Sun | Sports

By Eric D. Williams - Nov 30th, 2000

Team chemistry will be the key to Bremerton's chances of winning its second Olympic League title in three years.

Meshing personalities and finding that right combination on the basketball court is probably one of toughest tasks to perform as a head coach.

Just ask recently fired Seattle Sonics coach Paul Westphal.

Last year, Bremerton's boys basketball team experienced a schizophrenic season. The Knights lost their first nine games, then came back to win their next eight, only to lose the last three and fall just short of making the Class 4A district playoffs.

Early season losses led to team dissension in the first part of the season.

During Bremerton's nine-game losing streak, the Knights shot an anemic 38 percent from the field and an even more embarrassing 37 percent from the free-throw line.

Those numbers changed to 65 percent from the charity stripe and 45 percent from the field during Bremerton's eight-game winning streak.

"We were in a lot of those games," Bremerton coach Casey Lindberg said, referring to the nine straight losses. "We weren't doing the little things it takes to win - making foul shots, playing defense, talking on defense - things like that. When you look back, when you shoot 6-for-20 from the foul line or 10-for-27, it's hard to win.

"I really didn't change a whole lot. But if you start making foul shots and you start doing the little things that it takes to win, you find yourself winning."

The Knights persevered through those rough times and managed to salvage a season that seemed spinning out of control, finishing 8-12.

Only four players return who logged major minutes last season. And the Knights lost the bulk of their scoring when cat-quick guards Lamont Doss (18 points per game) and Mike Crozier (12.4) graduated.

Like a chemist, Lindberg is confident he can concoct the right mixture of personality, talent and cohesiveness for the Knights to make another run at the Olympic League crown.

"The atmosphere is a lot different," Lindberg said. "The younger kids that we had last year, they saw what it was like, and they refuse to go back there.

"The kids that I have are leaders. They're leaders and they're intelligent in the fact that they know what they have to do to be successful. They know that they have to call out the screens. They know that they have to be in a certain spot at a certain time. They work on it, and they do it."

Leading Bremerton's charge will be Michael Stitt. The cerebral 5-foot-11 point guard is one of many talented Olympic League guards.

The unassuming junior averaged seven points, four assists and two steals a game last year in his first varsity action.

This season, Stitt expects to play with more confidence.

"I think I improved by watching the seniors. They all had a good work ethic," Stitt said. "That's something I could admire and watch. And also, I got experience, so I know I'm going to feel more comfortable out there."

Helping Stitt in the backcourt will be senior Marcus Mitchell. Mitchell played junior varsity as a sophomore, but didn't play last year. He gives the Knights another ballhandler and another quick defender to pressure opponents in the backcourt.

Adding depth to the backcourt are senior Garrett Tate and junior Joe Bollinger, who gives the Knights another physical defender.

Controlling the inside are 6-3 senior Sam Flemister and 6-4 junior Kellen Alley.

Flemister serves as the emotional compass for Bremerton and is the vocal leader for the young Knights, who return only four seniors.

Flemister only played in one game last season because of a torn meniscus in his left knee.

"This season, I'm focused and ready to go," Flemister said. "I need to take a leadership role because we got a couple kids who are sophomores, and they have to have somebody to look up to. ... In practice, I'm encouraging them and pinpointing little things they need to do to make the team better."

Alley missed the early part of last season with a broken collarbone and needed some time to get acclimated to the more physical high school play. This year, he has put on a little more bulk and should be a dominant big man in the Olympic League.

"Last year was a complete, 100 percent learning experience because the level and intensity from junior high to varsity basketball is a really big jump," Alley said. "So I think basically it prepared me because I know what to expect now. I've reversed roles. Instead of the person that's being taught, I'm going to be the person who's teaching the people that are younger than me."

Some of those younger players who will be learning from Flemister and Alley are 6-4 sophomores Noah Garguile and Ijohn Taylor, who along with senior Ken Justice, provide depth up front for Bremerton.

Lindberg expects this year's team to be more cohesive. For Bremerton to overcome league favorites North Kitsap and Sequim, Lindberg knows his Knights will have to play at a high level.

"I think that these guys have accepted their roles better (than last year's team)," Lindberg said. "Last year's guys were great athletes. These kids are good athletes, but I think they're more fundamentally sound. They understand the team concept. They understand they don't have to necessarily shoot the ball 20 times a game. They're more worried about what they have to do to help us win."

INSIDE

* North Kitsap is the early favorite in the Olympic League.

* A team-by-team glance at the 2000 season.