Pete Caster/pcaster@chronline.com
W.F. West junior Brock Wade rises up for a jump shot over Cedarcrest's Justin Houser (40) and Jordan Corpus (15) during the second quarter of a nonleague basketball game at W.F. West High School on Friday. Wade made the shot.
The most interesting thing about the Evergreen 2A Conference this season is that everybody’s back.
Not entirely, of course, but it’s close. The league’s co-Most Valuable Player — North Thurston’s Landon Rushton — is back, along with four of the five EvCo All-League first-team picks and three second-team picks from last season.
Needless to say, there’ll be plenty of talent to go around.
North Thurston, coached by Tim Brown, is the front-runner for the league’s regular-season title. The Rams return four starters, including speedy guard Matt Reid and forward Ben Broeker.
River Ridge and W.F. West are also thought to be among the EvCo frontrunners. The Hawks will have junior guard Brad Wallace back in the lineup from a team that won the league title a year ago, though EvCo co-MVP Rahmel Moton, a junior last season, is no longer with the team.
W.F. West, meanwhile, has starters Mitch Gueller, Zach Flynn and Brock Wade back — and precious little varsity experience beyond those three.
“Our experienced players have never played with our newcomers,” W.F. West coach Ryan Robertson pointed out. “Meshing into a cohesive team will be challenging.”
Gueller, Flynn and Wade, however, aren’t a bad trio to work around. Wade, a 6-2 forward and two-time All-League first-team pick, scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds a game last year, while Gueller can play any position on the floor and was a first-team selection with 12.7 points a game and eight boards a game last year. Flynn, an All-League honorable mention, scored 8 points a game with 3.2 assists from the point guard position.
There’s also a bit of size for the Bearcats this season, particularly in 6-4 sophomores Nathan Sherfey and Nolan Bartel, along with the 6-3 Gueller.
“We have the potential to be a strong defensive and rebounding team,” Robertson added.
Centralia may be projected to finish in the bottom half of the league standings, but could certainly surprise a few teams. The Tigers bring back starters Cole Housden (guard) and Trevor Baumann (forward), both of whom scored over 8 points a game last year.
The Tigers also return sophomore Baylor Scott, who saw plenty of playing time at guard as a freshman, and add size with 6-6 Bennett Fife, who transferred in from Seattle, and 6-4 exchange student George Kasovic.
The team, according to coach Ron Brown, may not be particularly fast and needs to develop a go-to player in crunch time, but is balanced, full of good shooters and very coachable.
Projections
1. North Thurston
2. River Ridge
3. W.F. West
4. Tumwater
5. Centralia
6. Black Hills
7. Aberdeen
Five to Watch
Mitch Gueller, W.F. West: The high-flying 6-foot-3 Bearcat forward and Washington State University baseball signee can play anywhere on the floor
Brock Wade, W.F. West: Bearcats’ junior guard/forward is a two-time All-League first-teamer who can shoot the 3 but isn’t afraid to work inside
Landon Rushton, North Thurston: Rams’ speedy 5-10 guard and defending league co-MVP scored 20 a game last year
Matt Reid, North Thurston: 5-9 Ram guard scored 12 a game last year and is half of the league’s most effective guard duo
Brad Wallace, River Ridge: Top returning scorer (12 ppg) for defending league champs will have to shoulder a bigger load this season
CENTRALIA
Coach: Ron Brown (51st year)
2010-11 Record: 4-16 (2-10 league)
Returning Starters: Cole Housden (8.4 ppg), Trevor Baumann (8.4 ppg, 4 rpg)
Top Newcomers/Nonstarters: Justice Tasby, Baylor Scott, Maxx Waring, Bennett Fife, Ty Housden, Ryker Gronseth, George Kasovic
Strengths: Balanced, decent shooters, good attitude
Weaknesses: Not particularly fast, not big, no “go-to” guy
W.F. WEST
Coach: Ryan Robertson (10th year)
2010-11 Record: 15-9 (7-5 league)
Returning Starters: Mitch Gueller (12.7 ppg, 8 rpg), Brock Wade (16 ppg, 7 rpg), Zach Flynn (8 ppg, 3.2 apg)
Top Newcomers/Nonstarters: Joe Rothlin, Dallas Snider, Michael Forgione, Nathan Sherfey, Alex Cox, Tanner Gueller, Nolan Bartel, Bryan Moon
Strengths: Experience, shooting, dynamic, athleticism, unselfish, willing, potential to be strong defensively and in rebounding
Weaknesses: Lack of size and depth at post, inexperience in depth, experienced players playing with newcomers, establishing roles
