Central 2B preview – Coaches perspective
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Outlook – The 2024 season in the Central 2B will see a lot of familiar names going against each other as they have for the past three to four years.Toutle’s Zach Swanson Zach Swanson 6'2" | SG Toutle Lake |…
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Continue ReadingOutlook –
The 2024 season in the Central 2B will see a lot of familiar names going against each other as they have for the past three to four years.Toutle’s Zach Swanson Zach Swanson 6'2" | SG Toutle Lake | 2024 State WA , last year’s Co-MVP with James Grose James Grose 6'2" | SG Napavine | 2024 State WA of Napavine. Both have been playing in the Central 2B for five years. Since 8th grade. Adna’s 1st team all league point guard Braeden Salme Braeden Salme 6'1" | SG Adna | 2024 State WA , a four year starter. There’s Connor Cox – Toutle, Eli Smith, and Lane Johnson – Adna. Jarin Prather Jarin Prather 6'1" | CG Napavine | 2024 WA , Cael Stanley, and Karsen Denault Karsen Denault 6'4" | SF Napavine | 2025 WA – Napavine, Zach Carlson – Wahkiakum.
All have at least two years as starters for their teams. Some have three or four. Cayle Kelly – Napavine, Judah Kelly – MWP, Kavin Winters – Toledo, – Kyler Sauce – Wahkiakum all have at least a year as a starter in the league.
What’s it add up to? Lot’s of beating up on each other.
This doesn’t include Kalama’s two league titles in 2021 and ’22. MWP – Two consecutive state trophies in 2022 and ’23
Head to Head the last two years –
Napavine – Record – 6-2 – two state appearances in 2022 and’ 23.
Adna – Record – 6-7 – state tournament appearance 2023.
Toutle – Record – 4-6 – state tournament appearance 2022.
Wahkiakum – Record – 6-7 – state tournament appearance 2023.
Toledo – Record – 2-10.
I talked with some of the coaches from around the league about the 2024 season. Here’s some of what they see in the upcoming season. The teams above were picked as the favorites this season.
Players to Watch –
Napavine – James Grose James Grose 6'2" | SG Napavine | 2024 State WA , Karsen Denault Karsen Denault 6'4" | SF Napavine | 2025 WA , Jarin Prather Jarin Prather 6'1" | CG Napavine | 2024 WA , Cael Stanley – Sr., Cayle Kelly – Jr.
Adna – Braeden Salme Braeden Salme 6'1" | SG Adna | 2024 State WA , Eli Smith, Lane Johnson
Toutle – Zach Swanson Zach Swanson 6'2" | SG Toutle Lake | 2024 State WA , Connor Cox
Wahkiakum – Zach Carlson, Kyler Sauce, Jacob Johnson
Toledo – Kavin Winters, Rogan Stanley
Rainier – Jake Meldrum Jake Meldrum 5'10" | CG Rainier | 2025 WA
MWP – Judah Kelly
Pre-season coaches poll -others familiar with the Central 2B
1. Napavine
2. Adna
3. (Tie) Wahkiakum – Toutle
4. Toledo
5. Rainier
6.Winlock
7.MWP
9.Kalama
10.Onalaska
Top 5 team previews
Napavine
Coach – Rex Stanley
Returning starters:
James Grose James Grose 6'2" | SG Napavine | 2024 State WA – Sr., Jarin Prather Jarin Prather 6'1" | CG Napavine | 2024 WA – Sr., Karsen Denault Karsen Denault 6'4" | SF Napavine | 2025 WA – Jr., Cael Stanley – Sr., Cayle Kelly – Jr.
Adna
Coach – Luke Salme
Returning starters:
Braeden Salme Braeden Salme 6'1" | SG Adna | 2024 State WA – Sr., Eli Smith – Sr., Lane Johnson – Sr.
Coach Salme – “I’m super excited about our season. We’ll lean on our three 4-year starters (Salme, Smith, Johnson) a lot obviously, but we have some other guys who didn’t get varsity game minutes last year that really add some different elements to our team that we didn’t have last year. This group stands out to me not only for their talent, but for the amount of time they’ve put in outside of the winter, and their commitment to being positive, unselfish teammates.”
Salme mentioned Napavine and his own team having the makeup to be playing for hardware for in Spokane. He also mentioned Toutle “with Zach and Zip (Cox), can beat anyone, any night”, and Wahkiakum, Toledo, and Rainier as teams that will be in the hunt. “It’ll another lucky C2BL season for fans, as there will be great competitive games to watch all year long.”
Toledo
Coach – Grady Fallon
Returning starters:
Kaven Winters – Sr., Rogan Stanley – Sr., Cooper Fallon – Soph., Trevin Gale – Soph.
Other contributors:
Adam Kruger – Soph., Eli Weeks – Soph.
Coach Fallon – ” I don’t know if there is a tougher league than the Central 2B league from top to bottom. Every night you have to show up. I think we’re predicted to be in the middle somewhere, and when that’s the case, you have to go all out and “steal” a victory from someone that is ranked higher than you. Last year we were able to steal one from Adna, but then couldn’t Rainier in the 3 times we played them!”
Toutle
Coach – Eric Swanson
Returning starters:
Zach Swanson Zach Swanson 6'2" | SG Toutle Lake | 2024 State WA – Sr., Connor Cox, Sr., Jacob Nicholson – Sr., Kale Kimball -Sr.
Wahkiakum
Coach – Todd Souvenir
Returning starters:
Zach Carlson – Sr., Kyle Sauce – Sr., Jacob Johnson – Sr.
I asked an anonymous source familiar with the Central 2B. Here’s some of what he had to say:
Napavine is the clear and heavy favorite to win the league again. They return every main contributor from last year’s team and will be a true handful for anyone they play statewide.
Adna returns 3 players that have as much experience as anyone in Salme, Smith and Johnson. They knocked off Napavine last year in the postseason and would love to knock off their rivals again.
Rainier gets nearly everyone back and are the scrappiest of the group. They play hard and have plenty of varsity experience. The triplets are a dangerous trio and they have help beyond that as well.
Toutle Lake finished the regular season as hot as anyone and have an absolute closer in Swanson. They beat Napavine as well last year and should have plenty of confidence going into the season.
Top Players:
As great of shooter as the league has seen in a long time. He has the total green light and can single handedly win a game by himself. Has really developed into an all-around scorer.
He can really score it at all 3 levels and has developed a consistent 3. He may be the most clutch player in the league and no one gets the free throw with more ease.
Can shoot it with the best of them on most nights and posts up well for his size. When he’s on, he can beat you by himself.
Zach Carlson
Zach can score with anyone and now with Avalon gone, he will likely get even more shots. If he get going at home….look out.
Judah Kelly
Best pure PG in the league. Wasn’t asked to score last year, but with 5 rotation players gone to graduation, Kelly will take on the scoring load and has no problem getting that done.