2022-23 Olympia Bears Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group continues to build on past results, taking home fourth place in 2019-20, and going 26-6 last season with a third place finish at the 4A State Tournament. With 10 returning varsity players in 2022-23, led by WSU commit [player_tooltip player_id='1217797' first='Parker' last='Gerrits'], the Olympia Bears have a chance to be even better. This is a group that has been together for a while now and has steadily built a chemistry that goes one through ten. They have some of the best depth in the 4A division at every position. Here are some key names to pay attention to leaving and returning from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Graduated: </em></strong>Caden Roth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Returners: </em></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217797' first='Parker' last='Gerrits'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270674' first='Andreas' last='Engholm'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450937' first='Drew' last='Carlson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450936' first='Wesley' last='Brewer'], <strong>Mason Juergens</strong>, <strong>Cree Barna</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1485541' first='Matt' last='Lindblom'], <strong>Blake Peterson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caden Roth is the only starter the Bears lose from last year. Roth was a big piece of their offense, working from the wings and excelling at the high post, scoring, and distributing. But there are a handful of players ready to step into larger roles as highlighted by the key returners above. Almost all of the players named above held key roles and played plenty of minutes last season, garnering valuable experience in a deep state tournament run. They should be one of the 4A favorites but there is still plenty of work to be done in the South Sound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63483d8ffc3c1","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1217797"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gerrits is a dynamic point guard who can score from any spot on the court. He's had an impressive career so far but this will be his best chance to get that coveted 4A State Title. He's a vocal player, taking on the leadership role with his play and his mouth. Gerrits was heavily relied on to create looks and score one-on-one buckets last season, but he should have some more help to ease the load with some of the younger Bears stepping up this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1270674"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Engholm is a key figure in this squad who has shown great toughness and versatility for a big man. However, for the Bears to reach the promised land, Engholm will have to be at his best as an efficient player inside. His ability to pop out after a screen and stretch the interior of the defense will be huge as well, unclogging the lane for some of the slashing guards.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1450937"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Carlson really mirrors a lot of what Gerrits is able to do and is a guy I think will be essential as a secondary scorer on the perimeter, and an unheralded playmaker. He plays with poise, sees the court well, and has a sweet stroke from mid-range and beyond the arc.  He could take a big step up this season and force defenses to key on both him and Gerrits in the backcourt.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1450936"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Brewer is an interesting piece of this Olympia squad because for much of last year he was buried behind [player_tooltip player_id='1270674' first='Andreas' last='Engholm'] and u003cstrongu003eCree Barnau003c/strongu003e. However, in the minutes he did get, Brewer showed he can be a solid contributor and he could take a big step forward this season. He's great at establishing and keeping position inside, whether that's on the boards, posting up, or blocking off lanes for guards to drive. He defends the pick and roll well, runs the floor hard, and hits a good percentage at the free-throw line. I didn't get to see much of his passing ability, but he could be an intriguing player to replace some of the minutes vacated by Caden Roth at the high post against zone defenses.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Mason Juergens","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Olympia","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Roots Academy","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Juergens is a highly regarded WR for the Olympia football team and he brings that athleticism and toughness to the hardwood. He's a key defender for the Bears at 6'2 and with a solid frame, he's able to body up guards, wear them down over the course of a game, and chips in offensively with smart plays and good outside shooting. He has some bursty scoring to his game too. You never know when he's going to have a night.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Cree Barna","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'8u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Olympia","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Roots Academy","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Barna is hard to miss. He's big, strong, and loud. The 6'8 big man is all strength and effort on the floor, selling out defensively and working his tail off securing rebounds and loose balls. That being said, he's also decently skilled around the rim. He has good footwork and though he might not have a ton of moves, he's really good at the drop step and the quick spin and attack. His strength helps him finish through multiple defenders and also get to the line frequently where he hits the freebies at a good rate.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1485541"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Lindblom was trusted in some big games last season and showed great growth and potential this summer. He's a heady player, good at manipulating defenses and taking his time to work for good shots. He scores from all levels and can hit some tightly contested jumpers and floaters from the mid-range. He'll be a key guy coming in off the bench, especially if some of their guards get into foul trouble. Lindblom is a name to write down for the future as someone who could really blossom in 2023-24.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Blake Peterson","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Olympia","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Roots Academy","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Peterson is another young player for Olympia that should be a productive guy in the future. For this season though, he should be a guy counted on to spell minutes and give solid play on both ends of the court. He's a versatile guard who can hit the open jumper, run the break well, and play tough defense. Backcourt minutes will be tough to come by this season, but he should be a player who shows great growth over the year and is ready to step into a bigger role in 2023-24.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->