- THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
While last season's Sehome boys' basketball team was on its way to winning its first Northwest Conference title, little-used reserves and junior varsity players earned their keep and waited for their opportunity to do the same.
A season later, those bench warmers and JV call-ups have led the fifth-ranked Mariners to a perfect Northwest Conference record. All without eight players, including the top four scorers, from last year.
"The upper classmen have waited their turn playing JV and serving in reserve roles for the past few years which has really helped them to fine tune their skills," Sehome coach A.J. LaBree said. "I think practicing against last years' league championship team day in and day out really helped them to become better."
While other top teams in the NWC saw many of their top producers return this year, the Mariners (10-3, 6-0 NWC) can't say the same. Noah Cyr-Moore went from scratching for minutes and scoring six points total last season to averaging at team-leading 11.1 points. He also leads the team in assists.
Sehome's second-leading scorer, Drew Ronson (10.5 points per game), didn't see a minute of varsity action last year.
It hasn't been just those two either. Even without the eight players who led Sehome to the conference title last season, LaBree said balance and depth has been a huge factor in its early success this year.
"While we were inexperienced at the varsity level coming into this season, this group of guys has been working hard for a long time," LaBree said. "They've played with fearless aggression to this point and don't show any signs of being an inexperienced team."
Konstantin Andrushenko also played limited minutes last season, but is averaging 10.3 points per game. The senior team captain is one of six players averaging at least five points per game.
"That's the reason we are so hard to stop," Andrushenko said. "We have so many guys who can score. A.J. gives everyone the green light to shoot."
Riley Fraser has been the Mariners' best option in the low post and has been averaging almost a double-double over the past four games. Gabe Sanchez has proved to be a consistent threat from the 3-point line, while Evan Miksovsky and Jake Slesk have also produced well. None had significant roles last season.
LaBree said he is surprised by his team's success. But it's not because of the turnover of players from last season to this year.
"(It's) not because I don't believe in the team but because the NWC is just so tough," LaBree said. "I've seen these guys develop as players over the past four years, so I knew coming in we could compete for a playoff spot."
Sehome's 10-3 start is close to last season's 11-2 start, but the Mariners have yet to earn a statement victory.
Sehome is just 2-3 against teams with winning records. It suffered non-conference losses against a pair of NWC opponents - Anacortes (10-3, 5-0) and Squalicum (11-2, 4-2). Sehome's third loss came against 11-3 Sequim on Dec. 29, at Lynden Christian.
Andrushenko said the loss to Sequim sparked a renewed effort and focus. Since the loss, Sehome has won four straight games.
"Ever since we lost to Sequim everyone knows what it's going to take," Andrushenko said. "We don't want to have that losing feeling again."
If Sehome is going to make that a five game win streak, it will have to make its biggest statement of the season on Monday, Jan. 23, when it travels to Lynden to take on the top-ranked Lions.
Lynden (11-2, 6-0) came into the season without nearly the inexperience issues Sehome had. The Lions have been led by solid group of upperclassmen including senior Nate Wielenga and junior Matt Meyer.
Not only does the game post a matchup of two teams ranked in the top-five in the state, but it has possible NWC regular season title implications as well.
"It's a huge game," Andrushenko said. "It will definitely show who we are. You always want to play the best team, and we will finally get that opportunity. The guys are excited for it."
While it will certainly be Sehome's greatest test of the season, LaBree said his team isn't going to get too far ahead of itself. With seven games left on the schedule, the Mariners are a long way from repeating as conference champs.
"We plan on going out there and giving our best effort, and we'll see what the scoreboard looks like at the end of the night," LaBree said. "We are going to keep focusing on the things we can control: effort, energy, intensity and focusing on whatever our current goal is. Win or lose at Lynden, we'll need to refocus in a hurry to get ready for the next game."
With the snow week pushing back many of the Mariners' games, the schedule gets rough for them the final two weeks of the season. Not only do they face top-ranked Lynden, but have Lynden Christian, Anacortes, Ferndale and Squalicum waiting for them after that.
The next two weeks will be a test of these former reserves and JV players' coming of age. But with what Sehome has accomplished so far, there certainly isn't any doubt its players are deserving of their varsity spots.
"We still have a lot to prove," LaBree said. "Although after last year and the effort this years' team is putting forth, I don't think any teams in this league will be writing us off."
