FALCON BASKETBALL NOTES - MAY 20, 2010

The HHS Boy's basketball team were deemed 2009-2010 State Academic champions. Jalen DeVine and Aaron Neary traveled to Tacoma to receive the award for the squad. Go Falcons!

FALCON BASKETBALL NOTES - FEBRUARY 23, 2010

Walla Walla's Gary Winston and Davis' David Trimble were named their division's boys MVPs, as the All-Columbia Basin Big Nine teams were announced.

Winston, bound for Idaho on a scholarship, was named the Cascade Division MVP. Trimble, a sophomore, was the Columbia MVP.

All-CBBN

Boys

Columbia Division

First team -- David Trimble, soph., Davis; Connor Smith, sr., Wenatchee; Matt Mendenhall, soph., Southridge; Alfredo De La Barrera, sr., Sunnyside; Derek Porter, jr., Southridge; Israel Manzo, soph., Sunnyside; Devonte Luckett, soph., Davis.

Player of the year -- David Trimble, soph., Davis. Coach of the year -- Eli Juarez, Davis.

Second team -- Steven Ponce, sr., Pasco; Trent Brown, sr., Kennewick; Brandon Search, jr., Pasco; Gabe Porter, jr., Moses Lake; Reggie Clinton, soph., Kennewick.

All-Defensive team -- Noel Lopez, sr., Davis (co-MVP); Connor Smith, sr., Wenatchee (co-MVP); Jordan Esqueda, sr., Sunnyside; Jordan McCollom, sr., Southridge; David Trimble, soph., Davis; Reggie Clinton, soph., Kennewick; Drew Loftus, jr., Kennewick; Jordan Wilks, sr., Moses Lake.

Cascade Division

First team -- Gary Winston, sr., Walla Walla; Michael Weisner, sr., Walla Walla; James Lopez, sr., Eisenhower; Malachi Roberts, sr., Eastmont; Case Rada, jr., Kamiakin; Dylan Radliff, sr., Richland; Robert Bonser, sr., Eisenhower.

Player of the year -- Gary Winston, sr., Walla Walla. Coach of the year -- Earl Streufert, Richland.

Second team -- Tyler Holle, jr., Kamiakin; Colton McCargar, sr., Richland; Pete Zachara, sr., Hanford; Calvin Douglas, jr., Richland; Justin Pedley, soph., Kamiakin; Miquiyah Zamora, soph., Chiawana.

All-Defensive team -- Gary Winston, sr., Walla Walla (MVP); Calvin Douglas, jr., Richland; James Lopez, sr., Eisenhower; Miquiyah Zamora, soph., Chiawana; Case Rada, jr., Kamiakin; Mike Dunford, sr., Richland; Ryan Watson, sr., Eisenhower.

FALCON BASKETBALL NOTES - FEBRUARY 6, 2010 (RENE' FERRAN - TRI-CITY HERALD)

Had a good conversation with Pete Zachara of Hanford, who was one of the recent CBBN nominees "€" along with Michael Weisner and Gary Winston of Walla Walla "€" to play in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Basketball game.

He said the Falcons athletic director, Tom Hegarty, pulled him aside before Hanford's home game against West Valley on January 23. Meanwhile, poor Zachara is filled with a sense of dread, thinking what could he have done for the AD to drag me into his office right before a game?

"He said he needed to talk to me," Zachara said. "It ended up being good news."

Zachara described the selection process, which is actually a quite complicated month-long series of votes that whittles the pool of over 1,700 players down to 150, then down to 40, and eventually to 24.

Now, you have to be good to be nominated. And Zachara certainly is that. He can play with the best of them in the CBBN Cascade Division, probably the best division in the state from top to bottom, and he has both the ability and the work ethic to play at the next level.

But to be selected to the team is a whole different story.

I asked Zachara what his chances were to advance to the next phase of voting, which would put him among the top 150 players in the nation.

"Zero point zero, zero, zero, zero, zero one percent," Zachara said.

Give the man credit for honesty.

"I just watched (Portland's) Jefferson versus Kentwood (in the Old Spice High School Basketball Showcase on Monday on ESPN), which showcased some of the best talent in the nation," he said. "Their talent level is ridiculous."

