First games in the book

for Men's Fall League (Div. II)

by Mark Butcher

Sports Writer

McClouds, the defending Spring 2018 Post-Season Tournament champions, did not start off the opening night of the Fall 2018 Park & Rec Men’s Fall League (Div. II) on a positive note. Drew Vettleson scored a game-high 20 points and brother Jerry Vettleson added an additional 11 points along with Tyler Baumgartner also dropping double-digit points (10) but McClouds lost, 75-to-59, to All-State in Wednesday’s (Oct. 11th) 6:00 p.m. opener.

All-State’s Ulysses Williams IV matched D. Vettleson’s game-high 20-points and brothers Nathan (18) and Jeffrey Perry (15) outscored McClouds’ two decimal scorers to ease All-State to the 16-point opening win. All eight All-State players contributed to the win with at least one field goal.

At the half, All-State lead by six, 32-to-26, and extended their lead in the second twenty-two- minute stanza by outscored McClouds 43-to-33. But from long-range, D. Vettleson had the best touch on the night for either team, converting a total of six three-point shots, four in the first half and an addition two in the second period.

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In the second contest, at 7:05 p.m. in the Sheridan Park gym, Casey’s Bail Bonds, returning after a Winter and Spring Men’s League absence, sprinted to a 13-point halftime lead, 39-to-26, and looked to be in control of the game. But the scoring of Casey’s veteran players – Antrel Madison, Dontrel Madison, and Frank Mopins - fell off in the second half and the team only put 19 points into the scorebook.

On the other end of the court, the Honey Badgers, led by Mykhael Hayes and Dez Johnson, played a consistent game, scoring 26-points in both halves. Together, Hayes and Johnson accounted for 40 of Honey Badgers 52 total points, behind six three-point baskets. But their dual 20-point game performances and the team’s strong second half comeback was not enough to steal the victory away from Casey’s.

In the end, it was Justin Wells’ game/night-high of 24 points that permitted the Casey’s Bail Co. players to leave the gym with a 58-to-52 opening night win. Seven of Wells’ 24 points came at the free throw line.

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The team to watch in the Men’s Parks & Rec Men’s Fall League (Div. II) is Boat Shed. Newly formed, the core of the team – Atyus Smith, Teni Vaoifi, and Trevor Herring – are Bremerton High alumni who took the last Knight team to the West Central District Tournament. Three years removed from the high school basketball floor, these players haven’t lost a step and helped Boat Shed cruise to a 71-to-42 victory over Sound Life Church, also a new Fall League entry.

Smith led the team with a game-high 21 points, on four successful field goals, four three-pointers, and a free throw. Vaoifi followed with five long-range baskets for 15 points and Herring was the other double-digit Boat Shed scorer with 10. At half, Boat Shed led 37-to-24.

Ironically, it was another Bremerton alumni, Danny Broussard, a 2013 graduate, who led Sound Life Church with 13 points Wednesday night. Without additional double-digit scorers, South Life was no match for Boat Shed.

But, that does not mean Sound Life Church should roll up the carpet and go home. Every team that steps into play in a Bremerton Parks & Rec Men’s League experiences culture shock the first time. Adult sneakers have been squeaking on the Sheridan Park Gym floor for almost eight decades, since 1941. The competition is much tougher than it appears from the sidelines as a spectator. The story worth following this fall while be how Sound Life adapts to the new experience.

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