McKee, whose team went to state in 2002, says of this year's squad, “we have good team speed and are pretty unselfish. And we can shoot the ball pretty well.” But he also notes a lack of overall size as a major deficiency. “We’re not very big.”
6-0 John Ellingson and 6-2 Dustin Jones hit for 9 points each last year while fellow junior 5-11 Aaron Dickson averaged 8ppg.
“Aaron Dickson’s game has greatly improved,” McKee told us, adding “I don't know if he got out played all summer long and we faced some good point guards (Shorewood, Napavine, Bellingham, etc.).”
McKee has a 6-4 senior in Justin Wilcox to give him a little size but the Storm will have to rely on their quickness in getting up and down the court and may live and die by the outside shot.
“We won Central's team camp and we lost to Shorewood by four points in the championship game at Western's team camp,” McKee said of the Storm’s summer success.
As for how the Northwest League will shape up; “It will be alot like last year. Our league is very balanced. I would have to say Bellingham probably has the inside track, until someone proves differently.” McKee added “I thought Burlington had a great summer.”
McKee rightfully bragged up the league a bit too. “To my knowledge, the top two teams out of our district have placed at the state tournament for the past five years, if not further back. Last year, every team in the Northwest League was still in the playoff hunt going into the last game. Ferndale beat Bellingham twice, and didn't make the district tournament. I guess my point is that the Northwest League is a great league. There are no down nights. If you are fortunate enough to get through, you have a great chance to do something at the state tournament.”