Plateau basketball teams post wins in 16 of 18 games combined against SPSL competition

It looks likely a repeat trip to state is in the cards for all four Hornets teams.

The Plateau’s high school basketball teams had lofty expectations heading into the winter season and, thus far, things seem to be going as planned.

As Enumclaw and White River teams headed into winter break, they had combined to win 16 of 18 games against South Puget Sound League 2A competition.

Here’s a quick look at how each has fared as 2022 draws to a close.

ENUMCLAW GIRLS

Coach Danny Graham’s crew raced to a 4-0 start in league play, picking up victories over Orting, Steilacoom, Clover Park and Fife. All four were of the lopsided variety, with EHS winning by an average of 32 points per outing.

The hot start also included nonleague victories over Rogers of Puyallup and Pasco High School. The EHS girls had a major test Dec. 20 when they hosted nearby Bonney Lake in another nonleague tilt: the visiting Panthers handed EHS its first loss of the season.

The squad is slated to appear this week in a tournament hosted by Kennedy Catholic High School and will return to SPSL 2A play on Jan. 4 with a trip to Franklin Pierce.

WHITE RIVER GIRLS

The Buckley girls proved victorious in their first four league games, defeating Washington, Orting, Foss and Clover Park. Coach Chris Gibson’s girls are a perennial power and their early-season opponents certainly would vouch for that fact: the Hornets zoomed to their 4-0 start while winning by an average of nearly 60 points per night.

The only blip on White River’s record was a nonleague, road loss to highly-regarded W.F. West.

The Hornets are staying sharp during winter break with the three-day Lynden Christmas Classic and will return to league play Jan. 6 when they host the Franklin Pierce Cardinals.

ENUMCLAW BOYS

The Hornet boys are logging some serious miles during winter break, competing in a four-day tournament in Southern California that wraps up Dec. 30.

The squad, under the direction of coach Terry Johnson, opened the winter season by winning four of five South Puget Sound League 2A contests. Wins came against Orting, Steilacoom, Clover Park and Fife while the single defeat came against the Foss Falcons (leading the league with a 6-0 record).

The Hornets will jump back into SPSL 2A play the evening of Jan. 4 when they travel to Franklin Pierce High to take on the Cardinals.

WHITE RIVER BOYS

The Buckley boys opened the SPSL 2A campaign by winning four of five games prior to winter break. Victories came against Washington, Orting, Foss and Clover Park while the lone setback was a one-point decision at the hands of the one-loss Steilacoom Sentinels.

The early part of winter break saw White River competing in the Pirate Holiday Tournament, hosted by Highline High School. The Hornets return to league play Jan. 4 when they travel to Fife High to challenge the Trojans.