PORT TOWNSEND — A strong senior class coupled with some hungry and talented juniors has East Jefferson boys basketball’s sights on securing a district playoff berth this season.
Third-year head coach Emanuel Abbott, a member of the 1992-93 Port Townsend team that finished second at state, said he’s been watching Port Angeles under coach Kasey Ulin.
“We are trying to follow in their footsteps in how to build a program,” Abbott said. “It’s been a lot harder than we expected, but this is the year that we kind of circled when I took over the job. We should be able to compete this season.”
That statement itself is saying something, considering the depth of the Nisqually League, which boasts Annie Wright, a top-5 team in Class 1A this season, plus Life Christian, the returning 1A runner-up. East Jefferson’s main rival Klahowya already has beaten a 2A Olympic League foe in Olympic thanks to 38 points from 6-foot-5 Robbie Slater, a player Abbott said may be the best in the league.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve won consistently, but I think these are the guys that can do it,” Abbott said.
The Rivals have some height and depth with 6-foot-7 senior post Stuart Dow down low, along with 6-5 guard/forward Keidan Guzman.
Abbott said Dow’s build reminds him of former Port Townsend and Seattle Pacific shot-blocker Abe Fox, a standout in the late 1990s.
“A different type of game but the same body style,” Abbott said. “Stuart will fill the lane for us.”
Guzman is going to draw attention walking off the bus for the Rivals.
“In the long run, I think he will be one of our top players,” Abbott said. “He’s a guy that most teams will look at right away. He handles the ball at 6-5, he’s a good passer and would love to run point full time. He likes to shoot from outside, but we may need him more on the inside.”
Junior Brody Moore is the team’s starter at point guard.
“We need a floor general and Brody is going to be a good point guard in this league,” Abbott said.
Senior Lorenzo McLeese can defend every position on the floor.
“Lorenzo is active all over the court,” Abbott said. “We can ask him to guard the one through the five and he’s got it.”
Senior guards Austen Hammer and Toby Fulton, senior forward Gerald Lindsey and juniors Gary Zambor and Cash Holmes, all played football together this fall and will provide a deep bench for the Rivals.
“Gary can play the game and do a little bit of everything,” Abbott said. “Gerald is a tough kid on the football field who will work inside and out for us and Cash is healthy, his back injury from football has healed, so we are excited to see what he can do.”
Michael Petta, a senior guard, and Ace Johnson, a junior guard also are expected to see the floor.
East Jefferson Rivals
• Head coach: Emanuel Abbott.
• Last season: 4-13, missed postseason.
• Returners: Austen Hammer (sr., G, ); Michael Petta (sr., G 6-0); Stuart Dow (jr., P, 6-7 ); Brody Moore (jr., G, 5-10); Keidan Guzman (jr. F, 6-5 ) Toby Fulton (sr., G/F, 5-11 ); Ace Johnson (jr., G, 5-10); Gerald Lindsey (sr., 6-0, F); Gary Zambor (jr., F, 5-11).
• Newcomers: Traycen Brown (so., G) Cash Holmes (jr., 6-0 G); Aidan Stepanski (jr., ) Tanner Haddenham (sr., G, 5-8).
• Outlook: Rivals have athleticism, depth and height, all ingredients for a successful team.
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Contact sports reporter Michael Carman at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
