KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic
YVCC's Anthony Johnson looks to make a pass against Edmonds Community College during a game last year.
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Like most junior college men's basketball teams, last season's Yakima Valley Yaks could shoot. Like most NWAACC units, YVCC could score.
But to the Yaks' detriment, not to mention the enduring consternation of their coach, they did not defend well.
Hence they gave up more points than they scored, lost more games than they won and committed Ray Funk to the prospect of fielding a radically different team this year.
"We're not going to be holding teams to 55 points a game," the third-year YVCC coach said. "On the other hand, we're hoping to do a better job of at least slowing teams down this season."
To that end, Funk has recruited players with both the ability and desire to defend, with Davis' Nico Sandoval among the more prominent newcomers.
Quick, strong and tough, the 5-foot-10 Sandoval figures to dramatically upgrade YVCC's play at point guard, another sore spot last season.
Several other standout freshmen, a few promising transfers and one blue-chip veteran figure to give the Yaks a solid shot at improving on last winter's 13-15 record and perhaps qualifying for the NWAACC Tournament.
"This is a team," Funk said, "that if things go well, there's no reason why we're not in the hunt."
One reason they should be is Sandoval, who will team with 6-0 sophomore Jordan Sutton of Spanaway's Bethel High in the backcourt. Another is Anthony Johnson, a 6-3 sophomore from Tacoma's Stadium High who blossomed during the second half of last season and can excel at either the shooting guard or small forward positions.
Mario Allen, a 6-4 freshman from Kent-Meridian, probably will start at another forward spot with Spencer Adams, a 6-6 freshman from Chicago, filling out the first five.
"Spencer's probably about 250 (pounds)," Funk said. "He has a nice skill set, can shoot it and handle it, and he has a nice frame to post up. Because he's always played against teams with 7-footers and 6-10 guys, he's played more on the perimeter. But he's capable of learning the inside game."
Sandoval and Sutton are both point guards, Funk said, but will often play together. It was initially believed that Sandoval would also team with Eisenhower product Nate Gipson, but Funk said Gipson has left the team. Tyler Bollman, meanwhile, has transferred to Walla Walla.
There nonetheless appears to be the prospect of depth, however, in the persons of 6-4 Jody Johnson and 5-10 Tabid Mohamed, both from Seattle's Franklin High, 6-6 Spencer Adams and 6-5 LeMar Anglin, both from Chicago, 6-3 Trent Spellman from O'Dea, 6-6 Ben Wilson from Bremerton, 6-4 D.J. Whitsett from Kent-Meridian and 6-3 Jason Russo from Adelaide, Australia.
Jody Johnson was especially impressive in the first of two victories last weekend, Funk said.
Anglin and Spellman redshirted last season.
"We're excited about our players and our team," Funk said. "We tried to put an emphasis on defensive versatility, where guys can play multiple positions, and on athleticism. Those were two areas where we were lacking last year.
"Now it's just a matter of how we gel."
YAKIMA VALLEY MEN
2007-08 roster
Marcus Shannon, f, 6-3, fr., San Diego; Jody Johnson, f, 6-4, fr., Franklin HS (Seattle); Jordan Sutton, g, 6-0, so., Bethel HS (Spanaway); Trent Spellman, f, 6-3, fr., O'Dea HS (Seattle); Nico Sandoval, g, 5-10, fr., Davis HS; Anthony Johnson, g, 6-3, Stadium HS (Tacoma); Tabid Mohamed, g, 5-10, fr., Franklin HS (Seattle); Mario Allen, f, 6-4, fr., Kent-Meridian HS; Spencer Adams, f, 6-6, Chicago; Ben Wilson, f, 6-6, Bremerton HS; D.J. Whitsett, f, 6-4, fr., Kent-Meridian HS; LeMar Anglin, f, 6-5, fr., Chicago; Jason Russo, f, 6-3, fr., Adelaide, Australia.
Projected starters: Sutton, Sandoval, A. Johnson, Allen and Adams.
2007-08 schedule
November -- 24-25, LCC Thanksgiving Tourney, Longview; 30, at Centralia.
December -- 1, at South Puget Sound; 8, &Clark; 14-16, at Shoreline Crossover Tournament; 18, $Tacoma; 28, at Bellevue; 29, at Edmonds.
January -- 5, *at Wenatchee Valley; 9, *%Big Bend; 12, *at Spokane; 16, *%Walla Walla; 19, *at Columbia Basin; 25, *%Blue Mountain; 26, *#Treasure Valley; 30, *%Wenatchee Valley.
February -- 2, *at Big Bend; 6, *at Walla Walla; 9, *#Columbia Basin; 15, *at Treasure Valley; 16, *at Blue Mountain; 20, *%Spokane; 23, 4th-place playoff (if necessary); 28-March 2, NWAACC Tournament, Kennewick.
* -- Eastern Region game
& -- 3 p.m., # -- 4 p.m., $ -- 6 p.m., % -- 8 p.m.
