Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Christian Clark (31), shown driving against Myrtle Point last season, and Drew Vickery (22) are returning starters for the Glide boys basketball team.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach: Jeff Smith (eighth year).
Last season: 11-13, 7-7 Sunset League (fourth); lost to Coquille 56-51 in league playoff game.
Returning starters: Christian Clark, 6-3 sr. P; Levi Bonnell, 6-2 sr. P; Drew Vickery, 6-1 jr. W.
Others to watch: Braden Smith, 6-1 jr. PG; Tyler Gordon, 6-2 soph. W/P; Landon Weimar, 6-0 jr. P/W; Trask Hopkins, 5-10 sr. P.
Top newcomers: Josiah Brown, 5-11 sr. PG; Connor Thompson, 6-6 soph. P; Brandon Halter, 5-11 fr. W.
Last season: 11-13, 7-7 Sunset League (fourth); lost to Coquille 56-51 in league playoff game.
Returning starters: Christian Clark, 6-3 sr. P; Levi Bonnell, 6-2 sr. P; Drew Vickery, 6-1 jr. W.
Others to watch: Braden Smith, 6-1 jr. PG; Tyler Gordon, 6-2 soph. W/P; Landon Weimar, 6-0 jr. P/W; Trask Hopkins, 5-10 sr. P.
Top newcomers: Josiah Brown, 5-11 sr. PG; Connor Thompson, 6-6 soph. P; Brandon Halter, 5-11 fr. W.
GLIDE — Two years in a row, the Glide High boys basketball team has finished one game away from reaching the Class 3A state playoffs.
Two seasons ago it was an overachievement for the Wildcats and last winter, falling short at that same point was a minor disappointment. Now with experience, talent and size, Glide is not only looking at reaching the playoffs, but going one step farther.
“We'll be an exciting team to watch,” eighth-year coach Jeff Smith said. “This is the best team I've had since the 2006 team that went to the playoffs.”
The Wildcats return three starters — Christian Clark, Levi Bonnell and Drew Vickery — and seven lettermen from a team that went 11-12 and finished fourth in the Sunset League.
After an up-and-down season minus two projected starters due to knee injuries, Glide still just needed to defeat Coquille in a league playoff game to return to state, but fell 56-51 minus two more players due to sickness.
“It was a disappointing end to a year, losing on your home court,” Smith said. “The sick bug hit us at the wrong time.”
This year, Smith thinks his team will be better prepared for adversity. In addition to returning most of its roster, Glide gets back posts Landon Weimar and Trask Hopkins, who recovered from torn ACLs last year.
Bonnell (6-foot-2) received honorable mention all-Sunset League last season and Vickery (6-1), a junior wing, made the league's all-defensive team.
Clark (6-3) will start alongside Bonnell on the post and Glide will have different options at the 3 spot. Weimar (6-0) gives the team a defensive and rebounding presence while Tyler Gordon (6-2), who saw varsity minutes as a freshman last season, is a top offensive option.
“We can start both Landon and Tyler,” Smith said. “It will depend on who we are playing and what the matchups are.”
Junior Braden Smith (6-1) takes over at point guard for the graduated Will Hissong, a first-team all-league selection now playing football at College of the Redwoods in California. Braden Smith has played on varsity since his freshman season and is the team's top 3-point shooter.
Senior Josiah Brown, a soccer standout, joins the program and will back Smith up at point guard. Six-foot-six sophomore Connor Thompson adds depth at the post. Freshman Brandon Halter (5-11) will see significant minutes, Smith said.
“We've got a good mix of veterans and younger kids,” coach Smith said. “We're stressing teamwork and playing cohesively as a team. So far the motto has been ‘together we rise and divided we fall.'”
The Wildcats opened the season with a 55-37 win over McKenzie and defeated Pacific 77-41 on Monday night. They participate in the Douglas Tip-off Tournament this weekend.
Glide hopes to close the gap in the Sunset League on Cascade Christian, the two-time defending state champions and ranked No. 3 in this year's preseason poll.
“There's a buzz in the community,” Jeff Smith said. “We have a chance to be a pretty good team. It will be fun to watch.”
• You can reach Sports reporter Rob McCallum at 957-4221 or by e-mail at rmccallum@nrtoday.com
Two seasons ago it was an overachievement for the Wildcats and last winter, falling short at that same point was a minor disappointment. Now with experience, talent and size, Glide is not only looking at reaching the playoffs, but going one step farther.
“We'll be an exciting team to watch,” eighth-year coach Jeff Smith said. “This is the best team I've had since the 2006 team that went to the playoffs.”
The Wildcats return three starters — Christian Clark, Levi Bonnell and Drew Vickery — and seven lettermen from a team that went 11-12 and finished fourth in the Sunset League.
After an up-and-down season minus two projected starters due to knee injuries, Glide still just needed to defeat Coquille in a league playoff game to return to state, but fell 56-51 minus two more players due to sickness.
“It was a disappointing end to a year, losing on your home court,” Smith said. “The sick bug hit us at the wrong time.”
This year, Smith thinks his team will be better prepared for adversity. In addition to returning most of its roster, Glide gets back posts Landon Weimar and Trask Hopkins, who recovered from torn ACLs last year.
Bonnell (6-foot-2) received honorable mention all-Sunset League last season and Vickery (6-1), a junior wing, made the league's all-defensive team.
Clark (6-3) will start alongside Bonnell on the post and Glide will have different options at the 3 spot. Weimar (6-0) gives the team a defensive and rebounding presence while Tyler Gordon (6-2), who saw varsity minutes as a freshman last season, is a top offensive option.
“We can start both Landon and Tyler,” Smith said. “It will depend on who we are playing and what the matchups are.”
Junior Braden Smith (6-1) takes over at point guard for the graduated Will Hissong, a first-team all-league selection now playing football at College of the Redwoods in California. Braden Smith has played on varsity since his freshman season and is the team's top 3-point shooter.
Senior Josiah Brown, a soccer standout, joins the program and will back Smith up at point guard. Six-foot-six sophomore Connor Thompson adds depth at the post. Freshman Brandon Halter (5-11) will see significant minutes, Smith said.
“We've got a good mix of veterans and younger kids,” coach Smith said. “We're stressing teamwork and playing cohesively as a team. So far the motto has been ‘together we rise and divided we fall.'”
The Wildcats opened the season with a 55-37 win over McKenzie and defeated Pacific 77-41 on Monday night. They participate in the Douglas Tip-off Tournament this weekend.
Glide hopes to close the gap in the Sunset League on Cascade Christian, the two-time defending state champions and ranked No. 3 in this year's preseason poll.
“There's a buzz in the community,” Jeff Smith said. “We have a chance to be a pretty good team. It will be fun to watch.”
• You can reach Sports reporter Rob McCallum at 957-4221 or by e-mail at rmccallum@nrtoday.com
