Shoreline men improved in tough division

Lynnwood grad Fox averaging 17 points

By Tony Dondero

Enterprise reporter

The Shoreline Community College men’s basketball team, led by sophomore guard Parys Fox and sophomore center Jaron Brown, is out to a nice 5-2 start this season.

Fox, a 6-foot shooting guard out of Lynnwood High School, averages 17 points per game. “He’s playing real well for us. Silent leader. Definitely being called upon to do the scoring from the outside,” third-year Shoreline coach Jeff Menday said. “He shoots and just plays hard.” Jaron Brown, a 6-6 sophomore center out of Decatur, is the Dolphins’ inside scorer and averages 16 points.

Justin Grisby, a 6-1 point guard from southern California, is now a full-time starter and boosts the Dolphin defense along with Fox.

Corey McClain, a 6-foot guard who graduated from Kentridge in 2005, also starts in the backcourt.

Jeff Sterling, a 6-4 swingman out of Kentridge, is a decent rebounder and pretty good slasher, Menday said.

The Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Northern Division is very tough, Menday said, with three teams ranked in the NWAACC top 10 right now: Whatcom (second), Peninsula (fifth) and Bellevue (seventh).

The top four teams out of the division’s nine make the playoffs. Shoreline last made it in 2006.

“We’re picked eighth,” Menday said. “I’d be surprised if we end up that low.”

Community college teams vary greatly from year-to-year and this year is no different for Menday’s squad.

Jeremy Rudd, a 6-0 guard out of Lynnwood, returns but the rest of the roster is new. Up-and-coming players include Stephen McCall and Gary Harris, who are both from Las Vegas. One of Menday’s former players from 20 years ago at Southwest Oregon Community College went to church with McCall and recommended him. “Great kid with a good attitude,” said Menday, who is also “real happy” with Harris.

One recruit who hasn’t been able to play is Theron Laudermill, a 6-7 freshman power forward. Laudermill tore the meniscus in his left knee and won’t be back until January at the earliest.

“I still wish we had more height,” said Menday, adding that the top-ranked teams in the division all have bigger front lines.

“Our strength is team defense and this team has a passion to play,” Menday said. “They get after it.”

Menday, who is known for helping his players improve in the classroom, said his sophomores should graduate from Shoreline.

“JaRon Brown will graduate for sure in June,” Menday said. “Parys and Justin and Jeremy are close with summer school.” One of Menday’s most successful players at Shoreline has been Delvaughn Tinned, a 2006 graduate who is playing his senior year at Division II Montana State-Northern Lights.