Don’t tell Snohomish County Christian School boys basketball coach Brent Hudson that his team is in a rebuilding season.
He already knows he has just two returning varsity players, and three returning junior varsity players. But he doesn’t seem to want to focus on that.
Quite the contrary, he doesn’t want his players thinking about it either.
“I anticipate being competitive, whether or not our record will reflect that,” Hudson said. “I tell the guys, we don’t want to look ahead to next year.
“We want to play this year.”
Hudson doesn’t want to think of this season as a “rebuilding season” so much as an opportunity to grow as a team.
The funny part is that it doesn’t seem pollyanna-ish or even contrived. Hudson comes across as a coach determined to have a successful team this season.
In his second season as head coach, Hudson said that this year the team will return to the more familiar environs of the Northwest B League after an experimental season in Emerald City A League competition.
Forward David Rouse is the sole senior veteran of varsity ball, while Jordan Doucet, a junior will return as a guard.
Three players will step up from junior varsity, with a few more who will likely also get varsity playing time.
Senior forward Cody Livingston, as well as junior guard Ken Kan, and junior center Chris Maden will also be among varsity starters this season.
There will also be three sophomore guards in Everett Adams, Ryan Grossenback and Zach McKinley.
Hudson said the transition from junior varsity to varsity will not be too difficult.
“I think we’ll develop faster this year,” Hudson said, indicating that there will be some similarities to last year’s style, as well as adaptations and adjustments for this year. “We practiced the JV and varsity together, so most everything we’re running, they’re familiar with.
“Most of the stuff they grasp, and remember, so we can focus on the new guys, too.”
Newcomers include freshman forward John Rouse, and Casey Martin, a senior guard. Additionally, there are a few other newcomers, but Hudson was not sure how they would fit into the scheme of things.
“We’ve got a lot of guards,” Hudson said. “Ken Kan may play forward, but not a lot.”
One of the difficulties with switching leagues and then switching back is that many of his less experienced players will face schools they are unfamiliar with.
“If we can figure out how to play defense, we’ll be competitive,” Hudson said, adding, “Probably everybody thinks that.
“We have the potential to really improve this year.”
Getting the team ready will take time and effort, but Hudson seems confident in his group’s ability.
“The talent is there, the athletic ability is there, we just need to develop the mental strength,” he said. “Being smart on the court, learning how to read the other team, figuring out what the defense is giving us.”
Hudson said he looks to David Rouse and Doucet to give him a lot of scoring, while John Rouse will “probably be our leading rebounder.” Hudson is also confident that Everett Adams, with effort, could be a strong addition to the team.
“If those four play well, we’ll be all right,” Hudson said. “(Adams) has a lot of talent, and could develop, and really come on strong.”
Last year, Hudson had senior Jeremiah Ripley to rely on for needed scoring. Now the coach is putting his trust in more than one player.
“We need multiple guys to play well each night,” Hudson said.
Hudson, who played for the Lions, and is a 1992 graduate of Snohomish County Christian, said that it is interesting facing coaches he has known for years.
“For the most part, last year was a great experience,” he said.
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