"Another Blog on the Fire"
Michael Dashiell
Contact Mike at miked@sequimgazette.com
Michael Dashiell (that's me) is editor of the Sequim Gazette. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Western Washington University, has worked at the Sequim Gazette for about 10 years and enjoys writing — occasionally. He and his wife Patsene live in Sequim; their two daughters are in college. He will write about anything, but particularly enjoys sports, arts, breaking news and news-of-the-weird. He also enjoys writing about himself in the third person.

Basketball fans. Hey. Wake up.

 

Yes, your precious NBA is looking more and more like an season of “Jersey Shore” than an actual professional league, but there is help.

 

College hoops is upon us, and high school hoops is right around the corner.

 

Sequim fans are in for a treat this winter, as both teams look to have good prospects.

 

The Sequim girls increased their win total from zero in 2009-2010 to 11 last season. They see nearly each piece of their nucleus return this season with a strong junior and sophomore class and a monstrous freshman class.

 

Coach Stephanie Lewis says she saw 31 players turn out and, with only 22 jerseys, she and fellow coaches are making cuts (or finalized them last night).

 

The Wolves will miss do-everything Lea Hopson but see burgeoning stars Taylor Balkan, Haleigh Harrison and Alexas Besand back on the court.

 

Meanwhile, Sequim’s boys look like a real sleeper in this league. After finishing 11-5 in Olympic League play and 16-10 overall, the Wolves return a number of key players — Corbin Webb, Gabe Carter, Jayson Brocklesby, Evan Hill, Tim Guan — and have a bunch of new additions that will boost them in 2011, including Frank Catelli (yes, the football league co-MVP who took last year’s hardcourt season off) freshmen Josh McConnaughey and Alex Barry and loads more. They help make up for the graduation losses of Nick Camporini and Kenny Meier.

 

The boys kick off their season Nov. 30 at home against Bainbridge (JV and C teams at 5:15 p.m., varsity at 7 p.m.) while the girls are at Forks the same night. The girls’ first home game is Dec. 9 versus North Mason.

 

Look for previews of both teams in the Nov. 30 edition of the Sequim Gazette.