Crawford’s team excited fans at state with their up-tempo, get out and run, run, and run some more style of play. And their candy-striped warm-up pants, ala the University of Indiana, also drew rave reviews.
“We were very pleased with how our season ended last year,” Crawford reflected. “We had been building for that the last three years. Our challenge will be to keep the momentum and have the same success this year. We are looking forward to the start of the season.”
6-1 senior guard Tim Sellereit averaged 15 points with 4 assists a year ago and will lead this senior-laden squad once again. Fellow senior Brandon Foote, a 6-3 forward/post also scored in double figures at 10ppg while grabbing 7 boards per contest. And 6-1 senior guard Azubo Bearden averaged 8ppg with 3 assists and 3 steals per game as a junior.
Three more seniors, 6-4 Tony Hillaire, 6-4 Dane Graham and 6-3 Josh Fish all saw varsity minutes last year and will be counted on to fill the sizable shoes of graduated Toby Seim and Tim Ireland.
Crawford sees his team’s strengths as their experience, hard work and transition, defense. He also notes a lack of size and depth off the bench as possible weaknesses.
Crawford said of the Raider’s off-season work, “we had a good summer with good development. We won the Gonzaga team camp tourney the last week in July.”
And for how the coach foresees the Northwest League, the optimistic Crawford told us, “we should be in there with Burlington and Ferndale. We have three new coaches in the league at Anacortes, Sehome and Sedro-Woolley. It could be very interesting.”
We also asked Crawford who he thought might be the main contenders for the state championship. “I’d have to go with Rainier Beach, and O'Dea from the West side...West Valley on the East side.”