Despite losing five seniors from last season’s roster, the Kangs aren’t entirely back to the drawing board.
The Lake Washington High boys basketball team went on a solid run last winter, finishing 15-8 overall and beating every KingCo 3A team at least once with the exception of Bellevue. Now, thanks to a host of program veterans, the Kangs appear poised to take a step forward and battle for a berth in the state playoffs.
“Roster-wise we’re pretty young, but we have a lot of guys who got good varsity minutes and there are starers coming back,” said Ryan Staudacher, who enters his fourth year as the program’s head coach. “We have a nice mix of upperclassmen and experience alongside new guys coming in that can contribute.”
Guard Sam Linskey, and wings Jordan Richter and Brandon Gockel are all returning seniors. Linskey started at point guard last winter, and both Richter and Gockel saw time with the varsity team.
But among the team’s biggest keys to success lies in the hands — or feet — of sophomore Griffin Barker. The 6-foot-5 post will be crucial to the Kangs’ offense in the paint, but Barker has added a few weapons in the offseason.
“He can step out,” Staudacher said. “He spent some time this summer working on his shot, and more time in here last week, and he’s more confident in knocking that shot down.”
Barker isn’t, for lack of a better descriptor, a bean pole. He’s a big, strong kid with the ability to handle the ball and take defenders off the dribble.
Beau Heimdahl is a returning junior from last season’s varsity squad, but the remaining players are new. Juniors AJ Filan, and Dalton Liesse and Andrew Vincent played on varsity last winter, along with sophomore Spencer Barnett. Nick Strausburg is new as well.
Despite the holdovers and program experience, the Kangs have yet to establish an identity outside of individual roles. Staudacher said Lake Washington will try to play an up-tempo game, but the overall team concept is still to be determined.
“Early on, we’ll go through some ups and downs while we find out what kind of team we are,” Staudacher said. “After all that, I have high hopes that if we play hard, play together and buy in, we can do some good things.”
Lake Washington is scheduled to tip off the season at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at home against Inglemoor.
Lake Washington High boys basketball coach Ryan Staudacher calls out to players during practice on Nov. 23. Staudacher enters his fourth season as the program’s head coach. JOHN WILLIAM HOWARD/Kirkland Reporter
