Union's Tanner Toolson is one of several Titans with state tournament experience. (Nathan Howard/The Columbian)
Now in his seventh season at Union, coach Blake Conley’s Titans have never finished a season without a 4A Greater St. Helens League title and has seven state appearances.
What makes this team special, the coach said? He calls it his most athletic, and potentially, he’s best defensive team, too.
That’s quite the compliment for a program that’s won or shared a league title in each of Conley’s six seasons, including going 20-0 in the regular-season last year. Union has now won eight straight 4A GSHL titles — outright or shared — dating back to the 2011-’12 season.
“We’re fast, we’re long and we can really have constant chaos on defense,” Conley said. “Our goal is to be hard to score on and create some havoc out there.”
They’ve already caused havoc offensively, too. Union scored 90 or more points its first two games. Union features a guard-heavy roster — a different look from last season when it had two post players 6-5 or taller — with a number of interchangeable guards and wings. Two of them are returning all-leaguers Brad Lackey and Tanner Toolson on an experienced varsity roster. A new addition is Mountain View transfer Kaden Horn, the Thunder’s leading scorer and all-3A GSHL player last season.
The addition of Horn adds to the versatile, dynamic offense with as many as five shooters on the floor at all times, Conley said, allowing the Titans to use that to their advantage.
“If we’re using that speed and using that athleticism,” he said, “that’s what makes us tough.”
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