ENUMCLAW GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Enumclaw girls basketball team opened the season with a new coach and a mix of new and returning varsity athletes.
Ted Carlson may be the new coach this year, but he is anything but new to the Enumclaw girls basketball sideline.
Carlson coached the Hornet girls for nine years beginning in 1998.
He wrote in an email, “I am returning after being off since 2009. I am very excited about having the opportunity to coach this group and looking forward to our season.”
A release from the athletic department noted he racked up more than 50 straight league victories inn the South Puget Sound League 4A and numerous league titles. Prior to heading the Enumclaw program he coached the Federal Way girls basketball team to a 1997 state championship.
Carlson has a solid core of girls returning to the the hardwood including seniors Madison Bosik, Sierra Clemens, Juniors Abbie Carlson, McKenzie Putman and Jessica Cerne. Also returning is sophomore Maggie Poulin.
Joining the varsity player are junior Kate Meneghini, sophomores Kennedy VanHoof, Rebecca Lindberg and Kyndra Rademacher.
Carlson wrote, “We will be integrating several offensive sets as well as transition offense.”
On the defensive side of the court Carlson wrote, “We will use multiple types of defense, primarily man-to-man. We will adjust according to our opponents.”
After competing in the SPSL 3A the Hornets return to the 4A this season in the North Puget Sound League, Olympic Division. The team will be playing Auburn Mountainview, Todd Beamer, Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Decatur, Thomas Jefferson and Federal Way in its division.
The Hornets played Auburn on the road Tuesday past the press deadline and at 7:15 p.m. Friday the girls will host Auburn Riverside.
ENUMCLAW BOYS BASKETBALL
The Hornet boys started out the season with a couple of loses then found the victory grove Friday at White River with the winning shot falling with two ticks left on the clock.
Like the girls team, the Enumclaw boys basketball team has a new coach this year, Terry Johnson.
Johnson is a seasoned basketball sideline walker with 13 years as head coach and last season he was assistant coach at Saint Martin’s University.
“I hope to bring some value to what is already a great basketball program because of the previous coaches and players.” Johnson wrote in an email. “I am very passionate about coaching and helping young men grow into great players, teammates and people. I have been fortunate to have some success as a coach because of the players and coaches I have been able to work with. I hope to be at Enumclaw for a long time.”
Johnson said his most experienced player this season is junior Kaden Anderson, at 6 feet, 6 inches playing the wing.
“Kaden is leading our team in scoring after the first two games and is a very tough matchup in our league,” Johnson said.
Enumclaw also has a number of players with limited varsity experience including, Kale Engebretsen, Griff Webb, and Bryson Engebretson. Johnson said there will be a some teaching and learning early in the season while the team comes together.
Johnson plans to run a motion offense that will, “highlight the strength of our players. We will also run sets that get certain players the ball in positions of their strength. Overall, we want to have balanced playing inside-out through our post players and taking advantage of our good shooters.”
On the defensive side of the court Johnson said, “We will primarily play man, but will play some zone at times. Our guys play very hard and are able to make adjustments in preparation for games and during games.”
Enumclaw has considerable talent and Johnson said, “We expect to be a competitive team this season. We have a young, inexperienced group, but a group of great players who are committed to each other. We will have some learning moments and some challenges at times, but as the season progresses we expect to make big improvements and hopefully put ourselves in a position to compete come playoff time. These players have been well coached in the past, so we expect that to help speed up our learning curve.”
The team plays in the North Puget Sound League, Olympic Division. The team will be playing Auburn Mountainview, Todd Beamer, Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Decatur, Thomas Jefferson and Federal Way in its division.
The Hornets played Auburn on the at home Tuesday past the press deadline and at 7:15 p.m. Friday the team is on the road at Auburn Riverside.
