Sports Roundup — Spartan hoops squads open season strong/Girls stay on winning track/Coaching swap for hardballers

Published 7:00 am Saturday, December 10, 2005

Spartan hoops squads open season strong

Tickets are available for the Key Arena game on Dec. 19.

It’s been a good start for the Bainbridge basketball team.

Their 63-58 victory over the Ingraham Rams on Tuesday gives them a 3-1 record on the year and a lucky number seven ranking in the WashingtonPreps.com state boys poll.

Head coach Scott Orness said the recognition is new to him and the rest of the team.

“Sometimes it’s easier to be the underdog, but it’s good for our program,” he said. “It gets the kids noticed and we get some recognition for our hard work, but we don’t bring it up in practice.

“When it comes down to it, it’s the rankings in March that matter.”

One of the players helping them to the top is Steven Gray. The junior point guard scored 23 points and collected 14 rebounds against Ingraham. He is the team’s leading scorer with 24.8 points per game.

But what really stands out to Orness is Gray’s work ethic.

“The thing I’ve been impressed with is how hard he works without the ball,” he said. “That’s one of the big signs that a player is going to be a good one.”

Another standout player so far is Coby Gibler. The junior forward/center registered a triple-double of 11 points, 12 boards and 12 blocks against the Rams and he and Gray combined for 16 blocks altogether.

That was a key to the win, along with dominating the offensive glass. As a team, the Spartans had 17 offensive rebounds.

“One thing that we need to get better at is finishing the game and hanging onto the ball,” Orness said. “We need to work on our delay offense.”

Most of the Spartans have evaded the injury bug, but Theo Miller has been hampered with a knee injury and went in for surgery yesterday. If his meniscus is trimmed, he will miss three to four weeks; if everything is OK, he’ll be out just two weeks.

Austin Wood, recovering from a high ankle sprain, should be back by next week, along with Chris Kelly, who has been out sick.

Bainbridge will need them as they host Eastside Catholic on Tuesday and Lakeside on Thursday. Both games are at 8 p.m.

The Spartans will also face North Kitsap at Key Arena on Dec. 19. Tickets are still available at $52 for a 100 level seat and $26 for a 200 level seat. Tickets are good for the JV game at noon, the varsity contest at 2:15 p.m. and the Sonics game against the Washington Wizards at 7 p.m.

For tickets, call Orness at 780-4581.

Girls stay on winning track

The Bainbridge girls basketball team remain undefeated with a 71-46 win over Ingraham on Wednesday.

Brittany Gray led all scorers with 23 points, while Kaitlin Bailey contributed 14 points.

Head coach Penny Gienger was pleased with her team’s total contribution.

“The goal was to make basketball plays and we did that,” she said. “It was our best game so far.”

Gienger also had high praise for several players, including Allie Picha, who had six points, six assists, seven steals and eight rebounds, Jacqui Menalia, who came off the bench to score eight points and Caitlyn Salo who had 10 assists.

“Everybody came in and did something,” Gienger said. “We settled down and didn’t have many turnovers, so we were able to run some of our plays.”

She is happy with Gray’s play and how she has improved since the beginning of the season.

“She’s doing dynamite,” Gienger said, noting that Gray is learning how to play two positions. “I always thought she was good, but she’s getting better and better.

“She’s a very good rebounder and has a innate sense of being in the right spot at the right time,” she continued. “If we get her in isolation, there’s not many post players out there who can stop her.”

As a team, the Spartans caused 30 turnovers and shot 62 percent from the floor.

Bainbridge hosts South Kitsap at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Coaching swap for hardballers

Two Bainbridge baseball teams made managerial changes this week.

Jeff Bowman takes over the JV team from Mike Benz, who is leaving to be a part of his son’s high school baseball career while Chris Sharp replaces C-team’s manager Gregg Mesmer, who is taking time off to be more involved with his family.

Bowman was part of the island’s Little League program for several years as a coach and Sharp was an assistant coach for the C-team for the past two years.

“We are excited with the direction of our baseball program coming off last year’s Metro championship”, said BHS athletic director Neal White. “Jeff and Chris should help us continue to develop a program that consistently competes at the State level and represents our community with the highest levels of integrity.”

Varsity manager Jayson Gore is happy to have the two on board.

“We’ve put together a coaching staff where we all have the same goals; build on a winning program and develop quality scholar athletes,” he said in a press release. “These guys bring teamwork, discipline and fundamental coaching ability to that effort.”

Mesmer will remain on as a volunteer.