Tough Loss in Season Opener

FHHS Boys Take One on the Chin in Season Opener

Mike Martin, the “Voice of the Wolverines” sends this report in:

The Friday Harbor Wolverines opened up their basketball season with a tough non-conference road loss to the Burlington-Edison Tigers, 60-37. Burlington’s pressure defense made it tough for Wolverine shooters all night long. Every pass was tipped, every shot was contested and every rebound was a battle.

“Their pressure caught us off guard a bit,” said senior guard, Donald Galt. “But we learned a lot from this game: we have to push ourselves even harder every day in practice.”

There were no excuses to be found from any of the players. “We look at it like this: This is our first game – they played at a faster pace and they were a bigger school but this was a learning experience and we know what that we can grow to take our game to the next level,” Galt said.

“I think it was good to play against pressure like that. We don’t see teams with that many defensive and offensive weapons everyday”, said senior center, Collin Williamson. “We got our first-game jitters out, and we’re going to move on and focus on the next one.”

The starters for FHHS fought to keep it a close game early trailing by four 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. “I was pleased with our effort but it’s still disappointing that their pressure got to us so much,” said Coach Rod Turnbull.

Junior guard, C.J. Woods, who led all Wolverines in scoring with 19, kept it close with a couple three pointers and 3-point plays. But with few open shots it was difficult to have any offensive rhythm.

Another tough match-up was for the Wolverines were Burlington’s two post players, 6’-4”, 280 Jeremy Canniff and 6’-7”, 215, Austin Von Herbulis. But, again, no excuses from the Wolverines. Sophomore forward, Gabe Lawson said, “Their big guys were just like playing against my big brother, Parker (6’4”, 280 as well). He and I would mix it up at home so that experience helped me tonight.”

But just like the gridiron Wolverines they never once stopped working hard. They began to chip away at Tigers’ big lead and pulled within 19 a couple of times late in the game.

“We know that our defense will create offense,” Woods said. Trouble is the Tigers pressured the Friday Harbor into turnovers and easy transitions points throughout the game.

When there were no easy buckets down low for Burlington, they kicked the ball out to their 3-point marksman Daron Browning who led all scorers with 21 points on 5-11 shooting from beyond the arch.

But in the end Burlington’s defense was the difference in the game. “Although this was our first game and we got beat pretty badly we’re all still excited to be back on the court. We all feel this will be a special season for Friday Harbor basketball when all is said and done,” Woods said. “We know who we are and what we’re capable of.”

The Wolverines boy’s next game is this Saturday at South Whidbey High School at 1 PM.

The Wolverines girls varsity’s first game of the season is at 1:30 PM. Look for the Girl’s Season Preview on Friday.

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