<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Alex Mar (3, right) rushes ahead of Shorecrest's Travis Hake (13, left) with a stolen ball, during their summer league boys basketball scrimmage, Thursday, June 19, 2008 at Mountlake Terrace High School. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW King's Nick Hardy (3) shoots a basket against opposition from a Shorecrest defender during their summer league boys basketball scrimmage, Thursday, June 19, 2008 at Mountlake Terrace High School.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE David Pan, Sports editor entsports@heraldnet.com Tony Dondero, Asst. Sports editor entsports@heraldnet.com

Smaller King's team gets in summer work

By Tony Dondero
Enterprise reporter

The King's boys basketball team is in the middle of its summer season as it prepares to defend its four straight Cascade Conference titles next season. Gone are leading scorer Erich Fuhlendorf, who signed with Warner Pacific in Oregon and center Dylan O'Neil, who is taking a year off.

The Knights are a different team now without a standout big man or star like Fuhlendorf but head coach Bill Liley who takes over permanently for Marv Morris this season likes what he sees.

"We're way ahead of where we were last summer," Liley said. "We're not as big. We can execute all our stuff we ran last year. The kids run the stuff with more confidence and success because they know where the shots are coming from."

Liley said the squad wasn't as fluid on offense last year but could overcome that with the size and talent of 6-7 center Dylan O'Neil and 6-4 small forward Erich Fuhlendorf.

"This year with being small we can play really good basketball and lose to some of the schools that have bigger guys inside," he said.

King's went 4-4 in the Mountlake Terrace Summer League. They've also beat Marysville-Pilchuck, Bothell, Nathan Hale, Fife, Liberty, South Whidbey and Everett.

"We've played very well," Liley said. "The teams we've lost to they've taken advantage of things we're trying to get better at. We're going to have to be a little tougher than we were. We have to rebound."

Up front, the Knights have 6-foot, 4-inch power forward Kyle Talbot, a senior-to-be, and 6-4 forward Karl Clocksin, a junior-to-be. Sophomore-to-be Zack Berg, a 6-1 forward, adds some bulk off the bench.

"We've been practicing more on rebounding as one," senior-to-be Alex Mar, the team's starting point guard, said. "I have a lot of confidence in Karl (Clocksin), Kyle (Talbot) and Zack Berg.'

In addition to Mar, the Knights have 5-11 senior-to-be Nick Hardy at shooting guard in the starting lineup. Filling out the roster is sixth man and senior-to-be Zach McDonald, a 6-1 forward; 6-1 junior-to-be Ryan Hoff, who plays forward; 6-1 junior-to-be Sean Brugger, a small forward; 6-0 junior-to-be Calvin McCutcheon, who plays guard; and 5-11 sophomore-to-be Curtis Clauson, who plays point guard.

"I'm really excited to coach this group of guys," Liley said. "It's probably as good a shooting team as I've had an opportunity to coach. It will be surprising to some of the teams we play how well we shoot." Without a post like Charlie Enquist, now at Washington State, or O'Neil the Knights will go to the 3-pointer more often.

"We probably shot a few more than we have the last couple years," Liley said.

The Knights will try to make it five straight conference titles this season but this might be their greatest challenge.

"It's going to be tough to win it this year," Liley said. "I think people are expecting us to be down a bit, I think."

King's has plenty of depth in its program. The junior varsity lost only one game in the conference last year and several players have moved up to varsity. The C team didn't lose a game at all in conference. "We are really fortunate with the kids going through our program right now," Liley said. "We just feel we have the opportunity to keep this thing going and get a good seed (in the district playoffs)."

The Class 1A teams from District 1 will play a tournament in which the winner will earn a state berth before moving on to tri-districts.

"That's a huge incentive for our kids to have a great Cascade Conference season and go into the playoffs with a high seed," Liley said.

King's played in the University of Washington summer tournament and camp June 20-22 and will attend the Gonzaga team camp June 28-July 2.

They open the season against 1A power Brewster Dec. 6 at home. King's also will go to San Diego for Surf N' Slam tournament and will play Bellevue Christian in the King Holiday Hoopfest.