NARROWS 4A BOYS
CRYSTAL BALL*
1. Bellarmine Prep (14-9)
2. Olympia (25-4)
3. Stadium (6-14)
4. Mount Tahoma (14-9)
5. Central Kitsap (5-14)
6. Gig Harbor (13-12)
7. South Kitsap (6-14)
8. Shelton (4-16)
*2010-11 records
STARTING FIVE
G, Eric Anderson-Connolly, 6-3, jr., Stadium
Heady ballhandler can score, has gotten much stronger and should see breakout season.
G, Isaiah Flynn, 5-11, jr., Bellarmine Prep
The team’s best ballhandler needs to get scorers involved – and then score himself.
F, Sefo Liufau, 6-4, jr., Bellarmine Prep
Surrounded by scorers, he is the least-replaceable guy because of intangibles, leadership.
G, Nars Martinez, 6-3, sr., South Kitsap
Wolves’ talent pool has been slow to replenish – except for this ultra-competitive scorer.
C, Lucas Meikle, 6-8, jr., Bellarmine Prep
Can score from the elbow to the 3-point line; emerging skill set has him on NCAA Division I radar.
FASTBREAKS
• Bellarmine Prep gets favorite nod because of balance and versatility in the starting lineup. Also, this is a group that has played together since the fourth grade. It should be the Lions’ time to flourish.
• Olympia returns one starter – Dominick Francks – off last season’s league-championship squad, which finished fourth at the Class 4A state tournament. Not to worry, the next wave of talent is pretty good – the Bears’ junior varsity went 17-3 last season.
• Is this the year Stadium makes noise? Tyler Stumph’s return from knee injury gives them a true low-post threat.
• If it wasn’t for guard Michael Rollins’ return, Mount Tahoma would have no varsity returners. Still up-tempo and dangerous.
• Central Kitsap will utilize penetration then either kick it out to guard Josh Sontag on the wing or give it to high-energy center Kericho Corry in the post.
• Gig Harbor has a new coach in Craig Brooks, and a perimeter-oriented system. Even center Cyrus Ward is out shooting 3-pointers now.
• Nars Martinez and company at South Kitsap will have to outscore opponents to win. On most days, that likely will not happen.
• Shooting guard Curtis Wuestner is the only returner with varsity experience at Shelton. Talent is coming in sophomore and freshman classes.
NARROWS 4A GIRLS
CRYSTAL BALL *
1. South Kitsap (20-6)
2. Bellarmine Prep (22-7)
3. Central Kitsap (11-9)
4. Mount Tahoma (20-6)
5. Olympia (11-12)
6. Gig Harbor (10-10)
7. Stadium (4-15)
8. Shelton (0-20)
*2010-11 records
STARTING FIVE
F, Kaitlynn Bunger, 5-7, sr., Mount Tahoma
You want scoring in a variety of ways? That is Bunger’s game; a slasher who can get hot.
G, Nyzhe Primas, 5-8, sr., Bellarmine Prep
A second-team Narrows 4A player, she is the Lions’ key for a fourth league title in a row.
G, Krista Stabler, 5-6, sr., Central Kitsap
Consummate leader at point guard who hits big buckets when the game is on the line.
G, Jackie Steiger, 5-8, sr., South Kitsap
Arguably the league’s best all-around threat; can deliver points from the inside and outside.
F, Taylor Sunkel, 5-10, sr., South Kitsap
A penetrating force from the wing, she demands a double-team from opponents.
FASTBREAKS
• South Kitsap gets the slight favorite nod primarily based on Jackie Steiger and Taylor Sunkel, two returning all-Narrows 4A performers. Steiger moves over to point guard as a replacement for Kelsey Callaghan, who graduated.
• What a run for Bellarmine Prep, which has gone 56-2 over the past four seasons in league. But the Lions graduated three college-bound seniors, and Nyzhe Primas (knee) needs to return to full form after season-ending surgery in 2010.
• No team relies on one player more than Central Kitsap does with Krista Stabler, who aggressively attacks the basket. One of her top priorities this season is getting post players Gwen Ryno and Carly Hoisington involved.
• Fast and furious? That is Mount Tahoma in a nutshell, and Kaitlynn Bunger will need to be heavily involved for the Thunderbirds to win games, much like state scoring champion Deborah Anderson last season.
• A new youth movement is underway at Olympia with four ninth-graders on the varsity squad – led by point guard Jona Spiller, who is a strong, stout ballhandler with scoring capability. She and classmate Laura Snodgrass are starters, but it will be up to the Bears’ two seniors – Alex Bassett and Molly Spiller – to make sure the team stays on course.
• Five seniors graduated at Gig Harbor last season, leaving only Leah Davis as a returning starter. She moves to point, and has emerging center Naphtali Ward to help out.
• Stadium has won six games in the past three seasons, and has Tigers’ alum Mark Stewart taking over as the coach. Only one senior starts (Luisa Wilmerstaedt), and Stewart’s best true playmaker is Angela Yun, a sophomore point guard.
• Aaron Leth is Shelton’s third coach in as many seasons, and after the Highclimbers were winless last season, he is also looking to the future. He has 15 sophomores, but a pair of seniors – forward Clara Robbins and point guard Jordanne Crumpols – are expected to lead by example.
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