Seton Catholic's Gabe Anderson (Joshua Hart/The Columbian)
It’s immediately clear when watching Seton Catholic warm up that their length will trouble opponents. When the Cougars lock down in their 2-3 zone, the spaces to exploit are small, if there are any.
“We’re really fortunate to have the length and athleticism we have,” second-year coach Kris Small said. “We’re really a team that is built off the run game. That’s going to be our bread and butter.”
Xavian Rushing is the tallest of the bunch. The 6-foot-4 senior is long, can run the floor and is a knockdown shooter when he has to be.
He’s joined by returning all-league players Gabe Anderson, a 6-2 senior, and Andrew Olson, a 6-3 senior.
“I really like what we have,” Small said. “Everybody has an opportunity on any given night to step up and contribute.”
In Seton’s season-opener against Hudson’s Bay, it was Mountain View transfer Eba Abu, a 5-10 senior, who hit the game-tying shot with 6 seconds left.
Luke Pitzer, a 5-9 senior guard, is an adept distributor and 6-3 senior Kellen Ball gives the Cougars a strong perimeter threat.
Asked if this was the most talented Seton Catholic team in recent memory, Small replied: “That’s true. Yeah.”
“We would like to be a team that challenges for a league championship,” he said.
The Cougars would have to knock off defending league champion La Center and last year’s 1A runner-up King’s Way Christian to do so.
“Everyone is chasing those guys,” Small said.
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