News Roundup – Spartan ‘D’ puts a lid on the bucket/Tumblers keep on winning meets

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The boys team shuts down opposing offenses, earn two early-season wins.

The Bainbridge boys basketball team are living up to their potential.

The Spartans took care of Nathan Hale 62-39 on Tuesday on the road, then defeated West Seattle 58-28 at home on Friday.

Both games were controlled with defensive pressure, as Bainbridge held the Raiders to shoot 41 percent from the floor, then did the same to the Wildcats, allowing them to shoot just 20 percent.

“There’s certain things we want to tighten up every game on defense,” head coach Scott Orness said. “Last game, we were focused on deflections and the guys responded well, and I think they carried that over into this game.

“In the second half, we really wanted to work on our denial of the wing pass and weakside help. Every time we challenge these guys, they respond, which is only going to make us better in the long run.”

Against Hale, Steven Gray led all scorers with 26 points. He also had six steals.

Nick Fling scored four points and had six assists.

Against West Seattle, Gray had 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

Fling scored nine points and added five steals and four rebounds, while Caleb Davis had 12 points – all on three-point shots – four steals and three assists.

“Nick Fling and Caleb Davis really stepped up and played like true veteran varsity players,” Orness said. “Nick commanded the floor and was our general out there.

“Caleb caught the ball and was ready to shoot and did a great job on defense as well.”

Gray feels they’re playing at a higher level on defense this year than last year.

“It’s picked up since last season,” he said. “We’ve been stressing it over the summer. This year we’re more intense and moving up and down the court more.

“We’re also thinking about it and practicing (hard) against each other and playing tougher defense on each other.”

Coby Gibler sat out the West Seattle game with a sprained ankle. He is day to day.

Tumblers keep on winning meets

With the Bainbridge gymnastics team still working the kinks out of their routines, they got some big performances from their younger talent to win their 83rd straight dual meet match against Shorecrest Friday at home by the score of 154.95-117.25.

Marie Welsh won the all-around competition with a score of 33.3. She was first on three events.

Annie Zuckerman was second in the all-around competition with a score of 30.55.

She tied with Welsh for first on the beam with a score of 8.2.

Sophie Wenzlau was third in the all-around score, while Kathleen Callahan was fourth.

Talia Weiss was fifth in the all-around competition, as she finished second on the bars, while Katie Matthews placed second on the floor exercise.

“I was really proud of everybody,” head coach Cindy Guy said. “I see a lot of potential. I thought the young kids did a really good job and I love the team spirit.

“It’s a good way to start.”

The Spartans took on Nathan Hale and Ingraham yesterday. They face Sehome/Shorecrest Friday at 6 p.m.