Editor's Note: This story is included in The Chronicle's 2023-24 Prep Basketball Preview, which is published in the Thursday edition.
District 4 wasn’t exactly what you’d call loaded last season, getting just two teams — both from the 1A TriCo — to Yakima, both of whom went one-and-done at the state tournament.
In the 1A Evergreen, at least, that gave way to turnover just about everywhere. Just about everywhere, that is, except Tenino, leaving the door open for the Beavers to take the next step with an emerging core.
Second-year coach Ryan Robertson brings back a team loaded with juniors, led by two first-team all-leaguers in Noah Schow and Austin Gonia. Those two are already going off early, with Schow averaging over 30 points per game in the first two weeks of the season and Gonia has logged double-doubles in all of the Beavers’ first five games.
Behind those two, though Robertson has way more established depth to work with than he did last year. Will Feltus and Preston Snider are back with experience, and when Jack Burkhardt comes back healthy, he’ll provide a 6-foot, 6-inch body down low. Cody Strawn has joined the party as a senior, and Ashton Moore, a transfer in from North Thurston, is already providing another scoring option.
Elsewhere in the five-team Evergreen, there’s less certainty. Eatonville, the defending league champions, graduated stars Shay Brannon, Walker Bruun and Kyle Cox, leaving a whole lot of holes to fill.
Hoquiam went about as far as league MVP Michael Lorton-Watkins could take it last winter, now the Grizzlies have to find scoring elsewhere. Grizzlies have put together some wins early on this season, but they’re playing nearly-exclusively 1B and 2B opponents.
Elma, which brings back a first-team all-leaguer in Carter Seaberg, has had mixed results of its own, beating multiple 2A EvCo schools while losing to Central 2B League opponents. Montesano, which has brought up the rear of the league the past two seasons, is already close to matching its win total from last year.
With such counterparts making up the league — and no real world-beaters expected to be lurking down in the 1A TriCo — the Beavers could have a window to make some noise, and a real chance to make their first State appearance since 2007.
Tenino Beavers
Coach Ryan Robertson (Second year)
2022-23 record/finish: 11-11 (District tournament)
Returning starters: Will Feltus, Jack Burkhart, Noah Schow, Austin Gonia, Preston Snider
Newcomer to watch: Ashton Moore