He said there is one CBBN player who might make the next cut, however.

"I think Winston has a shot to make the second cut," Zachara said. "To make the team is really rare, but I wouldn't be surprised if he made the top 150."

FALCON BASKETBALL NOTES - FEBRUARY 3, 2010 (RENE' FERRAN - TRI-CITY HERALD)

Year after year, it's always fun selecting the Herald All-Area basketball teams. One of the biggest debates always comes down to whether the kids at the smaller schools (1B/2B, 1A, 2A) are worthy of being recognized alongside kids from bigger schools (3A/4A).

It's an entertaining debate, to say the least. Last season, there was some question whether Mark Wilson from Liberty Christian, a 2B school, deserved a spot on the All-Area first team. After the numbers he posted at LC last season, he earned it. But the question remained, if you dropped him in with the big boys in 4A, how would Wilson do?

Lately, Wilson has been answering that question at the junior college level. He's started all 19 games for Columbia Basin College and has averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 assists in nearly 24 minutes per game.

Little guy makes good.

OK, so I told you that story to tell you this one. This season, one of my favorite players to watch has been junior Aaron Neary, a 6-foot-3 post for the Hanford Falcons.

Neary was a rebounding terror at 1A Wahluke, where he would routinely grab at least 15 boards a game in his first two seasons with the Warriors. But after transferring to 3A Hanford, where he would face some of the top basketball players in the state in the CBBN, you had to wonder if he could continue to produce at such a high level.

"Before he got here, five coaches in the SCAC "€" and not from Wahluke "€" told me we were lucky to get him," said Falcons coach Paul Mayer. "He's a good player, and he responds well to my coaching."

More than that, Neary's performance so far has reminded us that hard work, no matter what level, can be a great equalizer. His work ethic is second-to-none, and his competitiveness makes him that much tougher.

His good size does help him down low, but it's his will that allows him to get to balls that other big men might not get. Even out of position, Neary has the ability to tip a ball away from an opponent so he can get under it.

And if he isn't the first to a rebound, he still has the strength to rip it away from an opponent, as he did recently against a Chiawana defender. That clutch play kept a much-needed offensive possession alive down the stretch in an 81-75 overtime victory last Friday.

Loose balls? He'll get those, too. In a mid-January loss to Kamiakin, Neary sailed headfirst into the Braves bench in an attempt to keep a ball in play. He succeeded, by the way.

"He does that in practice, too," Mayer said after the game. "He's a real workhorse."

That's been clear from his recent numbers. Neary has averaged a double-double this year with 11.1 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. He has posted double-doubles in seven of his last nine games while adding experience to an already impressive resumé.

BOY'S CBBN PREDICTIONS (2009-10 SEASON)

Here is a team-by-team overview of the 2009-2010 Columbia Basin Big Nine boys basketball season:

Cascade Division

This will be a very tough division, with as many as six teams having a legitimate shot at regionals.

Atop that list is Walla Walla, which boasts two Division I players in guard Gary Winston (headed to Idaho) and 6-7 guard Michael Weisner (Montana).

A third starter, Colton Arias -- who was on the all-defensive team -- also returns to help give the Blue Devils a lot of senior leadership.

"But we also graduated seven seniors," said Wa-Hi coach John Golden. "I think we're going to be in the same boat as everyone else in preseason, finding our way."

Eisenhowerwill also be among the league's best teams. The Cadets will be led by returning first-teamer James Lopez and second-teamer Robert Bonser. Lopez was also an all-defensive unit member.

Kamiakin has five juniors returning from last season, and coach Brian Meneely is expecting a lot from them.

"The kids have a lot of confidence from the experience they got last year," he said.

Richland has five players who started all or part of last season, led by junior post Calvin Douglas.

"These guys have a lot of unselfishness and depth," said Richland coach Earl Streufert. "They really don't care who scores. We have guys who can shoot the ball. We have guys who are big, athletic and strong."

Hanford will be led by Pete Zachara, a 6-4 guard/forward who was an honorable mention all-star last season. Coach Paul Mayer also got a little help from the outside when Aaron Neary, a 6-3 forward, transferred in from Wahluke.

