If there is one thing on the wish list of Evergreen boys basketball coach Brian Witherspoon, it’s probably a little height in his lineup.
Gone are the days when he could roll out an all-league post, like the graduated Robert Franks. This year’s Plainsmen are going to need to find a new way to outdistance the competition.
In their season opener Friday, the Plainsmen followed the lead of senior guard Greg Washington to outrun an equally scrappy Fort Vancouver team, beating the Trappers 87-79.
“We’re not big, but we quick and athletic,” Witherspoon said of his Plainsmen, who topped out Friday with 6-4 forward Elon Freeman. “We’re going to press and play up-tempo basketball. And I like the energy and enthusiasm we played with tonight.”
Washington, a 5-10 guard, set the pace for the Plainsmen, racing his way to a game-high 35 points.
He had nine points in the first quarter as Evergreen dashed out to a 21-6 lead.
But the Trappers, who don’t have a player on the roster bigger than 6-2, didn’t roll over. They opened the second quarter on 16-6 run to close within three points.
“I didn’t expect it to be perfect,” Witherspoon said. “We have a lot of new faces playing together for the first time, and it’s a process. I thought we overpassed a bit, but at least you can see the sharing is there.”
The Plainsmen regrouped in the second half to extend their lead back up to 65-49. But, again, the Trappers scrapped their way back into it.
Junior Alphin Yosuo, who came off the bench to score 21 points, scored six straight early in the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer by Miracle Alford and two free throws by Kyron Lowe-Ash got Fort within 72-69.
But the Trappers would get no closer. Washington hit a 3-pointer and Shawn Johnson Jr., scored six of his 10 points down the stretch to seal the win.
Tyrus Hosley had 15 for Evergreen, while Ronald Owens paced the Trappers with 30 points.
EVERGREEN 87, FORT VANCOUVER 79
EVERGREEN – Payton Monda 2, John Hansberry 6, Tyrus Hosley 15, Elon Freeman 7, Greg Washington 35, Shawn Johnson Jr. 9, Dustin Nettles 7, Tre Ratcliff 0, Christian Huerta 6, Dowd Khan 0. Totals 34 (3) 16-21 87.
FORT VANCOUVER – Mitchel Cooper 5, James Husband Jr. 6, Miracle Alford 9, Josiah Rich 0, Kyron Lowe-Ash 8, Ronnie Lieno 0, Ronald Owens 30, Alphin Yosuo 21, Norman Brown 0. Totals 30 (4) 15-24 79.
Evergreen 27 18 22 20—87
Fort 14 23 19 23–79
