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SPORTS - LOPEZ ISLAND BOYS BASKETBALL |
Related StoriesLopez boys shooting for a big school record Saturday Lopez boys clinch share of league title Lopez boys overwhelm Friday Harbor JV | |
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Lopez Island boys advance; need victory for state berthposted 02/15/2008
Lummi upset Lobosposted 02/09/2008
Lopez boys shooting for a big school record SaturdayStory by Matt Pranger Lopez Island High School's boys basketball team set school records for an undefeated home season and best overall record. Jordan Smith broke the Lobos' record for most points in a game and according to one of the country's largest prep Web sites the senior is leading the nation in average points per game. Lopez reached a No. 1 ranking for the first time earlier this season. The Lobos are shooting for another long-sought high point at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 in the Class 1B Bi-District Tournament at Mountlake Terrace High School. If the Lobos win their semi-final contest Lummi or Clallam Bay, they will make their first entrance in a state boys basketball tournament. "This is a big one," said Brad Smith, coach of the Lobos and father of Jordan. "It's the biggest game of most of our guys' careers." Lopez seniors -- Jordan Smith, Keaton Farris, Barry Christopherson, William Yukluk, Isaac Berg and Noah Dretske -- set a goal as freshmen to reach the state tournament before they graduate, Coach Smith said. They have moved within a victory of that objective by posting some impressive numbers. The Lobos, currently ranked No. 2 in the Class 1B, won nine consecutive games at home. They took the Northwest 1B League title with a 9-1 record. Their sole loss came to the conference's second-place team. The Lobos finished the regular season 16-1. "We've had a good year," Smith said. "The boys have worked hard. I'm happy for them." Smith credits his players' success to not getting rattled when they run into trouble. "We just take care of business," the coach said. "As the kids say, 'T.C.B.'" The Lobos also boast a team chemistry few teams can match. "They've known each other since they were little kids," Smith said. Lopez is averaging more than 67 points a game by scoring from inside and out. "When we run our offense, we play really well," Smith said. Leading that hard-to-stop attack is Smith's son Jordan, who is putting up an average of 35 points per game. He broke the Lopez Island High School's single-game record by scoring 51 points in a win last month. "Jordan can score from anywhere," Smith said of his speedy and high-flying boy. Farris returned from a year at Coupeville and is providing a big boost at point guard in his final season. "He's been a huge addition," Coach Smith said. "I'm gald to have him back. He runs the offense pretty well." Farris and Smith combine for hard-to-defend blazing breaks. "Keaton's game has really allowed Jordan's game to flourish," their coach said. "They play well together." Smith gives sophomore Alex Buffum his "hard-hat-and lunch-pal award" for his unselfish play. "Alex just bangs in there and works hard." Christopherson, a rebounding specialist, is consistently improving. "Barry is stepping it up," Smith said. Post player Shaun Samuel is getting "better and better," the coach added. Colton Jardine missed last year's season with an injury but is "doing fabulous" in his senior year, Smith said. "Colton's a real competitor. He and Shaun have been doing a really good job." William Yukluk is a stopper under the basket and "just doesn't quit," and junior Josh Cook provides "a lot of speed out front," Smith said. The other team members are freshman Alex Cook, sophomore Tucker Hoffman and freshman William Carson and junior Josh Cook. The Lobos, who play in some of the smallest gyms in Northwest Washington, are looking forward to playing in a Mountlake Terrace's large gymnasium. "It's rare that we get to play in a gym like that," Smith said of the Class 4A school's facility. If the Lobos win Saturday, they will play in a venue a couple of times the size of Mountlake Terrace's gym -- the 7,000-seat Yakima Valley SunDome during the Class 1B State Championship. |
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