Boys basketball teams are ready to slam their competition

BOYS BASKETBALL

Bainbridge

2021 record: 10-7

Head coach: Steve Haizlip

Key returners: Senior Caleb Durrance and junior Sam Nyland

Outlook: Nine of 14 players last season graduated. Therefore, a team plagued by turnovers will be even less experienced this season. On the bright side, the Spartan defense looks to remain intact after some strong outings last year.

Schedule: Nov. 29, 7 pm vs. Peninsula; Dec. 1, 7:15 pm at Central Kitsap; Dec. 6, 7 pm at Sequim; Dec. 9, 7 pm at North Kitsap; Dec. 13, 7 pm vs. Kingston; Dec. 15, 7 pm at Port Angeles; Dec. 28, 5:25 pm at Woodinville; Jan. 3, 7 pm at Bremerton; Jan. 6, 7 pm vs. North Mason; Jan. 10, 7 pm at Olympic; Jan. 12, 7 pm vs. Sequim; Jan. 17, 7 pm vs. North Kitsap; Jan. 19, 7 pm at Kingston; Jan. 21, 5:30 pm at Seattle Academy; Jan. 24, 7 pm vs. Port Angeles; Jan. 31, 7 pm at North Mason; Feb. 2, 7 pm vs. Olympic

Bremerton

2021 record: (12-8, 10-4)

Head coach: Jeremiah Davis

Key returners: Seniors Trevon Piet and Samuel Tucker

Outlook: Bremerton lost its top four scorers. Their returners lack game experience. Therefore, the Knights will have several shoes to fill before league play starts if they want a competitive season.

Schedule: Dec. 6, 7 pm at Port Angeles; Dec. 8, 7 pm vs. Sequim; Dec. 13, 7 pm vs. North Mason; Dec. 15, 7 pm at Olympic; Jan. 3, 7 pm vs. Bainbridge; Jan. 5, 7 pm vs. North Kitsap; Jan. 10, 7 pm at Kingston; Jan. 12, 7 pm vs. Port Angeles; Jan. 17, 7 pm at Sequim; Jan. 19, 7 pm at North Mason; Jan. 24, 7 pm vs. Olympic; Jan. 31, 7 pm at North Kitsap; Feb. 2, 7 pm vs. Kingston

Central Kitsap

2021 record: (11-10, 7-7)

Head coach: Tarence Mosley

Key returner: Senior Payton Davis

Outlook: CK lost several standouts from last season. Josiah Johnson reportedly transferred to Curtis while Darnell Green graduated. Therefore, the Cougars have a giant hole that will be tough to fill.

Schedule: N/A

Kingston

2021 record: (5-9, 2-4)

Head coach: KT Deam

Key returners: Seniors Cash Hubbard and Dakota Standley

Outlook: Kingston will return one of its top scorers and defenders to build their game around. Despite losing half the team to graduation, the foundation can keep the Buccaneers afloat.

Schedule: Nov. 29, 7 pm vs. Archbishop Murphy; Nov. 30, 7 pm at Foss; Dec. 1, 7 pm vs. Burlington-Edison; Dec. 3, 2 pm at Squalicum; Dec. 6, 7 pm vs. North Mason; Dec. 8, 7 pm vs. Olympic; Dec. 9, 7 pm at Klahowya; Dec. 13, 7 pm at Bainbridge; Dec. 15, 7 pm vs. North Kitsap; Dec. 22, 6 pm at Shelton; Jan. 3, 7 pm at Sequim; Jan. 5, 7 pm at Port Angeles; Jan. 10, vs. Bremerton; Jan. 12, 7 pm at North Mason; Jan. 17, 7 pm at Olympic; Jan. 19, 7 pm vs. Bainbridge; Jan. 24, 7 pm at North Kitsap; Jan. 26, 7 pm vs. Sequim; Jan. 31, 7 pm vs. Port Angeles; Feb. 2, 7 pm at Bremerton

Klahowya

2021 record: (3-18, 3-13)

Head coach: Andy Lancaster

Key returners: Seniors Kobe Ward and Robbie Slater, and junior Eli Kraft

Outlook: Klahowya’s top two scorers, Ward and Slater, return, averaging a combined 24.3 points per game last season. Kraft will lead the defense after leading the team in steals and blocks. Klahowya can make a push for a middle-of-the-road record.

