Lynnwood building a winning tradition

LYNNWOOD — A few years ago, it would have been virtually unthinkable to hear the words Lynnwood girls basketball and playoffs uttered together in the same sentence.

Times have changed.

Coming off their first postseason appearance in nine years, the Royals are taking aim at a second straight trip to the Northwest District 3A tournament.

And it’s just not wishful thinking either.

Lynnwood returns four starters and six seniors from a team coach Jon Rasmussen admits was just happy to have qualified for the postseason.

Last year’s success only whetted the appetites of the Royals, who want to take it one step further. Lynnwood is coming off a more than respectable 8-12 campaign in the tough Western Conference 4A South Division.

“It was a big confidence booster,” said Lynnwood coach Jon Rasmussen. “Winning eight games last year was more than I think Lynnwood won in the last five years total …. we played competitively in other games. It was with a junior class, more or less.”

Returning starters include senior guard Molly Hunsinger, senior center Kelsey Ayres, senior guard Samantha Janssen and senior center/forward Daylene Wilkie. Senior guard/forward Amanda Crain also saw extensive playing time and is slated to be a full-time starter this season.

Hunsinger and Ayres are four-year varsity players and give the Royals solid veteran leadership.

The Royals dropped both of their games at districts but still walked away with a sense of accomplishment and a burning desire to get back to the playoffs.

“It was kind of eye-opening,” Hunsinger said. “It kind of showed all of us that we can actually do it and I think everybody thinks we can do it again. That’s our goal … since we went (to districts) last year, it’s real for everyone else. We know that it’s right there.

“We can grasp it. We’ve just got to work for it.”

Gone are the days when a couple of victories was a reason to celebrate for a Royals squad consistently mired in the bottom of the standings.

Ayres remembers those dark days when victories were a scarce commodity.

“Now we know that we can go to the next level and go to the playoffs,” Ayres said. “What we need to do is learn how to win at playoffs and go to state and just do the little extra things that will take us further.”

The Royals again will try to spread the ball around on offense. Lynnwood has players that can post up or sink the 3-pointer, a luxury not many teams are afforded.

Hunsinger was the team’s top scorer, averaging 14 points per game. Ayres and Janssen each averaged about nine points per game last season.

When the Royals want to pound the ball inside they can look to Ayres (6-foot), Wilkie (6-1), Wilkie’s sister Denise (5-11) and Kirsten Hjerstedt (5-11).

“We’re going to be looking inside,” Hunsinger said. “But we’ve also got our outside shooters, who have been doing very well … we shoot the lights out.”

Rasmussen has no complaints with the Royals’ offense. The 2003-04 squad is shaping up to be the most potent offensive club in his four-year tenure as head coach of Lynnwood.

“I’ve got height, speed and shooting,” said Rasmussen. “I’ve got a little bit of everything, not just one thing … it’s a well balanced team, which is a rarity.

“I’ve got more options. That’s a good thing to have.”

Having so much experience back has allowed Rasmussen to add to the Royals’ defensive repertoire. Lynnwood will be offering some different looks on defense this season.

“So far coach has talked about all kinds of defense,” Hunsinger said. “As a whole we want to be a stronger defensive team no matter what defense we’re in.”

Defense will be crucial to Lynnwood’s success.

“That is going to be really key to us going to the next level,” Ayres said. “We’re going to throw out some new things that people haven’t seen before.”

Rasmussen is pleased by the way his players have absorbed all the new defensive strategies, though he was initially concerned they might be somewhat overwhelmed.

“We’re farther along than we’ve been before,” Rasmussen said. “If we can just keep our intensity up and … just stay away from any major injuries, I think we’ll be fine.”