FORKS — In just a couple of weeks into the season, the Forks boys basketball team looks like it has improved greatly over last year, with five wins already in early December.
The Spartans have already played seven games, more than nearly any other team in the region. They’ve gone 5-2 and 2-0 in the tough Pacific 2B League, at the top of the league standings early.
They’ve beaten Neah Bay, always a very good 1B team, and crushed South Bend, racking up 90 points. They get their biggest test of the young season this week against Ilwaco, which is expected to be one of the tough teams in the Pacific 2B league.
Last year with a young squad, the Spartans went 5-7 in league and 7-13 overall. They’ve nearly matched last year’s win total already, while the Spartans’ two losses were to a 4-1 Rainier team and to 1A Elma, an old Evergreen 1A League opponent.
The Spartans are being led in scoring by point guard Aidan Salazar, who is averaging around 20 points a game so far this season.
“We’ll go as far as he goes,” said coach Keith Weekes, in his second season.
Weekes said Forks relied heavily on Salazar, playing him virtually every minute of every game. This year, the Spartans are much deeper and he will get more of an opportunity to give Salazar a breather here and there during games.
Weekes is pleased with what he has seen so far from his squad, saying they showed a lot of fight in a tough win this week over Neah Bay.
Weekes said the Spartans graduated four seniors from last year — Grady Earls, Ryan Rancourt (who was injured), Klaton Helvey and Brandon Galeana — but he likes some of his seniors this year.
The team has a core of three players who have been a big part of the Spartans for the past two or three years.
In addition to Salazar, the team returns senior Brody Lausche in the post, who has gotten bigger and stronger than last year.
Also returning are a pair of Landens, though they spell their names differently — Senior Landin Davis and sophomore Landen Olson.
“[Olson] comes from a basketball family,” Weekes said, which includes former players Jayden, Logan and Forks Hall of Famer Kurt Olson.
Weekes said Davis is battling a partially torn meniscus in his knee.
Rounding out the roster are returners Kyle Lohrengel and Dylan Micheau. Micheau already had an impressive game this year with nine steals versus South Bend.
“They’re our spark plug guys,” Weekes said. “Kyle will lead us in assists.”
Weekes spoke highly of Forks’ biggest, literally biggest, newcomer — Titus Rowley. Rowley, who is 6-foot-3 as a freshman, played great during summer ball.
“The other players were already asking if he was going to be varsity,” Weekes said. “He has performed really well so far. Another newcomer is Bubba Hernandez, also a freshman, who is an outstanding athlete in both football and baseball and gives the Spartans that much extra depth off the bench.
Isaac Gonzales is another returner who has had some big scoring games for the Spartans, and the roster is filled out by DeAnthony Davila, a soccer star for the Spartans.
Weekes expects Ilwaco to be the team to beat in the Pacific 2B League and the Spartans will learn a lot about where they stand against Ilwaco in a game this week. Chief Leschi is the defending league champion but graduated some of its players from last year. Still, the Warriors are off to a 3-0 start this season. South Bend, North Beach and Ocosta all appear to be down this year.
Forks Spartans
• Head coach: Keith Weekes, second season.
• Last season: 5-7 in Pacific 2B League, 7-13 overall. Finished fifth in the Pacific 2B League.
• Returners: Aidan Salazar, Brody Lausche, Landin Davis, Kyle Lohrengel, Isaac Gonzales, Landen Olson, Dylan Micheau.
• Newcomers: Titus Rowley, freshman; Bubba Hernandez, freshman.
• Outlook: The Spartans are experienced, with most of their players returning from last year’s squad. Salazar has been a consistent scorer. Newcomers Titus Rowley and Bubba Hernandez have given the Spartans a spark at times. Ilwaco is considered the team to beat but the Spartans are off to a good start this season. They will rely on their speed.
Aidan Salazar plays defense against Crescent last year. Salazar has been averaging about 20 points a game so far this season. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
