BY STEVE DEDUAL
Patriot Intern
After dropping their first game 78-28 at La Conner Nov. 30 and their second game 53-40 at home against Puget Sound Adventist on Dec. 6, the King’s West Warriors got a much-needed victory as they held on to a 47-45 win Tuesday against Northwest to bring their overall record to 1-2.
While it is still early in the season, any team would be concerned starting their season winless after two games. King’s West coach Rick Walker said the Warriors are putting their faith in their only returning varsity player, Drew McCullough.
“We are depending a lot on [Drew],” said Walker. “He averaged 8.5 points per game and 7 boards.”
Having only one returner means a lot of new faces and a rawness to the team. It is also burdened by a schedule that will push it to the brink of its abilities.
“The team is young and inexperienced playing a tough schedule,” said Walker.
There are four new seniors on the team Ed Tsui, Jerry Katica, Wayne Palomaki and Drew Arcand, three juniors Andy Lee, Tomas Van Cleave and returner Drew McCullough, two sophomores Jared Wright and Chase Estes and three freshman Josh Kreifels, Nick Olson and Austin Hewitt.
Walker said that they will need some big-time play from their underclassmen this season in order to be competitive.
“[Our] tenth graders, Chase Estes and Jared Wright, will need to step up on defense and offense,” he said. “Ninth graders Josh Kreifels and Austin Hewitt have athleticism and will need to learn to play strong quickly.”
Walker said the plan for the Warriors is simple: Defense is the name of the game.
“Defense will be key to hold opponents down as the team gains an identity on offense,” he said.
The plan to achieve that identity is to grow a little more each day as a team.
“Our goal is to improve statistically every game,” said Walker.
The team’s most recent game was last night at Riverside Christian, but details were not available by press time.
The Warriors schedule continues tonight with a non-league game at LaSalle at 6 p.m. On Dec. 20 the Warriors will be at Gundy Hall against North Sound Christian in another non-league game at 6 p.m. Mt. Vernon comes to town Dec. 27 for a non-league match at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8 the Warriors will host their first of eight league games against Rainier Christian at 7:30 p.m.
The next seven games in that series are Jan. 11 at Seattle Lutheran at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 15 at Northwest Yeshiva at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 18 at Summit at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19 at home against Evergreen Lutheran at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 25 at home against Chief Leschi at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 26 in Gundy Hall hosting Mt. Rainier Lutheran at 6 p.m. and Jan. 29 at home against Christian Faith at 7:30 p.m.
King’s West will finish out there schedule with a non-league game Jan. 31 at Auburn Adventist at 7:30 p.m., a league game against The Bear Creek School Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Gundy Hall and a final league game Feb. 7 at Quilcene at 7:30 p.m.
