Anytime in the past 17 years, someone could have predicted the Mark Morris boys basketball team would not win the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Each time, that person would have been wrong.
Mark Morris has won at least of share of the league title the past 17 seasons.
Down years aren’t a thing at the Longview school. Despite graduating league co-MVP Will Burghardt, this season looks no different.
The Monarchs return three starters, including twin seniors Tyler and Garrett Berger. Tyler, a 6-foot-5 forward, was second on the team in scoring last season at 14.7 points per game. Garrett was third on the team at 12.3 points per game.
Mark Morris is unlikely to take a step back, but that doesn’t mean others aren’t ready to step up to the kings.
Chief among them is Columbia River. The Chieftains are led by one of the area’s best players in senior guard Jacob Hjort (18 points per game). With three starters 6-foot-5 or taller, River won’t be pushed around.
“We’re optimistic that we’re going to be one of the top two teams,” River coach David Long said. “Morris is always good and hard to beat, but the kids are excited. They should be excited with the opportunity they have in front of them.”
Most 2A GSHL coaches share Long’s view that Mark Morris and Columbia River are the two favorites. The race for the league’s other two postseason berths, however, will be intense and leave the rest of the league no margin for error. That includes two rounds of league games before the Christmas break.
“It’s not a league where you can ease your way into January and get your lickings in before you get there,” Ridgefield coach Jason Buffum said. “If someone upsets somebody, it could really change the dynamic for the rest of us. I think River and Morris separate themselves early, but everyone else is playing for something every night.”
Having graduated its top two scorers, Ridgefield will need its next class to step up this season. It’s a similar case at R.A. Long, where the Lumberjacks graduated the top four scorers from a team that went 7-5, tying for third.
Woodland is also looking to replace its top two scorers, including league co-MVP Bryce Mulder. But Palmer Dinehart, Tyler Flangan and Wyatt Harsh are entering their third season of playing on together. Alex Bishop, a 6-foot-3 forward, can score from inside and out.
Washougal is much improved, thanks to the emergence of Moses McEwen. The 6-foot-5 senior, who has 3-point range, played junior varsity last season in part due to transfering from another district.
Hockinson has a new coach in Jon Warner, a former Prairie standout who spent the past five seasons there as an assistant coach. The Hawks are off to a late start because many key players were part of the state championship football team. But that fact alone points to the athleticism the team possesses.
Projected Finish
(Picks by Columbian sports staff)
1. Mark Morris: When you’ve won title 17 years in a row, you’re the favorite.
2. Columbia River: Big scorer in Jacob Hjort leads a team that’s big in height.
3. Woodland: Beavers have athleticism, so expect them to push the pace.
4. Ridgefield: Spudders will play fast, press in order to generate offense.
5. Washougal: Moses McEwen and Carter Murray are a strong tandem.
6. R.A. Long: Top four scorers from last year graduated. Who will step up ?
