, in the Sea-King District finals last week. “They play well together.”
That’s all it takes to win a state tournament. Play well for four days in a row and good things will happen, no matter a team’s record or résumé.
“At this point, the records are really insignificant,” Bethea said. “You just have to win four games.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/prep
GAaron BrightBellevue5-11SeniorHe led the Wolverines to the semis last season, could go farther this week.
GRiley CarelEnumclaw6-2Senior
When he’s not roping calves or throwing spirals, Carel is the Hornets’ floor general.
FConnor HamlettMeadowdale6-7Senior
The Mavericks’ big man in the middle has a knack for taking control of games.
G/FLonnie PearsonRainier Beach 6-5Senior
Scoring, grabbing rebounds, dishing assists, Pearson can do it all.
G Andre Winston Jr. Lakes6-3Senior
When the Lancers need a big basket, they turn to Winston.
Enumclaw (24-0): Lack of experience is not a factor for the Hornets – the senior-laden squad is making its third straight state tournament appearance. Enumclaw is incredibly balanced. Four players – guards Riley Carel, Jayson Lewis and Taylor Myers, and forward Tarren VanTrojen – are averaging more than 11 points per game. All four were all-league selections and Carel was the SPSL 3A MVP. Enumclaw knows how to close out close games – the Hornets have won four games decided by five points or fewer.
Rainier Beach (22-3): After winning Metro League and Sea-King District titles, a state championship is next on the Vikings’ to-do list. Few teams can match Rainier Beach’s depth – coach Mike Bethea said he uses an 11-player rotation. Guard/forward Lonnie Pearson does it all, averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. Guards Jaamon Echols (15 ppg, 6 apg) and Hakeem Stewart (13 ppg) are also top scoring options. The Vikings’ three losses came against out-of-state teams at a tournament in Oregon.
Bellevue (22-3): The Wolverines have the most complete guard in the tournament in Stanford-bound Aaron Bright. The 5-foot-11 senior, who averages 21 points and 5 assists per contest, is capable of taking over games. Nate Sikma, a 6-foot-5 forward, provides Bellevue with a solid second scoring option. If the Wolverines, who reached the Sea-King District title game, can get past Foster in the first round, a potential rematch with No. 1 Enumclaw – the Hornets beat Bellevue, 53-47, in January – looms in the quarterfinals.
Lakes (20-4): Nearly every member of the Lancers squad that placed eighth at state last year returns. Lakes has a player it can turn to in crunch time in Andre Winston Jr.. The James Madison University-bound guard is capable of scoring in bunches and averages 16.5 points per game. Six-foot-8 center Zach Banner gives Lakes an inside presence that few teams can match. Guards Isaac Winston and Danny Martinez, and forward Jamaal Kearse round out one of the tournament’s best starting fives. All four of the Lancers’ losses have come against teams in the state tournament.
Shadle Park (20-4): The Highlanders, who tied for second in the tough 4A/3A Greater Spokane League, are on an eight-game winning streak. Shadle Park is one of the most experienced teams at state, having qualified for three straight seasons. Guard Robby Douglas, a three-year starter, is the team’s leading scorer at 21 points per game. Forward Jake Rodgers, a 6-foot-7 senior who will play football at WSU, gives Shadle Park a commanding presence in the paint.
Union (15-9): The Titans surprised some teams in the bi-district tournament, beating Kennedy Catholic and No. 4 Lakes to get to the finals against No. 1 Enumclaw. Union has a fair amount of depth and that allows the Titans to employ a pressure defense. The team will go as far as guard Chris Morgan can take it. Morgan averages a team-high 16.2 points per game.
Franklin (15-12): At times, the Quakers have played extremely well, like when they took No. 2 Rainier Beach to double-overtime. Franklin has had difficulty with consistency, winning at least four games in a row only once. Guard Anrio Adams, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, is the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game. The defending champions are not the complete team they were last season, but with a roster loaded with underclassmen, they can return to that form in the future.
Mount Rainier (18-7): The Rams have become a state tournament mainstay, qualifying five times in the last seven seasons. After opening the season 6-5, Mount Rainier has found its rhythm, winning 12 of its last 14 games. Forward Bryce McPhee (14 ppg, 7 rpg) and guard Cameron Harris (10 ppg, 5 rpg) are the team’s top scorers. The Rams benefited from a favorable draw and could find themselves in the semifinals on Friday night.
Foster (16-9): At 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, senior forward Darius Page is one of the most physically intimidating players in the tournament. He averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks per game in leading the Bulldogs to the Seamount League title. Foster hung with No. 1 Enumclaw in the bi-district tournament semifinals last week and could give No. 3 Bellevue all that it can handle in the first round.
Glacier Peak (19-5): The Northwest District champions enter the state tournament on an 11-game winning streak and are as hot as any team. The 2-year old school had no seniors when it opened, so the Grizzlies are loaded with varsity experience. Guards Brandon Hill, Jack Bonner and Nick Persha are the team’s leading scorers. Six-foot-11 junior Payton Pervier provides a large inside presence.
Meadowdale (19-6): A first-round draw with No. 1 Enumclaw would spell doom for most teams. Not so for Meadowdale. The Mavericks are capable of beating top-tier teams – they beat 4A runner-up Jackson twice this season. Forward Conner Hamlett led Meadowdale to the state semifinals last season and again is the Mavericks’ go-to player – he’s averaging 19.8 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Franklin Pierce (17-8): The Cardinals won two straight loser-out games to clinch their first state berth since 2006. Franklin Pierce can run with any team in the tourney and will have to because the Cardinals are smaller than nearly every team they face. Guards Anthony Bowden and Isaiah Hamlin, a transfer from Tacoma Baptist, were first-team all-SPSL 3A selections.
O’Dea (22-7): No team has overcome more to get to the Tacoma Dome than the Fighting Irish. Long-time coach Phil Lumpkin died weeks before the season began. An up-and-down season followed and O’Dea needed to win back-to-back loser-out games in the Sea-King District tournament to qualify for state. Guard Dustin Watts and guard/forward Devante Williams are the Irish’s leading scorers, combining for more than 30 points per game. Like some other teams, O’Dea is loaded with talented underclassmen and could be prepping for a deep run in 2011.
North Central (15-11): Don’t be fooled by the Indians’ record. Teams that come out of the 4A/3A Greater Spokane League are battle-tested. Just three years ago, North Central reached the state semifinals with an overall record of 10-17.
Renton (14-12): The Indians have entered the state tournament as favorites in recent seasons, but Renton is decidedly an underdog this time. The Indians won three straight loser-out games to qualify for state. Achoki Moikobu is the team’s leading scorer at 13.6 points per game. Renton is at state for the eighth time in nine years.
Bremerton (16-7): The Knights are back at the state tournament for the first time in 11 seasons. The Olympic League champions lack size – their tallest main contributors are 6-foot-2 – but boast plenty of speed. Senior guard Jarell Flora leads the team with a 23.8 points-per-game scoring average. Guard Andre Coleman (15.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) is a cousin of former Bremerton star and current NBA player Marvin Williams.
Doug Pacey, staff writer
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