2 Week Takeaways from the SW Washington Hoop Scene

<p>After two weeks of high school basketball, teams and players are starting to settle in and show their potential. Check out some of my takeaways from the start of this hoops season…</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Trio At The Beach</strong></span></p> <p>The Ilwaco Fishermen have been off to a great start so far this season. They are currently 4-0, and being led by one of the top trios in 2B basketball. The Turner brothers, Jaden and Becket, and <strong>6’6 F Sam Glenn (2022)</strong> have each played a huge role in the Fishermen’s early success. <strong>6’0 PG Jaden Turner (2022)</strong>, who recently verbally committed to Univ. of Puget Sound, has been cooking. He’s averaging around 22ppg with big games of 27 points and a 22 points-12 assists game. His younger brother, <strong>6’1 SG Beckett Turner (2024)</strong>, has been filling the stat sheet as well. He is averaging just shy of 20ppg. He neared a triple-double one night with 18 points-8 rebounds-7 assists. Last but not least, Glenn has been holding down the paint for the Fishermen. He’s averaging double figures and caught a few bodies in the process. The Fishermen are proving to be a team to watch for in 2B basketball this season. If the trio can keep this level of play up all season, the sky is the limit.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Underdog in 2A</strong></span></p> <p>The RA Long Lumberjacks were primed for a big season last year but because it was a COVID-year,<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>things didn’t go quite as planned. They ended last year’s season with a sour taste in their mouths so they worked tirelessly all summer to make sure they were ready to pick up where they left off. That work is paying off, too. The Lumberjacks are 4-0 so far with a margin of victory of 30+ points. They have a potent offense that can score quick and in bunches, but it’s their defense that will propel them to where they want to be by the season’s end. They are anchored by their twin towers, <strong>6’8 F [player_tooltip player_id="1145922" first="Aaron" last="Ofstun"] (2022)</strong> and <strong>6’8 C Jaxson Cook (2023)</strong>. Aaron has great instincts on the defensive end that result in a lot of blocked shots. Cook is physical and alters a lot of shots at the rim as well. With these two holding down the paint, the guards can really get into guys and pressure the ball which is exactly what <strong>5’8 PG Jamond Harris (2022)</strong> does. Harris is “pound-for-pound, the toughest player in their program.” He is a pest on the ball with good lateral quickness and active hands. He usually gets the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player. If the Lumberjacks can continue to be dominant on the defensive end, they will have a good shot to make a deep run in the playoffs this season.</p>