By KITSAP NEWS GROUP
Sports writers
While the Bremerton boys basketball team (7-13 overall, 7-9 league) rode the Olympic League pogo stick all year, finishing sixth place in an up and down season, seniors Eli Olson and Johnny Olwell and junior Josh Koets brought savvy leadership and steady production to a Knights team which often times struggled to find consistency.
A young King’s West Warrior team mustered only one win all season, but junior Drew McCullough and sophomore Chase Estes kept the Warriors close in a number of games.
The All-Kitsap County teams are compiled by the sports writers for the Bainbridge Island Review, the Bremerton Patriot, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the North Kitsap Herald and the Port Orchard Independent. Candidates for the team are nominated by the writers for their respective areas. The nominees are then voted on by the writers, with the top vote-getters making the teams. Two honorable mentions are selected from each school for each sport. The teams include the best players from area schools that not only performed well individually, but played a role in the success of their team as well.
Below is the All-Kitsap County Boys Basketball Team. The AKC Girls Basketball Team will appear in the Saturday, March 15 edition of the Bremerton Patriot.
2007-08 All-Kitsap County
Boys Basketball Team
Starters
G — Andre Moore, Klahowya, junior — Moore’s athleticism payed off big this winter for Klahowya, as the standout running back scored a team-leading 18.9 points per game in helping the Eagles get within a game of state. He also pulled down five rebounds per game, dished out 2.7 assists and defensively logged 3.5 steals.
G — Kyle Erickson, North Kitsap, junior — As his team’s big offensive threat he scored 18 points and averaged four assists per game. Not only is Erickson one of the best guards in the Narrows League but he’s a “coach’s dream,” and a tried-and-true basketball player. He spends his summers traveling to elite basketball camps in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and plays AAU. His coaches commonly refer to him as a “basketball magnet.”
G — Nick Fling, Bainbridge, senior — The 6-foot-4-inch guard was the most consistent player for the Spartans this season as he averaged 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio was a sparkling 3-to-1 and he shot 63 percent from the field, upping it to 70 percent during Bainbridge’s winning streak that led them to the playoffs.
F — Brandon Durham, Central Kitsap, junior — The 6-foot-7-inch post loomed large over defenders this season as Durham led CK with 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest. Durham was a major part of CK’s defensive game plan as well, swiping 1.1 steals and swatting 1.4 shots per game.
F — Taylor Hoffer, North Kitsap, junior — Recognized by his coaches as NK’s most improved player, Hoffer is the cornerstone of NK’s offensive game, scoring 17 points and averaging 18 boards per game. Hoffer’s season also includes 12 double-doubles. Not only is he an athlete who exhibits awesome ball control, he’s emerged as a leader for his team. Hoffer had a superb year and should return even stronger in the fall.
Bench
Ben Eisenhardt, Bainbridge, junior, F — At 6 feet 10 inches, Eisenhardt was essential in Bainbridge’s march back to the playoffs as he led the team in scoring with 13.9 a game. He also averaged 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. He’ll be scrutinized by many Division I schools as he’ll be the leader for the Spartans as they look toward making a return to state next season.
Eli Olson, Bremerton, senior, G — Olson brought court awareness and explosive scoring to the Knights offense, averaging a team-best 18.6 points per game. Late in the season, he broke out for a career-high 40 points against league foe North Mason.
Nick Johnson, South Kitsap, senior, F — The 6-foot-6-inch senior averaged a team-best 10.8 points per game and was one of the better shooters in the Narrows League. He converted 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) three-pointers, pacing the Wolves with 176 rebounds (8.8 per game).
Caleb Leavitt, Klahowya, senior, G — One of the seniors responsible for helping turn Klahowya’s program around, Leavitt was a leader on the floor for the Eagles while also scoring 13.7 points per game. Leavitt also grabbed 3.8 boards and had 1.5 steals per game.
Jordan Coover, North Kitsap, senior, F — A solid all-around athlete, Coover’s numbers demonstrate what type of baller he truly is. Coover posted 13 points and averaged 7 rebounds per game. He’s a young man with skills, talent, a great attitude and is “very coachable,” coach Tony Chisholm said.
