‘It’s going to be a team-first mentality’

SOAP LAKE — After reaching the regional round of the 1B Boys State Basketball Tournament a season ago, the Soap Lake Eagles come into the 2024-25 season under new head coach Mingo Scott.

This is Scott’s first season at Soap Lake, having previously coached 14 seasons at Big Bend Community College. The first-year Eagle head coach said he aims to bring a fast-paced style of play, forcing opponents into making mistakes and capitalizing in transition. 

“We’ve got new offense, new defense, new press, new zone – just trying to get them acclimated to the system and getting guys in the right direction,” Scott said.  

The Eagles ended last season with an 18-7 overall record and, surged by a late-season seven-game winning streak, finished second in the Central Washington B league standings. Soap Lake reached the district championship game against MLCA/CCS but fell to the Lions. Despite the loss Soap Lake rallied to defeat Waterville-Mansfield and reach the state tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season. 

Soap Lake fell to Summit Classical Christian in the loser-out regional round. 

“(Former head coach Daniel) Simon did a really good job, and I had talked to him and he informed me on the guys coming back,” Scott said. “We’re just trying to continue that, hopefully make it back to the playoffs and see if we can make a push to state.” 

It won’t be a completely new team, as the Eagles return three starters from a season ago; seniors Ruvim Goloborodko, Jairo Lopez and Jesse Morales. However, Goloborodko and Lopez will both be out the first month of the season while they recover from injuries suffered during the football season. 

“The three guys that are coming back are going to play a huge role, so they’re going to take the bulk of the scoring, responsibility and leadership,” Scott said. “But, with two of those guys being out until Christmas, I think it’s a really good opportunity for the young guys to get in and get some minutes.” 

Scott said the Eagles will have a strong presence in the post this season with Morales and junior Abram Cox.  

“We have about three guys that fill that four or five role, which in B league, I think is pretty important – that you have 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5-inches guys,” he said. “You don’t usually get those in the (B classification). I think we’re going to be able to play inside and out.” 

Goloborodko received second-team all-league recognition last fall – however, the Eagles will be without Central Washington B MVP Trey Landdeck and Soap Lake’s all-time leading scorer Pavlo Stoyan, both of whom graduated last year. 

“Overall, we’ve got to get on the same page offensively and getting everybody playing together,” Scott said. “It’s going to be a team-first mentality; when you lose two guys that were the league MVP and a guy that was the all-time leading scorer for Soap Lake, we’re going to be doing this as a group.” 

With four starting roles to fill early in the season until Goloborodko and Lopez return, Scott said there is plenty of opportunity for younger players on the team to step into bigger roles this winter. 

“Hopefully, by the time we get into playing games, we’ll see who’s going to step into those roles,” Scott said. “Right now, it’s wide open, and I’m going to using these practices as an opportunity to see who’s going to be able to step in and fill those roles.” 

Soap Lake opens the 2024-25 season at home against Republic on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. 

    Soap Lake senior Jairo Lopez, right, attempts a three-pointer during the 2023-24 season.
  

    Soap Lake senior Jesse Morales (15) blocks a shot during the Central Washington B district championship game in Wenatchee. The Eagles finished second in both league and districts last season, qualifying for the 1B Boys State Basketball Tournament.
  

    Soap Lake’s Trey Landdeck (3) attempts a three-pointer during a game last season. Landdeck was the Central Washington B league MVP last season and one of two Eagles who graduated in June. The Eagles also lost all-time leading scorer Pavlo Stoyan.