Junior Zach Toglia does it all for 3A SSC champion Tides

Zach Toglia’s favorite moment of the season was only two weeks ago.

With a one-game lead in the 3A SSC, Toglia -- alongside his Tides teammates -- went into enemy territory and took down a threatening Capital team in their own gym.

“It was a really big game for us,” Toglia said. “We were ahead of the league by one game, and Capital was right on our tail.”

After the win, Gig Harbor defeated Yelm and Peninsula to close out the regular season and clinch the league title.

Now, it’s onto the playoffs for the Tides, winners of their last seven games, and ten of their last twelve.

“It’s really a big deal,” Toglia said. “Gig Harbor basketball hasn’t (won the league) in quite a few years, so it’s a really nice feeling to break that streak. The team morale is just off the charts.”

So when the Tides begin their run in the playoffs this weekend, Toglia -- and the rest of the Tides -- need to simply stick to their game plan.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing,” Toglia said. “We need to keep moving the ball around and share it. Everybody needs to play their own game. We can’t have anyone trying to do something different because all of a sudden it’s the playoffs. If we keep doing what we’re doing, I think we have a good shot of making a run.”

Toglia, a junior in the Gig Harbor program, makes his impact scoring and rebounding the basketball, averaging more than 10 points per game while snagging over 8 rebounds.

But for the guy leading the Tides in rebounds, Toglia remains humble.

“Without me, I think we’re just fine,” Toglia said. “We have so many guys on this team that can score and do everything. We have quite a few good shooters, people who can handle the ball. We have a really deep bench and a really deep team this year, which I think has created our success. We have a whole bunch of guys that can do a lot of different things, which I think has been helpful.”

What Toglia additionally excels at, according to Coach Billy Landram, is his ability to adapt to certain lineups and sizes. If Landram wants to go small, Toglia fits.

And if the Tides play big, Toglia fits all the same.

“You’ve got to account for him if you’re trying to guard our team,” Landram said. “With the rebounding, even if you do a good job of guarding us, he can still get offensive rebounds. Defensively, he can guard most positions whether they’re tall and strong, or short, quicker guys. There’s a lot of versatility with lineups, where we can go small or big. He can play either of those spots. He brings a lot to the table.”

Off the court, Toglia is a leader, and in his words, he takes it personally.

As a captain of the Tides, the junior believes it’s important to focus on what happens off the court, too.

“I’m just doing what I can to make sure the guys are doing what’s right.”

Toglia’s assumed role of leadership shines in his confidence in the Tides.

“We just have the right players for the job,” Toglia said. “A couple of big men that will score when they need to. We have some guys that can shoot it and take care of the ball. We just have everything a team needs to win.”

Tack on Toglia’s 10 points and team-high 8 rebounds, and you’ve got a 17-3 Gig Harbor team currently possessing the 3A SSC title.

Landram knows the impact Toglia made throughout the season.

“Physically, he’s very gifted and he’s a competitor,” Landram said. “He can get after it when he wants to, rebounding. And he definitely can score.”

And if Toglia has an off-night, Landram knows exactly what he’ll get out of his best rebounder the very next day.

“He’s always got a positive attitude and he works hard,” Landram said. “The type of family he’s from, it’s like (there are) no excuses. If you didn’t get it done one night, you come in the next day ready to work harder and get better. … Zach’s just a really good player and obviously one of the main keys to what we’re doing. He’s allowed us to be so successful this year.”

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 6:00 AM.