SPSL 2A and 3A boys and girls previews

SPSL 3A BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

CRYSTAL BALL *

1. Lakes (25-3)
2. Decatur (17-9)
3. Auburn Mountainview (9-13)
4. Enumclaw (7-13)
5. Bonney Lake (7-14)
6. Peninsula (3-18)
*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

F Nate Guy, 6-6, sr., Lakes
Has developed into one of the best players in the South Sound, perhaps the state

C Zach Banner, 6-9, sr., Lakes
Biggest big man in the state can gobble up boards, pile up put-backs

W Marion Beauchamp, 6-3, sr., Auburn Mountainview
First-team all-league player averaged 14.3 points, 7 rebounds per game

G Dom Hunter, 6-0, sr., Decatur
Someone must pick up scoring slack for Gators, Hunter is talented enough to do so

G Andrew Holloway, 6-2, sr., Lakes
Point guard is at his best in the biggest games, and Lakes will have many

FASTBREAKS

• Defending state champion Lakes intends on keeping the state trophy on campus, and with three starters back, plus the return of capable role players and talented newcomers, the Lancers could do exactly that. Lakes has a tremendous inside game with Zach Banner and Nate Guy. Both are among the best players in the state and have improved their game since last season, coach JoJo Rodriguez said. Guy has appealed for a fifth year of eligibility and his hearing is scheduled for this week. Andrew Holloway is a gamer who plays his best on the biggest stage.

• Decatur will try to extend its streak of consecutive seasons in the state tournament to six, but the Gators will have to overcome the graduation of the school’s all-time leading scorer Jerron Smith and Austen Smith, who averaged a double-double. Guards Dom Hunter (14.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.2 apg) and Markus Rawls (8.4 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2.8 rpg) are Decatur’s only returning starters, though wing Abraham Ferrell-Logan (5.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg) played significant minutes.

• Auburn Mountainview could enjoy a breakthrough season. The Lions have four returning starters back, led by first-team all-league wing Marion Beauchamp. Wings J.J. Lacey (9.9 ppg) and Shaddye Melu (5 ppg), guards Keith Green (5 ppg) and Josh Upchurch (4 ppg, 4 apg) and post Drew Sleezer (5 ppg, 5 rpg) also played extensively last season and are among Auburn Mountainview’s 10 returning letterman.

Enumclaw alumnus Kellen Hall has taken over the Hornets’ program. G/F Anthony Chynoweth has the most experience of the returners, but Enumclaw should benefit from Drake Radenmacher, a 6-foot-7 sophomore. The Hornets are a youthful team.

• Bonney Lake is in its second season under coach Rob Smith and the Panthers have a nice player to build around in 6-foot-6 forward Mike Gould. The Panthers will need to find scoring support from newcomers as they lost their two leading scorers to graduation.

• Peninsula will break in a new starting five, led by wing Cody Olson, a 6-2 junior.

SPSL 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

CRYSTAL BALL *

1. Auburn Mountainview (23-9)
2. Lakes (18-7)
3. Enumclaw (12-14)
4. Bonney Lake (8-13)
5. Decatur (8-17)
6. Peninsula (6-14)
*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

P Caitlin Carr, 6-0, sr., Auburn Mountainview
Reigning league MVP averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds per game last season

G/F Tyanna Barton, 5-9, jr., Lakes
Experienced underclassman should help Lakes make a deep playoff run

P Hattie Kosko, 6-0, sr., Auburn Mountainview
Close to a double-double every game and adds to Lions’ inside presence

F Naomi Pounds, 5-9, sr., Bonney Lake
Panthers’ lone returning starter averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds per game

G/F Aubre Mitchell, 5-9, sr., Lakes
Explosive player didn’t start the season rusty – she scored 30 in first game

FASTBREAKS

• Auburn Mountainview is the team to beat and Lakes has its sights set on doing exactly that. With all five starters back, including reigning SPSL 3A MVP Caitlin Carr and all-league performers Hattie Kosko and Aalia Braboy, Auburn Mountainview will be tough to topple. Also returning are Shayla Wolf, Aly Carr and Maddy Maley, who all played significant minutes last season. Lions coach Chris Carr said his team’s defense is the strength of the Lions.

• Lakes has four starters back, including second-team all-league selections Aubre Mitchell and Tyanna Barton. Mitchell could be in line for a big season – she erupted for 30 points in the first game of the season. Brianna Butler, Mesha Holland, and Anitaka Knight also will be key contributors for the Lancers. Rodericka Ware is back after a season at Curtis High and will have her eligibility hearing this week.

• Bonney Lake went to the state tournament for the first time in school history last season, but only one starter – forward Naomi Pounds – returns. The youthful Panthers will rely on their speed, but will experience some growing pains early.

• Enumclaw has made strides under coach Beth Madill. After winning three games in her first season, the Hornets improved to win 12 last winter and now return a roster full of experience. Enumclaw might not have the star power to match Auburn Mountainview and Lakes, but the Hornets are definitely capable of putting together a postseason run.

• Steve Jacobson takes over as head coach at Peninsula, which went 1-9 in league last season. Post Tyler Stolz, a 5-9 junior, was one of the league’s top rebounders last season and point guard Leigh Iosia will be a key contributor for the Seahawks.

