Skyline's Boys Basketball: Hoping to Transfer Success from Gridiron to Hardwood

Team:  Spartans

League: 4A KingCo - Crest

Coach: Jonathan Davis (Fourth Season)

Key Returners:Will Parker, 5-11 junior, G; Kasen Williams, 6-4 senior G/F; Lucas Shannon, 6-7 junior, F; Bryan Cikatz, 6-6 junior, F

Impact Newcomers: Max Browne, 6-5 sophomore, G/F; Mason Gregory, 6-5 junior, F

A Look Back: The Spartans basketball team made it to the state tournament for the second time in school history (first since moving to 4A) last season, finishing in eighth place.

Skyline went down by two points to Jackson in the first round before knocking off Davis and Stanwood on consecutive days.

Eastern Washington powerhouse Mead (Spokane) knocked the Spartans off by a count of 49-39 in their fourth game in as many days, ending Skyline's outstanding season, which included a 4A KingCo Championship.

2010-11 Outlook: The addition of Kasen Williams, Jordan Simone and a few other Skyline football players to the fold after their title game appearance has added to the depth of Coach Davis' team.

Skyline is off to a 3-1 start, with an impressive win over Glacier Peak and league contests against Newport and Woodinville before two non-league contests to end 2010.

Coach Davis was adamant that he and his team never look at the long-term goals during the year.

"We talk about getting better every day and winning the next game on our schedule. That's it," Davis insisted.

That focus also applies to the way the Spartans defend.

Davis has instilled the belief in his team that even on nights when they may be shooting poorly or struggling on the offensive end, they can always play excellent defense.

"Defense is our constant.  We truly believe it wins games," the coach said.

That has proven true early in the season, with Skyline holding all four of their opponents under 50 points.

Top Tickets: Ballard, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 4; Issaquah, 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7; Eastlake, 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4.