Schedule: Dec. 2, 7 pm vs. Chimacum; Dec. 6, 7 pm at Annie Wright; Dec. 9, 7 pm vs. Kingston; Dec. 16, 7 pm at Charles Wright; Dec. 20, 7 pm vs. Belfair; Jan. 5, 5:30 pm at Vashon Island; Jan. 10, 7 pm at Bellevue Christian; Jan. 13, at Chimacum; Jan. 17, 7 pm vs. Annie Wright; Jan. 21, 1:30 pm at Crosspoint; Jan. 24, 5:30 pm vs. Charles Wright; Jan. 27, 7 pm at Cascade Christian; Feb. 3, 7 pm at Life Chrisitan Academy; Feb. 7, vs. Bellevue Christian

North Kitsap

2021 record: (23-4, 11-1)

Head coach: Scott Orness

Key returners: Juniors Cade Orness and Harry Davies

Outlook: North Kitsap’s state title run will be tough to repeat. Several of their top players graduated and played sports in college this season. Instead, a younger team will have a target on their back.

Schedule: Nov. 26, 1 pm at Union; Nov. 29, 7 pm vs. Central Kitsap; Dec. 3, 4 pm at Auburn; Dec. 9, 7 pm vs. Bainbridge; Dec. 13, 7 pm at Sequim; Jan. 3, 7 pm vs. Port Angeles; Jan. 7, 4 pm vs. Seattle Academy; Jan. 12, 7 pm vs. Olympic; Jan. 17, at Bainbridge; Jan. 19, 7 pm vs. Sequim; Jan. 24, 7 pm vs. Kingston; Jan. 31, 7 pm vs. Bremerton; Feb. 2, 7 pm vs. North Mason

Olympic

2021 record: (7-10, 4-6)

Head coach: Jon O’Connor

Key returners: Senior Tristan Bluitt

Outlook: Olympic was the only team in the Olympic League without an all-league selection. However, Bluitt returns after receiving an honorable mention and a sportsmanship award. Olympic’s squad is more experienced, meaning they can possibly squeak out a winning record this year.

Schedule: Nov. 26, 1:30 pm at Klahowya; Nov. 29, 7 pm at Shelton; Dec. 1, 7 pm vs. Lakes; Dec. 3, 5 pm vs. Crosspoint; Dec. 6, 7 pm vs. North Kitsap; Dec. 8, 7 pm at Kingston; Dec. 13, 7 pm at Port Angeles; Dec. 15, 7 pm vs. Bremerton; Dec. 29, 2 pm at Charles Wright; Dec. 30, 2 pm at Bellevue Chrisitan; Jan. 3, 7 pm at North Mason; Jan. 5, 7 pm vs. Sequim; Jan. 10, 7 pm vs. Bainbridge; Jan. 12, 7 pm at North Kitsap; Jan. 17, 7 pm vs. Kingston; Jan. 19, 7 pm vs. Port Angeles; Jan. 24, 7 pm at Bremerton; Jan. 26, 7 pm vs. North Mason; Jan. 31, 7 pm at Sequim; Feb. 2, 7 pm at Bainbridge

South Kitsap

2021 record: (7-16, 5-12)

Head coach: Brian Cox

Key returners: Seniors KeVaughn Harvey and Tayshawn Haygod, and sophomore Lincoln Liggins

Outlook: SK lost a handful of players from last season. However, their top three scorers will return with a combined average scoring of 36.5 points per game. In addition, the Wolves had several close games, with 47% ending within a 10-point margin.

Schedule: Dec. 2, 7 pm @ Rogers, Dec. 6, 7 pm vs. Olympia, Dec. 8, 7 pm @ Graham-Kapowsin, Dec. 14, 7 pm vs. Bethel, Dec. 16, 7 pm vs. Sumner, Jan. 5, 7 pm @ Puyallup, Jan. 7, 7 pm @ Bellarmine Prep, Jan. 11, 7 pm vs. Curtis, Jan. 13, 7 pm vs. Emerald Ridge, Jan. 17, 7 pm @ Sumner, Jan. 19, 7 pm vs. Puyallup, Jan. 25, 7 pm vs. Bellarmine Prep, Jan 27, 7 pm @ Curtis