2A basketball preview: White River's Alex Sayler towers in leadership

Alex Sayler welcomes the doubters.

He faces plenty of them. Sayler, White River’s 5-foot-6 red-haired point guard, can even sense them.

They see him for his size – or lack of it – and think they can take advantage, bully and wear him down.

“I feel like I get underestimated every game,” Sayler said. “Definitely every game.”

Sayler doesn’t mind. He has four years of varsity experience – three as a starter – and is coming off a season in which he garnered All-2A South Puget Sound League first-team honors, led the league in assists for the second season in a row and led White River to the Class 2A state championship game.

Yet, opposing teams still don’t get it.

“They feel like I am too short to guard them,” Sayler said. “But I like that they underestimate me because I can prove them wrong.

“It’s always fun to win a game when people are doubting you – those are the most fun.”

Sayler is regularly the shortest player on the court. In fact, he is the shortest player in the entire White River basketball program – including the C-team.

No one in his immediate family is over 6-feet tall. But even at home he is the shortest – his younger sister, a sophomore, has a couple inches on him.

“Sometimes I like to think ‘What if?’ but I don’t let it get to me,” Sayler said. “I’ve been short my whole life. I’ve had to deal with it.”

He deals with it by outworking opponents. He is quick and relentless on the defensive end of the floor and has a knack for getting into opponents’ heads.

He demonstrated great court vision as he recorded 250 assists and averaged 10.1 points in 10 postseason games.

ENERGY

“Size has never been an issue,” White River coach Rick Tripp said. “In fact, if you really get down to it, he is really one of our best post defenders just because he gets after guys and is really smart.”

His performance has made him the leader of a Hornets program looking to extend its success from last season.

“You always see him diving for loose balls and making the tough plays,” teammate Brandon Dove said. “He just plays hard and it really makes him stand out. He is short, but he makes a big appearance.”

But that energy, that emotion has gotten the best of Sayler in the past.

He said people had a misconception of him as a hot head his freshman year. But he said that wouldn’t have been hard since he often argued with referees and would even get upset with some of his teammates. Some of that attitude came from opposing players trying to get in his head and take advantage of his size.

He earned a technical foul for arguing with a referee later that season.

That, Sayler said, is when he knew he needed to change.

“I really had to control that and mature in that aspect of the game,” he said. “To lead, I have to do so by example, and if I was a hot head, that’s not being a good example.”

ROLE MODEL, OF SORTS

Sayler relates his style of play to that of Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. He said he doesn’t care for Rondo’s knack for getting into arguments, but his toughness is something he admires.

“You see him out there and he isn’t afraid to guard a guy like LeBron James or anyone,” Sayler said. “I don’t like the fighting part of him so much, but I appreciate that he (won’t back down) from anyone.”

Sayler took over the starting point guard duties at White River as a sophomore and led the Hornets to the postseason after they missed out the year before. He then took them to the state tournament last season, where they took runner-up honors following a 66-45 loss to Lynden in the championship game.

Tripp said Sayler is almost an extension of himself out on the court. That, combined with his motor and top-notch defense, make him one of the top point guards in the state.

“He can score, he is unselfish, but it’s also like I am out there on the floor,” Tripp said. “He knows what I’m thinking and what we need to do, and the kids respect him.

“In terms of leadership, I don’t know any greater point guards out there. I haven’t seen a better one in 2A, that’s for sure.”

CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

POWER RANKINGS

1. Clover Park | Having early growing pains, but watch out

2. White River | 2A state runner-up deeper this time around

3. River Ridge | Will learn to play great defense under Barbee

4. Capital | EvCo’s most talented squad gelling quickly

5. Centralia | One of Ron Brown’s better teams in 52 seasons

South Puget Sound League 2A

Crystal Ball (2011-12 records)

1. Clover Park (23-6)

2. White River (24-7)

3. Franklin Pierce (3-17)

4. Fife (9-15)

5. Steilacoom (8-13)

6. Sumner (21-6)

7. Washington (5-15)

8. Orting (0-22 in Nisqually 1A)

Fab Five

GDavid Crisp6-1jrClover Park

Flashy game; Warriors need point guard to score more than ever before

GMichael Dupree5-11srFranklin Pierce

When he gets hot offensively, Cardinals’ speedy standout is unstoppable

FTeddy Hardy6-7srFife

Paired with 6-8 Kaleb McGary, Trojans have rare “twin towers” of league

CXavier Means6-4srClover Park

Intense leader with chip on shoulder, he gives Warriors tough inside play

GAlex Sayler5-6srWhite River

Whatever team needs, he delivers – especially guidance and clutch shooting.