West Valley coach Jim Berndt returns four players from last year's team in Taylor Berndt, Tanner Albrecht, Kevin Taffolla and Casey Croshaw.

Chad Herron has moved from Pasco over to Chiawana, and his Riverhawks will be young. Football players Luc Graff, Jordan Downing and Miquiyah Zamora will see plenty of playing time.

"I like our enthusiasm," Herron said. "I have young kids who are excited to be playing varsity sports. Obviously, playing on the road will be a test for them. The speed of the game will be a change."

Eastmont returns five players, including standouts Malachi Roberts and Darren Spaeth, both honorable all-conference selections last season. Coach Mike Waters expects his team to be fast and athletic to make up for its overall lack of height.

Columbia Division

Wenatchee coach Brett McGinnis has seven players back from last year's team, including 6-8 Connor Smith, who was a first-team Columbia Division selection as well as a member of the all-defensive team.

Sunnyside's Ron Rowe has some good experience back, led by 6-3 Alfredo De La Barrera, a first-team All-Columbia Division player who averaged 14.2 points last season. But the running Grizzlies also have sophomore Israel Manzo (honorable mention) and Jordan Esqueda (all-defensive team) returning.

Davis coach Eli Juarez will once again have a fast team playing an up-tempo game, led by sophomore David Trimble, who was a second-team Columbia Division selection last season. Trimble is one of three returnees for the Pirates.

Southridge coach Jason DeVere likes the chemistry of his squad, and it could be enough to get the Suns back into the postseason. Jordan McCollum and Matt Mendenhall return as starters for the Suns.

"I'd like to see us get back into the playoffs," DeVere said. "That's our goal. We didn't do it last year and it was disappointing."

Moses Lake was decimated by graduation and returns just one player with varsity experience in 6-3 guard Jordan Wilks.

Second-year Kennewick coach Bradyn Leyde says that a year in his system has made his players comfortable with him and vice versa. Trent Brown, Travis Karr and Travis Sharp were all starters last season, and Drew Loftus adds athleticism to the lineup.

Pasco is behind the rest in that new coach Winton Lytle was hired in September -- late for most programs.

"These guys have just 15 days in our system," he said.

Jeramie Streicher was an honorable mention pick from last season.

2009-2010 CBBN BOYS ALMANAC

Here is the Columbia Basin Big Nine boys basketball almanac for the 2009-2010 season:

All-CBBN RETURNERS

Columbia Division

First team -- Connor Smith, sr., Wenatchee; Alfredo De La Barrera, sr., Sunnyside.

Second team -- David Trimble, so., Davis.

Honorable mention -- Jeramie Streicher, sr., Pasco; Israel Manzo, so., Sunnyside.

All-Defensive team -- Connor Smith, sr., Wenatchee; Jordan Esqueda, sr., Sunnyside.

Cascade Division

First team -- Gary Winston, sr., Walla Walla; James Lopez, sr., Eisenhower; Michael Weisner, sr., Walla Walla; Calvin Douglas, jr., Richland.

Second team -- Robert Bonser, sr., Eisenhower; Case Rada, jr., Kamiakin.

Honorable mention -- Pete Zachara, sr., Hanford; Darren Spaeth, jr., Eastmont; Malachi Roberts, sr., Eastmont; Garret Anderson, jr., Kamiakin.

All-Defensive team -- Gary Winston, sr., Walla Walla (MVP); Case Rada, jr., Kamiakin; Colton Arias, sr., Walla Walla; Calvin Douglas, jr., Richland; James Lopez, sr., Eisenhower.

Returning Leaders

G Pts Avg

Pete Zachara, Han 20 326 16.3
Michael Weisner, WaHi 20 319 16.0
Gary Winston, WaHi 20 304 15.2
Alfredo De La Barrera, Sun 20 283 14.2
Connor Smith, Wen 15 206 13.7
Calvin Douglas, Ric 17 209 12.3
Case Rada, Kam 20 245 12.3
Malachi Roberts, Est 20 241 12.1
David Trimble, Dav 18 218 12.1
Jeramie Streicher, Pas 19 216 11.4
Robert Bonser, Ike 20 201 10.1
Israel Manzo, Sun 20 202 10.1