Waldport’s Eric Nyhus works a pass around teammate Dalton Brown during a drill at a recent Irish basketball practice. (Photo by Jake Schubert)

For the Waldport boys’ basketball team to experience success this season, a number of younger players must step up to help out seniors Adam Clark and Eric Nyhus, along with juniors Chris Fisher and Travis Bales.

The Irish lost six players to graduation - Axel McQuaw, Perry Moore, Aaron Bales, Alex Weron, Ben Wilkinson, and Riley Prest - and two underclassmen (Tyler Barnes and Jeremy Gibb) who transferred from a team that finished 7-16 overall, 3-11 in the PacWest Conference last season.

Clark played a lot of varsity minutes last season.

“The best part of Adam’s game is he has about a 15-foot jumper, and he’s sneaky,” Waldport Coach Mick Bittick said. “He’s able to get inside and get the boards. He gets to the line quite a bit, which is a plus, because his free throw shooting has really improved. He won’t back down from bigger players. He has gone against Axel and (former Irish player) Justin Grisham in practice, which has helped him.”

Nyhus had some court time at the varsity level last season, but not much. Bittick said he committed to the weight room, and has put on 20 pounds of muscle since last season.

“If he had that 20 pounds last year, he would have been fighting for a starting position,” Bittick said.

Nyhus, one of the team’s better ball handlers, looks to be the point guard right now. The coach said he is also one of the better shooters on the team, and has good range.

Fisher has a good 12-to-15 foot jumper, and Bittick said he is “probably, physically, the strongest kid” on the team. “His range will allow the team to spread the court better.”

Bales is a good hustle player who may score some, but he is more apt to “do the little things,” the coach noted.

Sophomore Willis Mullen could get significant time at shooting guard or small forward. Bittick said Mullen figures to be an integral part of Waldport’s full-court press.

Bittick is also looking for senior JD Montanez or a few freshmen to step up - possibly Tyler Johnson, T.J. Fisher, or Dalton Brown.

“We’ll see who else develops,” Bittick said.

Waldport starts the season with a JV game at Eddyville Monday, Nov. 30, and the varsity gets in the mix Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Coquille.



Jake Schubert is the sports reporter for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 221, or sports@newportnewstimes.com.



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