The Bonney Lake boys basketball team started the 2014-2015 season Tuesday with a non-league game against Rogers of Puyallup.
The Panthers went 0-10 last season in conference play and had a 0-20 overall record.
New to the Panthers is head coach Sam Oliver.
Oliver spent last season as an assistant coach at Auburn.
Despite not being here last season, he said “We have a lot of experience on this team and our guys are excited about the season.”
Oliver expects the Panthers to “compete in every game.”
He credits the team as working hard and “buying into what we are doing here.”
“If we embrace our philosophy of controlling what we can control, the wins will take care of themselves,” he said.
The Panthers are returning eight varsity players and are added three new ones.
Returning for Bonney Lake are junior Brock Frame, senior Taylor Graham, junior Michael Harvey, senior JC Herd, junior Donny Hofstrand, senior Brady Thomas, senior Isaiah Weed and Senior Jake Zahnow.
New to varsity this season is senior Nic Carter, junior Patrick Oxile and senior Hunter Suttle.
When it comes to who to keep an eye on this season, Oliver doesn’t have just one player to look out for.
“One thing we talk to our guys about is being ready when your opportunity arrives,” Oliver said. “For us to reach our potential this year, we will need every guy on the team to be ready when those opportunities show up. It’s a team first approach. Each player is important to our success. I can tell you without a doubt, that each player on this team will contribute in some way to a win during this season.”
The Panthers next game is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at Graham Kapowsin High School.
Girls Basketball
The Bonney Lake girls’ season came to an end last year win a 51-47 loss to Auburn Mountainview.
The Panthers ended the year with a 18-8 overall record.
The girls were one win away from qualifying for the sweet 16 round of the state tournament.
The 2014-2015 started Saturday, Nov. 29 with a 52-50 loss to the Ballard Beavers.
Also new to the girls team is a new face leading the Panthers.
After spending the last two season as an assistant coach and head coach of the junior varsity team, Dan Lisk is head coach for the Panthers.
Lisk also spent seven years at Auburn coaching the boys basketball team prior to coming to Bonney Lake.
Lisk said he expects the Panthers to be in the playoff race.
The Panthers graduated one starter, Riley Jensen, and also lost a few reserves.
He said Bonney Lake has a strong core returning with four starters, senior guard Gaby Ruiz, senior guard Jessyka Seger, senior post Kayla Seger and sophomore guard Payton Mitchell.
Other Panther returners included junior guard Brooklyn Gratzer, post Samantha Boudreau, post Leaniva Richardson and forward Emily Stonerock.
New to Bonney Lake’s team are senior forward Rebecca Hursh, junior guard Danielle Lisk and junior guard Emily White.
“(We also have) more depth than we’ve seen in the past,” Lisk said. He said the team has been “preparing by working hard, staying humble, keeping our efforts and attitudes in line with our program vision and understanding it will take the hard work of us all to accomplish our goals.”
Lisk said Panther fans should watch for our the girls do early in the season in non-league games against Ballard, Rogers and Kentlake.
The girls hosted Rogers of Puyallup Tuesday.
The game was played after press deadline, check online for results.
Bonney Lake hosts Kentlake next at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.
