NWC Team Preview – 3A – Ferndale Golden Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here I will be starting the team previews for each team 3A team in the Northwest Conference now that I finished 1A and 2A. Not every team will have their own article, as I will be combining those teams in which I don't have much information on. I will be dividing this up by class, then by team within the NWC. The first 3A team up is the Ferndale Golden Eagles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferndale surprised a lot of people late in the year when they went on a cinderella-like run to make the state tournament. They started slow in the beginning of the season but things started to click within the team and they started playing very well together. They have a good amount of role players leaving as well as returning, so it is hard to see how this team will be. Last year they finished 11-12 on the year. They defeated Shorecrest 72-63 in regional play to advance to the district tournament. While being the 7 seed, they defeated Cascade 73-51 in round 2 of the district tournament. They would face Stanwood in the semi-final game of the district tournament, sneaking out a 72-65 victory. By advancing to the district title game, they would earn a place at the state tournament. They barely lost to a talented Mountlake Terrance team, 53-58. They would be placed as the 18 seed in the state tournament meaning they would need to win a "play-in" game in order to advance to the tournament. They would lose that play in game to Kennewick 62-80, ending their exciting run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Graduated:</strong> Mark Schlichting, Nate Tseguye, Sean Morrison, Ethan Lagerway, Jazen Guillory, Luke Wells</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning:</strong> Jewrlz Terry ('23), Damien Toney ('23), Bishop Ootsey ('24), Lane Oostra ('23), Lucas Mills ('23), Dylan Moore ('24)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player(s):</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1417282' first='Damian' last='Toney'], Jewlez Terry, Bishop Ootsey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1417282"],"_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":"Name is spelt incorrectly, Damien**rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnToney is a long, lengthy wing who can play down low as well. He's athletic and able to run the floor well. He fills the lanes and gaps in transition well and can finish the ball well while in full stride. He plays well through the high post, creating his shot from there. He can pull up and hit the mid-range shot or drive by the defender using his length to get by. His game is improving as time goes on and I'm expecting him to be even more improved as the season gets going.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Bishop Ootsey","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Ferndale HS","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bishop is an intriguing player. He plays off the ball well, moving around to get open well. He can play on ball too, distributing to his teammates just like he does as the teams starting quarterback on the football team. His court vision is fantastic and can push the ball up the court great. He's going to have a great junior year I think, based off what I saw from him over the summer.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6377229544905"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like I said, Ferndale does have some pieces returning that will help them out quite a bit. It might take a couple weeks for them to get going again, just like last year. But they have all the capabilities to come together and play very well as a unit. Jewelz Terry is a top ball handler / facilitator in the entire conference and as I said, I expect Damien Toney to take a big step this season and become a player who they can rely to score the basketball. That's the one thing they will be looking for right away, someone to rely on to score the ball. The Golden Eagles should again be a competitive team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->