Eagles take wing with junior starters

With experience comes confidence, and West Valley’s Greg Bradley is a case in point.

Bradley plays a vital role for the Eagles (20-3), who are playing tonight in the State 3A tournament in Tacoma.

He’s one of five junior starters, making it something of a surprise that WV is in state so soon.

“I wouldn’t say it was expected, but we wanted it,” Bradley said. “We’ll be good next year, why not be good this year? We were confident, but didn’t think we’d do as well as we have.”

When the Eagles open the tournament at 7 against White River, they’ll be making their fourth state trip in seven years.

The reason is that those five juniors, Bradley included, gained valuable varsity experience last year as sophomores.

Bradley, point guard Arton Toussaint and fellow perimeter player Danny McIntyre were all members of last year’s team. So, too, were this year’s leading Eagles scorers, posts Tyler Hobbs and E.J. Richardson.

“It was nice to have seniors to look up to and play with,” Bradley said. “They helped us through the hard times maybe we weren’t ready for.”

All are a year older, bigger and stronger and, said coach Jamie Nilles, have accepted and refined the roles laid out for them.

“We’re at a point now where guys are filling holes and making plays,” Nilles said. “Everyone is stepping up when they need to.”

Bradley, Nilles said, does a lot of little things for WV. He’s the team’s best defender, a clutch 3-point shooter, an excellent rebounder, and 3 inches taller (6-foot-2) and 15-20 pounds heavier than last year.

“He’s the best rebounding guard we’ve had and in some games is our best rebounder, period,” said Nilles.

Most of his life, Bradley has been a perimeter player. But as he’s matured, he said, his game has broadened.

Nilles called him versatile, someone who is in the front of WV’s full-court press when the Eagles want to play fast. But if they have to grind it out in the half court, he’s patient and the team’s best 3-point shooter and post passer.

“With more experience, you become more confident,” Bradley said. “I normally guard the best player on the other team and try to stop what he’s doing. I try to score, but rebound, too.”

Beyond the tangibles, Bradley is a team player, Nilles said.

“I really like team guys and he embodies that,” Nilles said.

Early this season, WV’s coaches had questions about the ability of a team so young to accomplish what it has. The players were plenty athletic, simply young and still learning.

“We worried about our basketball IQ,” Nilles explained. “Obviously, being a young team, they’re still figuring out how to play smart, but they always give it their all.”

As it turned out, their all made them better than maybe even the coaches expected.

WV tied for second in the Greater Spokane League. Hobbs, at 6-4, averaged 15.7 points per game scoring both inside and out. At 6-6, Richardson has proved that when he stays balanced he can be dominant around the basket. He averaged 13.8 per game.

Bradley and the electric Toussaint, whose quickness drives WV’s transition game, both scored in excess of nine points a contest.

The Eagles won district and swept last weekend’s 3A regional, beating highly regarded Hanford for the championship. A fan who attended previous WV state appearances, Bradley will be playing in it for the first time, along with his teammates, as a result.

“Sometimes, as coaches, you think you’re not as good as you are,” said Nilles. “You think other teams are a lot better than you and maybe you underestimate your own team. On the flip side, our kids believe they can beat anybody in state.”