New coach hopes to get Crusaders to state

Published 12:20 pm Thursday, December 4, 2008

Vermeer, Ryder top returners for Shoreline Christian

By Tony Dondero

Enterprise reporter

Steve Call, a hoops loving psychologist, is the new coach that hopes to guide Shoreline Christian to its first state berth in five years.

Call, an experienced AAU boys hoops coach, served as a boys basketball assistant at Juanita High School last year where his son Jordan, who now plays at Whitworth University in Spokane, played.

Call has a daughter who attends Shoreline Christian and applied for the job previously held by Adam Haulter, a science and math teacher at the school.

“It seemed like a good fit. I’m excited,” said Call, a psychologist who works with adolescent boys.

The Crusaders, who finished 6-6 in the Northwest 1A/2B League and 9-13 overall last year, lost several key players including post Kevin Taniguchi, their leading scorer; Remy Hudson, a tough inside rebounder, and point guard Daniel Dovinh.

But several key players return including 5-10 senior shooting guard Jason Vermeer and 6-2 senior forward Tim Ryder.

The Crusaders carry nine players on varsity, four seniors, one junior, three sophomores and a freshman.

Four players, sophomore point guard Travis Hudson, sophomore point guard Keith Jacobs, sophomore guard/wing Tyler Taniguchi and Vermeer did not turn out until Nov. 24 because they played on the Crusaders’ soccer team that finished fourth at state.

Rounding out the Crusaders roster are 6-3 post Andrew Deelstra, 6-2 wing Trevor Brown, 6-2 post Weston Danhof and 5-10 freshman guard Brooks Drollinger.

“I like our speed,” Call said. “We’ll have a pretty heavy focus on intense defense. These guys pick it up pretty quick.”

“We’ll get up and down the court,” Call said. “We have some good depth.”

The Crusaders will need to rely on speed and quickness to make up for the lack of size, particularly with the loss of Taniguchi in the middle.

As with any new coach it will take the players time to learn a new system and adapt to the expectations. Call held several open gyms during the summer to get to know the players better.

“They’re teachable; that’s one nice thing about this group,” Call said. “They’ve been real open to the system we’re going to run.”

Without divulging too many details, Call plans to use the same offensive principles that he taught his AAU team at Shoreline Christian.

The usual suspects, Darrington, a state placer last year, and LaConner figure to be at the top of the 1A/2B League.