NWC Team Preview – 2A – Squalicum Storm

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here I will be continuing the team previews for each team 2A team in the Northwest Conference. 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 next 2A team up is the Squalicum Storm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm struggled last year throughout the season. With about 4/5 role players departing after last season, the Storm will look for some new faces to step up and lead the team. I think they will have a better season this year, as they still have 4/5 other players who have varsity experience and who I've seen grow a lot over the summer. The team finished 8-12 last year. Right before the district tournament they defeated Bellingham 39-38 in a "play in" game to go to the district tournament. During the district tournament, they lost to Lynden in the first round 50-64 but did have a second chance game. They took advantage of the second chance, defeating Anacortes 70-68 but lost to Burlington-Edison 41-56 in the following round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Graduated:</strong> Leyton Smithson, Reed Richardson, Kaleb Hawkinson, Trevor Keeley, Kai Posey, Josh Gallegos</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning:</strong> Nick Watt ('23), [player_tooltip player_id='1382646' first='Ashton' last='Engelhart'] ('23), Jake Donnelley ('23), Xander Sledge ('23), Dylan Jacobs ('23), [player_tooltip player_id='1587988' first='Kyle' last='Heaton'] ('23), Peter Albert ('24), Fabian Singh ('25)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player(s):</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1382646' first='Ashton' last='Engelhart'], Dylan Jacobs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1382646"],"_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":"Ashton is a lights out shooter on the court. His game has grown a lot since the end of last season. He attacks the bucket well being able to put a quick move on the defender and using his speed to blow by. He finishes athletically at the rim and also runs the floor well in transition. His shooting abilities stand out by far as he can casually hit 7 or more three pointers, as he displayed late last season when given playing time. He's going to be a top scorer on this team and should have an excellent season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1587988"],"_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":"Kyle plays a little bit out of position in my eyes due to the Storm's lack of size. Kyle has the length to play down low, but to me fits well as a high post/wing player. He adjusts to what is given to him by opposing teams well. He shoots the ball consistent as well and is only improving.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Dylan Jacobs","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Squalicum HS","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Dylan is one of the top facilitators in the NWC as a whole. He runs the point guard well for the Storm, finding his open teammates often and getting them open shots. He can play off ball as well, shooting the ball well with his lefty shot. He plays off the pick and roll extremely well and is excellent at stopping on a dime to hit the mid-range jumper. I'm excited to see his game grow as the year progresses.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Squalicum will have a bounce back year if you ask me, as I believe their key players who are returning will play well. They all have great chemistry given they have played the summer together for HoopVision NW. Many of those guys have improved important assets in their games as well, which is part of the reason I think the Storm will be a sneaky team to watch but, the whole Northwest Conference is extremely stacked for this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->