Eastlake boys return veteran group to hardwood

They might be young, but the Eastlake boys basketball team returns experience to the court for the 2008-09 season.

“We have a core of student athletes back on the varsity,” head coach Pat Bangasser said.

The Wolves return four starters from last year’s 5-15 team.

Three of those returners are juniors, including two KingCo 4A honorable mention award winners, Michael Russo and Dillon Pericin.

Russo, the team’s tallest player at 6-foot-5, averaged 15 points and eight rebounds last year as a guard. Pericin, another guard, averaged just under nine points a game.

Eastlake also returns junior forwards Michael Maguire and Chad Marxen. Marxen was slated to start last year, but missed most of the season after hurting his wrist in the first game of the season.

“We have four returning starters, but could call it five because Chad is back,” Bangasser said.

Senior forward Turner Lee returns after averaging 10.4 points per game as a starter, while senior guards Jeff Charlston and Scott Payton are back. Sophomore additions Matt Uhlar and Connor Iraola are expected to make an immediate impact.

With so many returners and a group that knows each other so well, Bangasser is looking forward to the possibilities.

“We’re excited, we spent a lot of time together in the off-season,” he said. “We did fairly well in the spring league and the fall league.”

Because they aren’t tall, Bangasser said his team will focus on using athleticism to try and grab one of eight available KingCo 4A playoff berths.

“We’re going to have to be fit and physical,” he said. “Our goal is to improve our defense and get to the playoffs.”

Eastlake is in the KingCo Crest division, which features the No. 2-ranked team in the state, Garfield, as well as Skyline, Redmond, Newport and Issaquah.

Bangasser said the league will no doubt be tough, but he envisions significant improvement from last year. He also hopes that a new scoreboard and sound system will draw the fans in this year.

“We’re trying to create a basketball atmosphere at Eastlake where kids want to come out to the games,” he said. “The bottom line is, winning will help. You can do all the great things you want. If you’re 0-20 it’s not going to mean a whole lot.”

The Wolves are 1-1 with an early-season win over Ingraham and a loss to league foe Newport. They play their next contest at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16 at home against Woodinville.

Contact Sammamish Reporter Sports Editor Kevin Endejan at kendejan@issaquah-reporter.com or 425-391-0363, ext. 5054.

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