It’s hard to imagine two more opposite programs than Interlake and Bellevue. The Wolverines are coming off a third straight 2A/3A KingCo conference title and trip to the 3A state title game while the Saints managed only a single win in KingCo play last season.
But the two are hoping to achieve their goals through a similar means this season: defense.
“We’ve always been a good defensive team and we want to keep that identity,” Bellevue head coach Chris O’Connor said. “It’s really been a big part of our success.”
6-foot-10 junior Cole Walton anchors the Wolverines’ defense in the paint and is the main returning contributor to a group that was hit hard by graduation. Go-to scoring threat Nate Sikma, defensive pest John Ahrens and dynamic athlete Evian Richard all departed along with consummate “glue-guy” Kendrick Van Ackeren and the consistently solid play of Will Locke.
“We’re just trying to figure each other out,” O’Connor said of this year’s group. “We’ve got so many new kids, we’re just trying to gel and get better as we go.”
Bellevue is also faced with the now expected challenge of missing two weeks of practice with a full group because of the extended football season that ended in a fourth straight 3A state title. Rather than being together since the first day of Winter sports back on Nov. 14, O’Connor has had a complete group for only a week.
“We know how to deal with it,” O’Connor said. “We deal with it every year and we try to make the best of it getting guys ready for basketball season.”
The burden hasn’t yet been felt by the 3-0 Wolverines, who own wins over Decatur, West Seattle to go with a blowout defeat of Juanita in the only conference game of the young season.
After winning three straight league championships, making four state appearances since 2007 and winning both the KingCo and Sea-King tournaments last season, this year’s group has been seasoned within the winning expectations of the program and according to their coach, have full knowledge of the standard that has been set.
“This year’s team scrimmaged all last year against those seniors,” O’Connor said. “It’s benefitted them interns of competition, they know the expectations and they want to prove themselves too.”
While Walton fills the post, freshman point guard Kyle Foreman and sophomore Timmy Haehl have the potential to fill the void of departed back-court mates Ahrens and Locke. O’Connor will look to standout football player Michael Carlson at the four and said he likes the physical presence Carlson brings on both ends of the floor.
The Saints will take a similar approach, building a defensive minded squad behind head coach Dan Peterson, who led the boys soccer team to the state tournament during the past spring.
After winning only a pair of games last season, Peterson hopes a more experienced group can begin to create a foundation this time out.
“We played four or five sophomores last year” Peterson said. “Those guys got a lot of experience and hopefully that will translate into success.”
Sam Finfer and Sam Shank have been the catalysts thus far with Finfer averaging a team-high 12 points per game and Peterson touted Shank as a standout on the defensive end. Kamana Adriano and Austin Strother add scoring options for the Saints and Peterson believes his team’s balanced offensive approach will be a strength.
“We like to think we’re versatile and can take whatever the defense gives us instead of relying on one guy every night,” Peterson said. “I think we’re going to be a team that people are going to have a hard time guarding because the ball can be spread.”
Injuries and sickness have kept the Saints from getting their top group together for an extended period thus far and finding the right combination has been a challenge.
The lone win came against Sultan while conference games against Lake Washington and Sammamish ended in lopsided losses.
Interlake’s next test will come against none other than Bellevue, Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Bellevue High School.
