Medical Lake All-NEA Winter

Boys Basketball:

Medical Lake landed two players, Nick Mason and Jordan Petersen on the First-Team All Northeast A League squad.

“These two players helped shift a culture for Medical Lake Basketball,” head coach Jordan Starr wrote in an email. “They competed each practice and were great leaders for their peers.”

The two seniors set the bar high for Medical Lake basketball moving forward, Starr said. He offered additional thoughts on these two program leaders.

Nick Mason: “Nick Mason is a very skilled basketball player that developed into a hard-working leader,” Starr said. “He improved so much from his junior to senior year with hard work and dedication.”

Mason is a guy younger kids in the program can look up to and be inspired. “He spent a lot of time working on his game early mornings, and working in the weight room,” Starr said.

“It was no mistake he was a top player in the league, he worked hard to become that. He had huge moments for us in games and did everything on the court,”

Mason was the total package, Starr pointed out. “He defended, rebounded, blocked shots, and was a top scorer in the league.”

Jordan Petersen: “Jordan is the best two way player I have coached. He had awesome offensive games where he would have 30 points and assists, but the most impressive thing about him was his defense. We put Jordan on our opponents’ best player every game, and he would be disruptive and take them out of ball games.”

Starr added, ”He (Petersen) has a huge impact on Medical Lake basketball because he is such a competitor. He played an entire month severely ill, where most kids would not be coming to school, Jordan was still practicing and gutting out great performances.”

Girls Basketball:

Jaycee Oliver had a really good senior year, her coach Kyle Lundberg wrote in an email. “She averaged eight points per game, but she was able to do so much more for us,” he said. “Her ability to understand and see the entire floor really enabled her to execute our offense.”

Oliver’s defense was solid also, she was able to defend against guards and post plyers which made her really valuable on the defensive side. “She always has a great attitude and was one of the most important players in our program. She is truly going to be missed.” 

Lexie Redell averaged 10 points per game and her ability to get to the basket really caused problems for opposing teams. 

“If they played her for the drive she had the ability to hit the 3-point shot, she was very hard to guard,” Lundberg said. But Redell also led the team in assist so she was able to get her teammates the ball and really get the entire team going. 

“Her energy level always took us up a notch when she was on the floor, just like Jaycee (Oliver), Ally (Duncan) and Emily (Munson),” the remaining seniors who have been with the program and played big parts their entire careers.

“Looking back, I really think people will remember Lex as one of the best players and certainly one of the best 3-point shooters we have had at Medical Lake in the past years, Lundberg concluded.

Wrestling:

Coach Matt Leenhouts offered thoughts on his wrestlers who have watched the program’s star rise over the past few years.

Ethan Davis is the team captain. “He works the hardest in the room and it shows,” Leenhouts wrote in an email. Davis will be wrestling in Virginia Beach at the high school nationals in a couple of weeks.

Brent Keith was injured for half of the season but really had a great season. “He is getting better and better every day,” Leenhouts said, adding, “He also is one of the best baseball players in the school.”

Colton Ellis was in his second season. “He was our most improved wrestler this year, finishing the year 21-11.”