With the last seven 3A boys state basketball titlists coming out of Metro – as well as eight of the last nine and 13 of the last 16 – there’s little question that the league is the toughest at that classification, and quite likely in the entire state.
And to make things even more competitive, this year Franklin – arguably the second-best team in 4A the past two seasons – has has moved to 3A and will become the league’s 13th member.
As a result, Bainbridge will move out of the Mountain Division into the reconstituted Sound Division, joining Rainier Beach (the defending state champion), West Seattle and Chief Sealth. Franklin will become part of the new Valley Division, along with Cleveland, Ingraham, and Nathan Hale.
The Mountain Division, now minus Bainbridge, will become an all-private school grouping with Bishop Blanchet, Eastside Catholic, Lakeside, O’Dea and Seattle Prep.
The Spartans will play home-and-away games within the Sound Division, and then single games with the nine teams. Seeding for the district tournament will be based on the total games won within Metro.
All of which means a daunting prospect for new coach Steve Henderson. While 6-10 senior Ben Eisenhardt (13.9 points per game), the team’s leading scorer from last year’s third-place Mountain Division team (10-6 Metro, 14-10 overall) returns, graduation claimed Nick Fling, Caleb Davis and Mike Walsh and their combined average of 33 points.
But Henderson, who has seen his share of top-flight teams in the Greater Spokane League during his tenure at East Valley, doesn’t seem fazed by the prospect of matching up with Metro’s top teams.
“We’re going to worry about ourselves, not our opponents,” he said. “I like our guys, and our goal is to compete and to get better every day.”
Nevertheless, he’s a realist. “We have to be defensively oriented,” he said. “Defense has to be our calling card. We have to keep teams from scoring a lot of points.”
With junior guard Jimmy Baggett the only other returnee to see significant action last year, the starting lineup is “up for grabs,” Henderson said. “We have five spots open and whoever earns them will get them.”
Henderson provided a rundown of the 12 varsity players who will fill those five spots, based on what he has seen during summer league play and the first few days of practice.
The only player who didn’t practice with the team during the summer, senior Will Indvik, “showed up sight unseen,” Henderson said. “So I’ve only seen him for three days. He’s a lacrosse player who’s very athletic and strong.” At 6-3, Indvik is “a tweener. I don’t know exactly where he’ll fit in,” he added.
According to Henderson:
Junior Will DiIorio has “tremendous upside. He sees the floor extremely well.”
Senior guard Paul Weese “is a good shooter. He’s pretty athletic and will play the point for us.”
Junior guard/forward David Korsak “is a good shooter and very fundamentally sound.”
Junior forward Michael Stevenson is scrappy. “He always seems to find the ball, he’s always in the middle of plays.”
Baggett would appear to have the inside track to start at point guard. “He’s very fast and has unbelievable energy.” Henderson also singled out Baggett as one of his best on-ball defenders.
Junior John Masla is still hampered by an ankle injury suffered during football season. “He’s practicing but not completely ready to go,” adding that Masla is a good on-ball defender and rebounder.
Junior James Coatsworth is “big, strong and physical. He blocks shots very well.”
Matt Hawk, a senior, is “extremely athletic. It’s amazing to watch him jump. He’s especially good on the offensive glass.”
Henderson termed junior post Ryan Burris as crafty. “He always manages to put his shots in. He puts the ball on the floor well for a post and he can also step outside and shoot.”
Senior Miles Gander is “a good shooter and without a doubt, the hardest-working kid we’ve got.”
And Eisenhardt? “Everyone knows about Ben,” Henderson said. “He dribbles, passes and shoots. He’s just a very good player.”
The Spartans begin the 20-game regular season with games at Central Kitsap and Meadowdale, opening at home against Issaquah on Friday, Dec. 5.
They open Metro League play the following Tuesday when they host Eastside Catholic.
