'Athletic and savvy' Bulldog boys tip off season tonight
<p>Pictured front row, left to right: Thomas Edwards, Collin Jurenka and Jeremiah Gagnon. Middle row: Sam Silberman, Nick Nelson and Isaiah Lutz. Back row: Nathan Schwartz, T.J. Alsager, Zach Couch, Mathew Burgstahler and Ian Bruener. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint boys basketball team boasts plenty of players with varsity experience in big time situations.
Unfortunately, not much of it has come on the hardwood.
Sandpoint head coach Tyler Haynes knows his team is young, knows there is a big scoring void to fill and knows that only a few players are returning with very much varsity basketball experience.
Is he worried? Hardly.
“It’s not like this is their first rodeo, they’ve been in varsity games in big situations and achieved,” says Haynes, admitting there will be a learning curve. “They’re pretty athletic and savvy, with a lot of experience, even though they’re young.”
Leading the charge will be a trio of juniors fresh off a state soccer championship in the fall, looking to transfer the winning attitude and athleticism from the pitch to the court.
Matthew Burgstahler will start at point guard, bringing great intensity and leadership to the floor. Haynes says his effort and full-tilt style of play is contagious, and teammates have to step up to match it.
Nate Schwartz, a 6-4 forward who like Burgstahler saw plenty of varsity minutes last year, is very versatile and solid in all aspects of the game.
The player who figures to light up the scoreboard most — picking up the scoring void left by Jackson Olin and Ryan Schwartz — is shooting guard Jeremiah Gagnon, who Haynes feels could be one of the league’s biggest impact players.
“He can score, rebound, play great defense and has a great mindset of what we’re trying to do,” describes Haynes. “He’ll be in a lot of people’s scouting reports.”
Providing the senior leadership will be Nick Nelson and Isaiah Lutz, each of whom knows the program well. Nelson can play on the perimeter and the blocks, and Lutz is what Haynes calls a cement guy, as everything seems to stick together when he’s on the court.
Providing size and toughness off the bench will be 6-6 junior post Chase Rodriguez, who had a big football season as a receiver, and 6-4 junior T.J. Alsager. Also seeing minutes this year off a deep bench will be juniors Collin Jurenka, Thomas Edwards and Zach Couch, and senior Sam Silberman.
“More than anything, we need to be a complete team. We can’t try and hide weaknesses, we need to be a balanced squad,” says Haynes. “I don’t care if we’re great at anything, but we should be good at everything.”
The 4A North race is a big log jam with no prohibitive favorite, meaning whoever gets hot down the stretch will likely earn the lone playoff berth.
Haynes, who last took a team to state in 2009, hopes his squad gels as the season progresses.
“We want to push the ball, but won’t compromise being disciplined,” describes Haynes of the team’s style. “Play good D, push the ball in transition and hopefully be enjoyable to watch.”
Sandpoint tips off the season tonight against Timberlake, which upset Sandpoint 61-54 in last season’s opener.