Men’s Basketball Outlook

by Ben Cripps

Horizon Reporter

 The Whatcom Community College men’s Orcas have jumped to a 2-1 start, beating Lane Community College (Eugene, Or.) 96-83, and Shoreline Community College 118-109 in the Pierce College Turkey Tournament, which was held November 25 through the 27 in Puyallup, Wash. The Orcas took second-place to Bellevue College losing 85-77.
           The “three starting guards are extremely competitive,” said men’s head basketball coach Chris Scrimsher. The three point guards, Pat Voeut, Evan Coulter and Derek Dickerson have a high amount of skill and should be tops in the league, he added.
            The starting five is rounded off by standout, 6-foot-3 inch forward Will Perry, and an exceptional 6-foot-6 inch power forward, Marcus Bagnerise. The Orcas are very talented on offense, but Scrimsher drives-home the importance of having a defense-minded team. The goal is to hold opponents to 70 total points or a less a game, he said.
            However, the Orcas are a young squad this year, said Scrimsher, and it will take preparation before the January 4 conference opener to meet their goals.
            Peninsula College of Port Angeles and Bellevue College are by far the toughest (conference, and overall) opponents the Orcas will face this year, Scrimsher added.
            Scrimsher describes his team as “exciting and high paced.” They are “high-scoring and a pretty fun group to watch,” he said.
            Scrimsher said that the team would love the support of the student body and encourages students to come out and watch their Orcas compete.
            The men play at home against Centralia Community College, at the Pavilion, on Saturday, Dec. 3; South Puget Sound Community College on Saturday, Dec. 12; The Washington Rampage, a newly formed minor league team affiliated with the American Basketball Association on Friday, Dec. 30; the Orcas tip-off league play against Everett Community College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4.