Eastside Catholic Crusaders boys basketball head coach Bill Liley was beaming with pride as players, students and community members filed into the athletic board room for a celebration of epic proportions on the afternoon of Sept. 30.
Within minutes, Crusaders basketball players Matisse Thybulle and Mandrell Worthy announced where they would lace up their sneakers in the world of collegiate basketball. Thybulle, who donned a University of Washington T-shirt during the celebration, revealed his collegiate choice the day before (Sept. 29) on Twitter that he would play for the Huskies basketball team. Worthy unveiled a Montana State University hat to announce to the world he will play for the Bobcats.
“They’ve done a great job of representing our student body and our basketball program. We’re doing this as a school because we’re really proud of these two guys. Having them go Division-1 is great for our school and our basketball program,” Liley said.
The Crusaders advanced to the Class 3A state championship game before losing to the Rainier Beach Vikings 47-45 in March 2014. Worthy said the loss in the season finale is something he thinks about every day.
“I always am thinking about what I could had done better and what I could had done different,” Worthy said. “It motivates me every day. I just want to get back to that game (state title contest) again. Hopefully this year we get it done.”
Liley said Worthy has played a pivotal factor in revitalizing the Crusaders basketball program. In the three years prior to Worthy’s arrival as a freshman during the 2011-12 season, the Crusaders put together an overall record of 21-42. Since Worthy arrived, the Crusaders have compiled 53-28 record.
“This basketball program isn’t where it is today without Mandrell Worthy and what he has done here. Mandrell has been the face of the program for the past three years,” Liley said. “The program averaged seven wins a season three years prior to his arrival and now we’re averaging 17 wins a season. He just brought a confidence and instilled a confidence in our team that has allowed us to be a winning program.”
Worthy said Liley has believed in him since day 1. Liley’s first year as Crusaders basketball head coach was Worthy’s freshman year.
“We came in together. He promised me by my junior year we would get to the state championship game and that’s what we did,” Worthy said.
Thybulle said it will be a blessing playing close to home at the University of Washington.
“I wanted to be able to stay home close to my mom, dad and my sister so they can have the opportunity to watch my basketball career go on. It played a role in my decision,” Thybulle said.
Thybulle’s family enjoyed University of Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar’s engaging personality during the recruiting process.
“Whenever he would come over we would have a lot of laughs and would have a really great time. It was fun having him interact with my family,” he said.
Liley said he’s witnessed Thybulle’s game expand greatly during the summer months.
“This summer Matisse realized the powers he has on the basketball court. He started to really dominate. It’s been really fun to watch that transformation. We’re excited about him having a great senior year. He’s realized how good he is,” Liley said. “Matisse is a heck of a basketball player.”
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; ssscott@bellevuereporter.com
