SEQUIM — The Sequim boys basketball team has already shown that it will be a handful this year with two season-opening nonleague wins, one by a huge margin.
“They play hard. They play with energy and most of all they play for each other,” said coach Craig Brooks, entering his second year as the Wolves’ head coach.
Sequim has to replace a lot of seniors who graduated last year — Zack Thompson, Vincent Carrizosa, Isaiah Moore, Cole Smithson and others. But some of the younger kids on last year’s team have really stepped up so far.
Thompson was last year’s point guard and Brooks said the point guard duties this year will be a bit by committee.
The Wolves went 8-6 in league last season (11-11 overall) and really ended the season on a high note as the team got off to a 5-9 start. Sequim started clicking in the second half of the season, winning five out of its last six Olympic League games (with the one loss to North Kitsap) to finish third in the league among the 2A schools and qualifying for the district tournament, where the Wolves went 1-1.
Despite a large amount of turnover, several members of this year’s team were part of that squad that finished last year on such a strong note.
Leading the charge this season will be senior Keenan Green, who is averaging 21.5 points a game so far and has been deadly from 3-point range.
Brooks said Green’s leadership is also valuable. “He’s being a general out on the floor,” he said.
Solomon Sheppard, just a sophomore, has also shown that he will be a big part of this year’s team with a 21-point nine-rebound game in the season-opener against Klahowya. He gives the Wolves another outside weapon from beyond the 3-point line.
Brooks said Charlie Grider is a “really active” player who has been a force on defense so far this season, while sophomore Mason Rapelje will be an important player for the Wolves as he gets his first chance to start at the varsity level.
Lars Wiker is another senior that brings a lot of leadership to the team.
Also coming back is Zeke Schmadeke, who really showed his athleticism for the Wolves’ football team.
“He’s on a mission. He plays aggressive,” Brooks said.
Tennis star Garrett Little rounds out the lineup for the Wolves.
Brooks agreed with Port Angeles coach Kasey Ulin that North Kitsap will be powerful as usual. He said Port Angeles will be good with Parker Nickerson and Isaiah Shamp returning and that Bremerton is much improved over last year, but that Sequim should be in the mix in the upper half of the league.
Sequim’s 55-33 win over Fife was eye-opening about how good this team could be. The Wolves get a huge Olympic League test right out of the gate, going on the road to take on 3A Bainbridge on Friday. Sequim also has a massive week next week, taking on both Bremerton (Dec. 12) and North Kitsap (Dec. 15) in the Wolves’ home gym.
Sequim Wolves
• Head coach: Craig Brooks, second season.
• Last season: 8-6 in Olympic League, 11-11 overall. Third in the Olympic League, finished regular season on 5-1 run. Went 1-1 at the bidistrict tournament.
• Returners: Keenan Green, sr.; Lars Wiker, sr.; Charlie Grider, jr.; Garrett Little, sr.
• Newcomers: Solomon Sheppard, soph.; Mason Rapeljem, fresh.; Zeke Schmadeke, soph.; Jamison Grey, jr.; Ethan Melnick, jr.
• Outlook: The Wolves have to replace a lot of seniors from last year. They ended last year hot and bring a lot of momentum into this season. Green and Sheppard have already shown they will be dangerous from outside. The Wolves have also shown they will be tough defensively, allowing just 33 points to 2A Fife. This team should be in the mix for a playoff spot.