Circle the Calendar

Jan. 18, White River at Clover Park, 7 p.m.

EVERGREEN CONFERENCE

Crystal Ball (2011-12 records)

1. River Ridge (15-9)

2. Capital (11-10 in Narrows 3A)

3. Centralia (6-13)

4. W.F. West (13-9)

5. Tumwater (11-12)

6. Aberdeen (7-11)

7. Black Hills (5-11)

Fab Five

FZack Ball6-5srAberdeen

Rugged competitor who isn’t a great scorer, but knows how to play game

G/FDavid Cooper6-3soTumwater

Super athlete featured in Thunderbirds’ four-guard, up-tempo system

FBrock Wade6-3srW.F. West

Bearcats run plenty of sets to get this three-time all-EvCo player the ball

GBrad Wallace6-0srRiver Ridge

Best skill set in the league, he is quick, strong and very determined to win

GKeenan Williams6-2srCapital

Should really flourish as a scorer in Cougars’ new dribble-drive system

Circle the Calendar

Jan. 18, Capital at River Ridge, 7:45 p.m. CLASS 2A GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

POWER RANKINGS

1. White River | Preseason No. 1 team in 2A has staying power

2. W.F. West | Tall athletes, matchup zone make life tough for foes

3. Black Hills | Big frontcourt, but do Wolves have shooters?

4. River Ridge | Not a lot of depth, but oh can Hawks fly

5. Aberdeen | Good starting five; might get worn down late

South Puget Sound League 2A

Crystal Ball (2011-12 records)

1. White River (27-3)

2. Sumner (14-12)

3. Franklin Pierce (4-17)

4. Washington (10-12)

5. Fife (14-13)

6. Clover Park (4-15)

7. Steilacoom (0-18)

8. Orting (0-18 in Nisqually 1A)

Fab Five

FKennedy Hobert5-10srWhite River

Reigning SPSL 3A MVP does it all – rebounds, hits shots and creates

GAmanda Lance5-6soWhite River

Next great point-guard-in-making, her quick hands are lethal on defense

FJamie Lange6-0soSumner

Active and mobile in post, just like she is in goal for 2A soccer champs

GSutton Mills5-6srWhite River

Co-captain is in mold of many White River guards – pesky and versatile

FKristin Sturdivan5-10soWhite River

Quick enough to get off her own outside shot, and apt enough to make it

Circle the Calendar

Jan. 5, W.F. West at White River, 7 p.m.

EVERGREEN CONFERENCE

Crystal Ball (2011-12 records)

1. W.F. West (22-5)

2. Black Hills (12-10)

3. River Ridge (17-8)

4. Aberdeen (6-14)

5. Centralia (1-19)

6. Capital (3-17 in Narrows 3A)

7. Tumwater (12-11)

Fab Five

GJazzlynn Brewster5-6jrRiver Ridge

Bellarmine Prep transfer will have to carry most of ballhandling chores

FMo Donovan5-7srAberdeen

If her guards can create chances, she is best perimeter shooter in EvCo

FOlivia Erskine5-11srW.F. West

Known more for soccer, her hops and athleticism greatly aid frontcourt

FHope Mortensen5-11srBlack Hills

Another great face-up frontcourt athlete whose best sport isn’t basketball

CJamika Parker6-3srW.F. West

Likely league player of year is the enforcer in back end of matchup zone

Circle the Calendar

Jan. 29, Black Hills at W.F. West, 7:30 p.m.