Mike Walsh, Bainbridge, senior, F — The 6-foot-4-inch Walsh played at twice his height this season, turning in a consistent effort night in and night out as he did the dirty work in the paint, scoring 9.2 points and grabbing 7.4 rebounds a game.
Tionne Curry, South Kitsap, junior, G — Curry averaged 9.0 points per game and converted 13-of-30 (43.3 percent) three-pointers. He finished second on the team with 26 steals as a point guard and had a team-high 100 assists.
Coach of the Year
Tony Chisholm, North Kitsap — In his first season as a high school varsity coach, Tony Chisholm helped his team to a 14-11 record. North Kitsap, under Chisholm’s impeccable guidance, finished its season one game shy a state berth. Before entering the arena of high school sports Chisholm led the Kingston Middle School basketball team through three consecutive undefeated seasons. As a coach Chisholm is more concerned with his athlete’s character and future prospects than winning or losing. Being a humble man, Chisholm gives the credits of a successful NK season to his athletes.
Honorable mention
Caleb Davis, Bainbridge, senior, G — The 6-foot guard was a threat behind the three-point arc every time he came off a screen, scoring 11.6 points a game for the Spartans.
Jack Clearman, Kingston, senior, G — As a 6-foot senior, Clearman sank 13.5 points and averaged approximately two steals, assists and rebounds per game. Clearman shot 72 percent from the free-throw line, making him a necessary asset to Kingston’s team.
Kyle McCown, North Kitsap, senior, G/F — A basketball player with fierce tenacity who always gives 110 percent, McCown is deserving of recognition. The consistent player posted six points and averaged nearly five steals and seven rebounds per game.
Phillip Thomas, Central Kitsap, junior, G — After CK lost point guard Cody Thurmond early in the season, Thomas shouldered much of the offensive load, averaging 12.5 points per game. He also pulled in 4.6 boards and recorded 1.1 seals per game.
Joey Johnston, Olympic, senior, G — One of the top shooters in the Olympic League, Johnston fired a team-best 13.7 points per game for the Trojans. He also dished off two assists per contest while recording 1.7 steals.
Chris Zumdieck, Klahowya, senior, G/F — At 6 feet 4 inches, Zumdieck was among the most versatile players in the West Sound region, easily hitting the paint or running the point. Zumdieck scored 10.8 points while hauling in 7.3 rebound, a team-high. He also led the Eagles with 3.7 assists.
Drew McCullough, King’s West, junior, G — McCullough posted solid numbers for KW, averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He created his own opportunities in the paint, leading the team in free throw’s attempted.
Johnny Olwell, Bremerton, senior, G — Olwell brought sound fundamentals and an acute understanding of the game to the floor, averaging 8.9 points per game. He gave Bremerton experience on the court and in the locker room.
Leon La Deaux, South Kitsap, sophomore, G — La Deaux scored 14 points and hit 4-of-6 three-pointers to help the Wolves to a 51-50 win Dec. 7 against Gig Harbor. He was third on the team with an average of 8.4 points per game.
Andrew Braun, Central Kitsap, senior, G — The scrappy senior guard was an emotional spark plug for CK, seeming to hit big threes at big moments. Braun scored 9.9 points per game while also swiping 1.6 steals.
Rashad Greene, Olympic, senior, F — One of the toughest inside players in the county, Greene scored 8.5 points and grabbed 8.7 boards per game down low. He also came up with 1.1 steals per game.
Gene Armendariz, Klahowya, senior, F — The 6-foot-4-inch senior was the main post presence for the Eagles and one of the team’s best all-around defenders. Armendariz scored just. 4.6 points per game, but grabbed 4.6 rebounds, had one steal per game and stated 1.1 shots.
Chase Estes, King’s West, sophomore, G — Estes used his wiry build to slip by defenders and come away with loose balls, putting his body on the line night in and night out. Estes averaged 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Josh Koets, Bremerton, junior, F — Koets was the “Bremerton Bruiser” all season long, providing physical and aggressive play in the low post. Koets led the team in rebounding with 7.5 per game and also chipped in 7.7 points per game.
Also: Aaron Lawrence, Kingston, sophomore, G; Collin Monagle, South Kitsap, junior, F; Jesse Powell, Bainbridge, senior, guard.
