POULSBO — Six of one, half a dozen of another. No matter how you count the wins, the Christ the King Academy boys’ basketball team has jumped out to a hot start.
The Eagles have won their first six games behind a hot-shooting foursome of leaders and a dedication to the fundamentals of basketball.
The most recent victim was Grace Academy, who the Eagles downed 49-32 to remain undefeated.
Mark Haynes led all scorers with 16 points, and Adam Burleson contributed on the boards, ripping down 16 missed shots in order to help CKA remain undefeated.
Head coach Nick Gilman said that this team isn’t as athletic as some he’s seen — but it’s talented all the same.
“I don’t know if we’re as deep athletically as we have been in the past,” Gilman said. “But we have a nucleus of starters who can put the ball in the hoop.”
Gilman pushed his team at a recent practice, encouraging them, giving them hints, even showing them what not to do.
While doing a press drill, Gilman arced a long pass upcourt.
One player, dressed in a red jersey, darted in front of the pass, ripped it away from a surprised defender, and flicked it downcourt to initiate a fast break.
“See that?” Gilman asked. “I let that pass hang in the air too long. I let the defender come all the way from the back to steal it. When you’re beating the press, don’t leave the pass up there too long.”
Then he flung another pass — perfect — downcourt for more practice.
Gilman said that his team is powered by a nucleus of four players: Lance Trueb, Mike Hulst, Mark Haynes, and Adam Burleson.
Trueb, the point guard who will play on a travelling team in England this summer, is an important part of the team, Gilman said.
“Lance is the kind of point guard a coach needs,” Gilman said after a recent practice. “When the ball’s in his hands, good things happen. And above everything, he loves the game of basketball.”
Hulst, one of the team’s top scorers, often reaps the benefits of Trueb’s sharp passing.
“Mike’s probably our best all-around athlete,” Gilman said. “he’s quite smooth with the ball. He has the talent to play high-school ball.”
Haynes, Gilman said, is one of the team’s hard workers who hangs around the basket: “He’s a tremendous around-the-rim player,” Gilman said. “He’s our “garbage” man.”
When Haynes isn’t cleaning up, it’s Burleson’s turn.
“Adam is our top rebounder. He’s a real worker under the boards,” said Gilman, pointing out Burleson’s top rebounding numbers for the team.
While the winning streak is nice, Gilman said, it’s not the only important thing. Even though CKA has racked up an undefeated record while visiting such far-flung locations as Marysville, Port Angeles, Seattle, and Tacoma, and playing other junior-high aged Christian school teams, winning is not the only focus.
“We try to develop the player spiritually, physically, socially, and academically,” Gilman said. “We want to have a well-rounded student when he leaves this school.”
Besides Trueb, Hulst, Haynes, and Burleson, the team includes James Biesley, Doug Hein, Robert Long, Aaron Norton, Brent Otto, Jordan Ray, Clifford Roerig, and Michael Rose.
