Run 'n' gun style part of Warden basketball's identity
In certain circles, they call it rezball. Some call it streetball. Whatever you want to call that transition-based game that forces tempo and turns loose the gunners on the perimeter, it’s as much a part of Warden basketball as the air they breath.
The No. 7 Cougars (17-6) made their historic run by letting it fly from beyond the arc and running the floor and that’s not about to change on Saturday when they take on No. 2 Lynden Christian (18-5) in the regional round of the 1A state tournament at Mount Vernon High School.
Senior J.R. Delgado set the school 3-point shooting record earlier this year, eclipsing the old mark of 68. The 6-foot-3 small forward goes into Saturday’s game with 82 baskets from 3-point range, averaging 24.3 points per contest.
Warden is shooting 31 percent from downtown. Senior Adam Richins has 50 3-pointers going in and sophomore Martin Arriaga has 35 coming in off the bench, for the team that's shooting 48 percent from the floor.
“We’ve developed a certain personality. We gamble a little bit. We take some chances. We play with emotion and that’s who we are,” Cougar coach Wes Richins said. “A lot of people think we shoot too many 3s or play reckless. But my job as a coach is to have them play with that personality to the best of their ability.”
The Cougars will advance to the 1A state Hardwood Classic at the Yakima Valley SunDome for the first time in program history no matter what. If they win, they draw a first-round bye and play in the 9 p.m. game on March 2. If they lose, they will have a first-round game at 5:30 p.m. on March 1.
“It’s always better when we’re balanced in scoring. What I liked about the (SCAC District winner-to-state) game is that we had a couple of kids nine (points), two with 13 and of course the 18 and 19. That’s almost five guys in double figures,” Richins said. “If we’re sharing and distributing the ball, then we’re pretty tough.
“Lynden will want to slow it down and methodically jam it down our throats. If we can get them out running a little bit, we give ourselves a chance."
Lynden Christian will have the size advantage with 6-5 shooting guard Colson Bajema and 6-7 forward Cristian Colwell, both of which are sophomores. They also have 6-4 point guard Grant Rubbert and George De Jong, a 6-6 forward.
So it is imperative for the Cougars, who have seven seniors, to play stand-up defense and get the perimeter game revved up.
“I also set up the defense to fit our personality. It’s a little unorthodox, but it’s a modified 2-3 (zone). We play length, which means we rotate a little differently than a traditional style,” Richins said. “We’re going to have to really concentrate and rebound.”
Delgado, who was named by the WIAA staff as athlete of the week for his 32-point effort against Granger in the first round of districts and a 33-point night against Zillah, is Warden’s leading scorer with 24.3. Adam Richins goes into the tournament averaging 15.6. Senior Tanner Scone adds nine a night and Arriaga is giving them 10 points coming off the bench. It will take all the firepower they have, said Richins, whose team is averaging 66.2 points a game.
The Cougars are about to venture into uncharted territory, but they’ll make the historic journey together.
“The thing I like the most is that they’re good friends. They were football buddies together and now they’re basketball buddies,” Richins said. “That’s rewarding as a parent and as a coach.”