Tiny Lopez getting big contributions from Buffum

By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

Jason Buffum may not be the biggest guy, or the fastest athlete.

Those who live on the island where he plays, however, believe the 6-foot-1 guard/forward is the best player Lopez High School has ever had.

His per-game averages back up the Buffum believers: 25 points, 17.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 6.6 steals.

That’s the kind of performance head coach M.R. Buffum and assistant coach Debbie Buffum get from their son and star player every night.

“He grew up in the gym,” said Debbie Buffum, who graduated from Lopez in 1976 along with her high school sweetheart, M.R. “We are all basketball crazy.”

When Jason’s skills began to blossom in elementary school, the Buffums realized their son would need some stiffer competition than could be found on tiny Lopez Island. So during grades 5-7, Debbie Buffum began taking her son to Orcas Island to play on an AAU team. Because of the ferry schedule, they stayed on Orcas in a camper twice a week on a friend’s property. They got up Wednesday and Friday mornings in time to catch the 5:45 a.m. ferry back to Lopez Island to get Jason and younger brother Alex, who is currently a fourth-grader, to school.

“We were pretty tired, but it was worth it,” Debbie Buffum said. “There’s just not enough to challenge him on Lopez.”

Buffum was the Lobos’ best player as a freshman, but transferred to Mount Vernon for his sophomore year because of his desire to play with and against the best. He played a significant role on the junior varsity team while living with a teammate, but missed his parents and Lopez friends.

And Buffum’s transfer was doubly painful for his parents, who missed their son and their best player.

“We were losing every game by 30 or 40 points,” Debbie Buffum said.

He transferred back to Lopez, a school of approximately 80 students, for his junior year and became the Northwest B League’s most valuable player. His newer friends at Mount Vernon went 27-0 and won the Class 3A state title.

Buffum is the Lobos’ all-time leading scorer. He set the school record for rebounds (33) in a game earlier this season.

Buffum’s amazing play has not yet earned him a college scholarship, though. He has received a letter from Division III Whitworth and interest from local community colleges. Though he plays point guard much of the time for Lopez, he may not have the quickness college coaches seek at that position. And despite his amazing rebounding numbers, at 6-1, he would likely not be a forward in college.

“There are millions of players who can shoot the ball,” Debbie Buffum said. “The one thing that separates Jason is heart. He wouldn’t care if he only scored two points. He just wants to win.”

And after years of struggles on the basketball court, Lopez is doing just that this year. Though the team only has eight players, the Lobos improved to 2-1 in the league with Friday’s 66-50 victory over Grace Academy and are 5-5 overall. Lopez, which is one of only three Class B schools never to have played in the state tournament, may have its best shot since M.R. played.

The basketball-nutso Buffums hope so. For many years, the family vacation has been going to the Class B state tournament in Spokane.

This year, they’d like the team to come along with them.

Trying to get the point: Stanwood junior Ryan Appleby is already getting the full-court press from college coaches. Representatives from a pair of Top 25 college teams have recently come to see the flashy 6-foot-3 point guard for themselves.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few was in the stands at a recent game. A Stanford assistant stopped by a Stanwood practice on Wednesday.

Appleby and Spartans coach Nate DuChesne have been quiet about Appleby’s recruitment. While admitting that the letters are pouring in, DuChesne has said Appleby would like to concentrate on basketball and let the process take care of itself. According to one recruiting Web site, UCLA, Washington, Oregon State, Missouri and Iowa, among many others, are courting Appleby.

Wait ‘til next year: Jackson and Everett boys basketball fans got a glimpse on Friday of what the future may hold for both teams.

Jackson’s thrilling comeback victory featured a pair of teams with only one senior starter. Of the eight players who took the court for Everett in the first quarter, none were seniors. The game was eventually won by Jackson senior starter Brent Lillibridge’s steal and layup. The Timberwolves start four juniors along with Lillibridge and generally use the other two seniors on the roster – Mike Ervin and Chad Pagnac – for significant portions of the game.

“Both teams play a lot of juniors,” Jackson coach Eddie Mascari said. “You’d hope (to see some exciting games this year and next).”

Heading into tonight’s games, the teams are tied for fourth place in the Western Conference South Division with 4-4 records, 2 1/2games behind division-leading Mountlake Terrace. Everett could pull even with third-place Mariner by beating the Marauders tonight.

Jackson girls supporting cast strong: The 7-2 start by the Jackson girls (5-2 in the Wesco South) has been spurred not only by the double-double averages in scoring and rebounding of senior forward Jessica Shadle, but also key contributions by others.

The frontline combination of Shadle, Emilee Eisinger and Andrea Jones can make things difficult for opponents. In Friday’s 50-38 victory over Everett, Eisinger, a 6-foot sophomore, had four offensive rebounds and was 4-for-4 at the foul line. Jones, a junior, scored eight of her 12 points in the third quarter.

“All three of them can take over a game,” Jackson coach Julie Iverson said. “(Friday) Andrea gave us that lift.”

The tenacious backcourt play of sisters Carissa and Carli McClenahan, along with reserve forward Catherine Baller, can give teams fits as well.

“Carissa makes us go, she’s the pistol,” Iverson said of the sophomore point guard who had four steals against Everett. Carli, a freshman, added seven points. “And Catherine Baller was everywhere (Friday).”

Brotherly indifference: There is no such thing as sibling rivalry, according to Snohomish coach Ken Roberts. The second-year girls basketball coach says coaching against his brother, Cascade coach Dave Roberts, is “no big deal.”

“It really is just another game,” said Ken Roberts, who is 3-1 against his brother. “The Cascade-Snohomish rivalry is big enough on its own.”

Snohomish forward Anne Bailey subscribes to her coach’s mantra.

“We teased him about it some last year,” Bailey said. “But, we leave him alone now.”

Herald Writer Bob Mortenson contributed to this report.

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