Hawks excited about potential

HOUSTON — New coaches. New talent. New conference.

Just about the only thing that didn’t change for the Houston Hawks boys basketball team during the offseason was the school colors.

“It’s a fresh start,” first-year head coach Steve Henderson said recently.

Henderson, who replaced former head coach Dave Porter during the offseason, after a successful tenure coaching in arguably the toughest high school basketball conference in his home state of Washington. His new position at Houston High will include leading a new group of Hawks back to its new home in the 3A Southcentral Conference. Houston dropped from the 4A Mid-Alaska Conference following the 2011-12 season.

Henderson said he’s pleased with his core of talent — which includes athletes such as Nai Saichao, Matt Barron and Samuel Brandt — and sees potential in the Hawks. Henderson, a native of Spokane, Wash., has adjusted to new life in Alaska. Before coming to Houston, Henderson served as head boys’ basketball coach at Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge Island, Wash. His team competed in the Seattle-area Metro League Sound Division, widely considered as the premier high school basketball league in the state.

“It’s the best league in Washington. Plenty of (Division I) kids have come out of it,” Henderson said.

During his first year with the program, Henderson helped lead his team to a co-Metro League Sound Division title. His team advanced to the district playoffs twice in three years, and he was named the All-Kitsap Count Coach of the Year in 2009.

Henderson had become accustomed to working within and against with student body populations north of 1,400 students, compared to Houston’s 400-plus kids.

“It’s night and day,” Henderson said. “I had almost 40 kids in my program. Now I have 22. It’s a lot different.”

Henderson is adjusting to changes such as working the junior varsity and varsity players on the same court at the same time.

“We never had to practice varsity and JV at the same time. We had three distinct teams,” Henderson said. “Here we have one court for three teams.”

But the changes aren’t necessarily bad. Even though he’s working with a different type of player, he said he’s enjoying working with his newfound talent. He’s coaching more multi-sport athletes than in the past, Henderson said, which he likes. In Washington, athletes are playing basketball 11-12 months per year, he said.

But at Houston, Henderson is taking advantage of the abilities of athletes who excel in other sports, such as football and baseball.

“The kids work ethic level is phenomenal,” Henderson said of the Hawks. “I couldn’t be more proud of how they work. They’re willing to work, willing to get better.”

Multi-sport athletes such as Saechao, Barron and Charlie Buzby are expected to be among the leaders on the Houston squad this season. Henderson said high-energy play on both sides of the floor will be key to success this season.

That energy was seen during Houston’s recent 79-77 double-overtime win over Hutchison.

The Hawks have been without Saechao, the team’s starting point guard, since the opening week of the regular season. Henderson is looking forward to the return of Saechao, but praised the success of Mitchell Ruta in Saechao’s absence. Lane Taylor and Jace Taylor have both seem ample court time for the Hawks, and Samuel Brandt has been a big addition to the program, Henderson said.

Another new addition to Houston High is expected to give a boost to the girls program. Senior Dajonee Hale, who has enjoyed past success in the Anchorage area, joined the team prior to the 2012-13 and has provided an instant impact.

“She is definitely a special kind of player,” head coach Pat Egelus said of the guard, who scored 33 points during her Hawks debut, a 65-39 win over Cordova in December.

Egelus said Hale is a great point guard, with good vision. She can obviously score, but passing is her biggest asset, Egelus said.

Hale started the season as a surprise, but Egelus said the secret is now out. She scored 11 and 13 points respectively in her next two games, but Egelus said as Hale adjusts to getting much, much more attention from opposing defenses, she will continue to score.

Hale will also help fill the void left by the graduation of former Houston standout Savanna James.

Hale joins a core of talent Egelus is excited about.

Savannah Wells was one of the most improved players last year. After returning to the court after time away from basketball, Wells started on C-team last year. But was starting at the varsity level by the region tourney. Wells scored 16 points during a recent loss to Delta.

Wells is also a captain this year.

One of Houston’s top rebounders will be Victoria Baybado, Egelus said. The addition to Hale allows Houston to use Baybado inside more, which will strengthen the team.

Egelus also noted freshman Kimberly Quincy, a post player.

“She’s not really big, but she handles herself around the net really well,” Egelus said.

Both the Houston programs head to Nikiski this weekend to compete in the Nikiski Tip-Off. For more prep basketball previews, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman.