Rachel Staudacher and Victor Sviridyuk are cranking things up for Cedar Park Christian basketball so far this season. They’re scorching nets in every gym they’ve played in, and the Eagles are racking up wins along the way.
At press time, sharpshooter Staudacher, a junior, was averaging 22.5 points in the girls’ first four games, including 28 and 27, respectively, in wins against Granite Falls (54-39) and Bush (47-40). Senior Sviridyuk knocked down an average of 17.5 points in four games, including 24 in a 67-46 win over Overlake last week.
Heading into Wednesday’s games, after the Reporter’s deadline, the girls were 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the 1A Emerald City League, while the boys were 3-1 overall and 2-1 in league. New girls coach Alan Dickson noted that maxpreps.com has ranked his team No. 2 in the 1A state division.
Staudacher leads the way
Staudacher leads a crew of 10 returners hoping to make a return trip to the state tournament. Last year, the Eagles finished 15-9 and made it back to state after a six-year absence.
Dickson, who coached his Monroe High teams to 4A third-, fifth- and two seventh-place finishes, feels the team is “meshing together real well and is growing together” with its combination of a fast-break offense and pressure defense.
“The offense is shooting at a really good clip,” said Dickson, noting that seniors Erin Halvorson (17 points in a 52-35 win against Sultan) and Mikaela Raschick (averaging nine points, six assists, six rebounds and five steals a game) have put up some good numbers along with junior Brie Boroughs (nine points, 10 rebounds a game). Other standouts are juniors Morgan Milner and Tyanna Fouts and freshmen Madison Parmenter, Laura Goodnight and Mikayla Massad.
Highlights so far have been watching Staudacher and Raschick ignite the fast break, Dickson says, and Halvorson get her hands all over the ball on offense and defense.
On Staudacher, Dickson notes that “she can dominate a game, not just with scoring, but with all aspects.” She’s also averaging nine assists, eight rebounds and six steals per game.
The Eagles will travel to Forest Ridge for a 7:30 p.m. game Friday.
‘Team play’ for boys
With eight returning varsity players — including second-team all-leaguer Sviridyuk — coach Adam Lynch feels the Eagles “have the potential to surpass last year’s finish and are off to a solid start in 2010.”
Cedar Park finished the regular season tied for second place in league last year, notching a 15-10 overall record and a trip to the tri-district tournament.
Also making an impact this year are 6-foot-3 sophomore forward Evan Scholten with an average of 8.75 points per game and junior guards Russell Bettinger and Scottie Lin (9.5). Rounding out the starting lineup is 6-3 senior center Derek Gutheil.
“The strength of our program is our emphasis on ‘team play,’ Lynch said. “We run a Princeton half-court offense with an emphasis on sharing the ball and taking what the defense gives. Defensively, we play a combination of a matchup zone and man-to-man and expect our kids to compete hard every night for the benefit of the team.”
The Eagles will host Seattle Christian at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and then will travel to Oakland, Calif., Dec. 28-30 for the Roundball Classic at Head-Royce School.