SPSL 2A BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

CRYSTAL BALL*

1. Clover Park (27-3)
2. Sumner (16-8)
3. White River (10-15)
4. Eatonville (9-11)
5. Steilacoom (3-17)
6. Fife (18-9)
7. Washington (6-14)
8. Franklin Pierce (15-13)
*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

G David Crisp, 6-0, so., Clover Park
One half of the best guard tandem in the state, regardless of classification

G Billy Kiel, 5-11, sr., White River
Owns school’s single-game scoring record with 38 points

F Bryce Miller, 6-6, sr., Fife
Perhaps the league’s best big man, could average a double-double

G Ahmaad Rorie, 6-0, so., Clover Park
The other half of the Warriors’ standout backcourt can light it up, too

G Erik Swartout, 6-1, Sr., Eatonville
First-team all-league pick averaged 14.6 points, 5.5 assists per game

FASTBREAKS

• The SPSL 2A is loaded with talented, experienced teams. Leading the pack is Clover Park, the defending Class 2A state champion. Though the Warriors lost a key piece from their title run – four-year starter Tana Pritchard graduated – they have two of the top underclassmen in the Northwest to rely on in guards David Crisp and Ahmaad Rorie. If Clove Park can get a solid inside presence from its trio of forwards – Isom Brown, Dwayne Crawford and Xavier Means – it will be hard to stop.

• Sumner and Eatonville return their starting lineups from last season intact. In guard/forward Dan DeVries (14 ppg) and forward Zeb Glissmeyer (13 ppg, 7 rpg), the Spartans have a one-two punch capable of filling up the basket. With four starters standing 6-foot-3 or taller, Sumner will give smaller teams fits.

• Eatonville is led by Erik Swartout, Dalton Hancock (11.3 ppg), Josh Bennett (7.6 ppg, 3.4 apg), wing Brendan Davis (7.4 ppg) and 6-foot-5 center Jesse Waddles (6.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg). With so much balance and experience back, the Cruisers should contend for the league title and possibly end its seven-year state tournament drought.

• White River welcomes back 10 varsity players, led by guards Billy Kiel, Jason Tyler and Alex Sayler, who led the league in assists.

• Forward Bryce Miller is Fife’s lone returning starter, but he’s a great player to build around. The first-team, all-league pick averaged 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season. The Trojans have qualified for state in each of the past three seasons.

• Steilacoom stumbled to a disappointing three-win season last winter, but the Sentinels will be better. Steilacoom has three starters back – Matt Bender, Jacob Esseln and Cameron Clanton – and the Setinels add 6-7 senior transfer Nayte Olukaya from Manitoba, Canada.

• Thomas Cusic, a 6-4 post who earned honorable mention all-league honors, is back for Washington, which will rely on defense early as the team comes together.

• After reaching the state tournament the past two seasons, youth has caught up with Franklin Pierce, which has no returning starters.

SPSL 2A GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

CRYSTAL BALL*

1. White River (23-6)
2. Eatonville (18-10)
3. Fife (10-14)
4. Sumner (20-7)
5. Washington (7-13)
6. Clover Park (9-14)
7. Steilacoom (2-18)
8. Franklin Pierce (7-16)
*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

W Danielle Pritchard, 5-7, sr., Clover Park
Helping rebuild the program, averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds per game

G Laccie Hill, 5-5, sr., Eatonville
Quick point guard can score, too, averaged 8 points per game

C Ciara Pedroni, 6-2, sr., Fife
Inside force scored 42 points in the Trojans’ first two games

P Jessica Stead, 6-0, sr., Eatonville
The only returning first-team, all-league selection in the SPSL 2A

G Sam Schubach, 5-6, sr.,Washington
Reliable and consistent, scored in double-figures in 15 games last season

FASTBREAKS

• The league sent three teams – White River, Sumner and Eatonville – to the state tournament last season. Under coach Chris Gibson, White River, the defending SPSL 2A champion, has been a postseason fixture, reaching state in 11 of the past 13 seasons. After graduating three first-team all-league players and with only two returning starters – point guard Cassidy France and forward Kennedy Hobert – the Hornets might have to work harder to return to the Yakima SunDome, site of the state tournament.

• Sumner was hit hard by graduation, losing 12 seniors. The Spartans have no returning starters and must overcome inexperience early in the season – four freshman made varsity. Senior guard Taylor Holtman is eligible after sitting out last year after transferring from Auburn Riverside.

• Perennial postseason contender Eatonville has two starters back in Jessica Stead and Laccie Hill. Along with newcomers KK Voss, Hailey Latherow, Lauren Pate and Samantha Cox, the Cruisers should have enough to make another playoff push.

• Anchored inside by center Ciara Pedroni and forward Jocinda Fox, Fife should have solid post play, and guard Stephanie Martin can get them the ball.

• After a rough couple of seasons, Clover Park showed improvement last winter. Led by wing Danielle Pritchard and guard Caitlynn Johnson, the Warriors should continue to get better.

• Steilacoom endured a 2-18 season in 2010-11, but the Sentinels have four returning starters. Center Alex Jenkins, a 6-foot senior, provides an inside presence, while guards Janett Trujillo, Kiana Tainatongo and Lani Cabana will handle the ball.

• With the majority of its starters back, Washington could surprise some teams. Sam Schubach, Brea Doss, Caylah Doss and Jakajah Douglas give the Patriots plenty of experience.