Strong together: Mount Si varsity boys basketball team reloads with speed, intensity

The Mount Si boys basketball team starts their season strong with height, speed and intensity. The team reloads with three seniors, Beau Shain, Jack Nelson and Tyler McCreadie out in front. Nelson brings intensity and a rain of shots, Shain is a vocal presence on the court, while McCreadie brings his six-foot-nine post's frame into the mix for rebounds as well as points.

The Mount Si boys basketball team starts their season strong with height, speed and intensity. The team reloads with three seniors, Beau Shain, Jack Nelson and Tyler McCreadie out in front.

Nelson brings intensity and a rain of shots, Shain is a vocal presence on the court, while McCreadie brings his six-foot-nine post’s frame into the mix for rebounds as well as points.

Parker Dumas is a sophomore with good hands who saw play last year. Sophomore Isaac Benedict is a newcomer to varsity who’s looking to round out the starting five.

This is the Wildcats’ first season under new coach Kyle Clearman, and the boys say they’re liking his approach. At practices, Clearman shows his passion, mixing it up with the squad a lot.

This squad seems to have good chemistry. The seniors say there’s no one standout player, just a lot of equality.

Look for the Wildcat boys to be fast and athletic: “We want to get up and down” the court, says senior Jack Nelson.

The goal from here is “win every game, one at a time,” says Nelson. Longterm, it’s KingCo, then state.” It’s so far, so good, with a 70-62 win on the road at Gig Harbor last week.

They’ll meet their longterm goal by getting their offense into a strong flow. Younger teammates, McCreadie says, are playing well, and should “follow in Parker’s footsteps, and Isaac’s.”

Follow the boys team at  http://www.mtsiwildcats.com/

Mount Si boys basketball upcoming games

Friday, Dec. 13

Mount Si at Lake Wash., 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14

• Mount Si hosts Mercer Island, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

• Mount Si at Interlake, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20

• Mount Si at Liberty, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21

• Mount Si at Cedarcrest, 6:45 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 2

• Mount Si hosts De La Salle, 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 3

• Mount Si hosts the visiting Australian touring team, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 7

• Mount Si hosts Juanita, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 10

• Mount Si hosts Sammamish, 8 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 17

• Mount Si hosts Lake Washington, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 21

• Mount Si at Mercer Island, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 24

• Mount Si hosts Liberty, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28

• Mount Si hosts Intearlake, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31

• Mount Si at Juanita, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 4

• Mount Si at Sammamish, 7:30 p.m.