The 2009-10 All-Kitsap County Boys Basketball Team was compiled by the sports writers for the Bainbridge Island Review, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter, North Kitsap Herald and Port Orchard Independent.
Candidates for the team were nominated by the writers for their respective areas. The nominees were then voted on by the writers, with the top vote-getters making the starting lineup. A Coach of the Year, bench and honorable mentions also were selected. The team includes the best players from area schools who not only performed well individually, but played a role in the success of their team as well.
Here is the team:
STARTING LINEUP
G Will DiIorio, Bainbridge, senior: DiIorio led the Spartans in every statistical category, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals per game. He scored a season-high 28 points to help Bainbridge defeat 10th-ranked O’Dea High School early in the season.
G Larry Dixon, Olympic, senior: Although Dixon is best known for his ability on the football field, his athletic talents also were displayed on the hardwood this season. The 215-pounder led Olympic in scoring with 20.8 points per game and added 5.2 rebounds a game, providing a physical presence at the shooting guard and small forward positions.
F Jarell Flora, Bremerton, senior: Flora capped a breakout season by verbally committing to Seattle University less than two weeks ago. The 6-foot-2-inch, do-it-all player averaged 23.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, three steals and 1.5 blocks per game, leading Bremerton to the state tournament for the first time since 1999.
F Christian Wesley, Central Kitsap, senior: The Central Washington University-bound post player led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He also contributed 2.6 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
F Zane Ravenholt, Kingston, junior: Ravenholt was a major factor for the Buccaneers this season as Kingston made its first playoff appearance in school history. Though only 6 feet 3 inches, he was the team’s big man inside and contributed an average of 16.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Ravenholt also added 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest.
Coach of the Year, Casey Lindberg, Bremerton: After an 11-year absence, the Bremerton boys basketball team reached the state tournament in 2009-10. The Knights won the Olympic League regular-season title, earned a No. 1 seed to the district tournament and qualified for state as a No. 8 seed.
The team used an up-tempo, full-court style of play to compensate for its lack of height. No player was taller than 6 feet 2 inches.
BENCH
G Trent Gallagher, Olympic, sophomore: Coach Devin Huff believes Gallagher can become one of the premier players in the county. Gallagher averaged 17.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
F Andre Coleman, Bremerton, junior: Coleman was Bremerton’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to go with 2.5 assists, 2.3 steals.
G Terrick McGhee, Bremerton, senior: McGhee came up biggest when it mattered most. He converted two free throws inside the final three seconds of a 76-72 win over Evergreen High School two weeks ago, helping Bremerton clinch a berth to state. The emotional leader averaged 10.7 points per game to go with three assists and three steals from the point guard position.
F Brandyn Winkley, North Kitsap, senior: Winkley was the centerpiece of much of the Viking offense this season. He shot 52.1 percent from the field and led the team with 13.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
G Chase Estes, Crosspoint Academy, senior: The wiry Estes, a three-year varsity player, led the Warriors with 17.4 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals.
G Nars Martinez, South Kitsap, sophomore: The half-brother of former South star Jake Beitinger, Martinez has found his place in the backcourt rather than the low post. Despite being one of the youngest players on the Wolves’ roster, Martinez was second on the team with an average of 10.5 points per game. He also shot 46.5 percent from the field.
F Ryan Burris, Bainbridge, senior: Burris posted 13 points and seven rebounds a game. As the only Spartan other than DiIorio to average double digits, Burris stepped up as the Spartans’ leading scorer on several occasions.
HONORABLE MENTION
George Hill, Kingston; Sam Byers, Kingston; Berkley Nilles, North Kitsap; Clark Rose, Klahowya; Austin Hewitt, Crosspoint; Drew Vettleson, Central Kitsap; Charles Wilson, Bremerton; Brandon Neet, Klahowya; Michael Gurske, Central Kitsap, Kyle Featherstone, Olympic; Austin Hewitt, Crosspoint and Andrew Holm, Klahowya.
