Ward has challenges in new coaching role

MEDICAL LAKE – To say that new Cardinal boys head basketball coach Brett Ward has some challenges ahead might certainly be an understatement.

Not only is he moving benches from leading the Cardinal girls last season, but he inherits a team that won but one game in 2022-23. Ward relapsed Jordan Starr who accepted a similar job in his hometown of Selah, Wash.

“Same role, just different team and pretty excited about it,” Ward said.

While he will miss the opportunity to have a direct hand in a sensational senior in Charde Laut with the girls, Ward will have his own senior-centered team that will work to improve on the Cards’ 1-19 campaign.

“Those girls were awesome, and I love coaching them,” Ward said. “But these guys are doing a great job so far too of doing all the things that I’ve asked of them.”

While girls rely more on teamwork to accomplish their goals, “Boys sometimes have a tendency to try and make it an individual one-on-one thing,” Ward explained.

So the challenge is getting the boys to buy into team concepts and sharing the basketball.

After a busy off-season with a schedule jam-packed with summer basketball, Ward is sensing his crew “Buying into that stuff.”

While it has been a slower process, “I feel like we’ve also had a lot of kids really make leaps as far as their own skills are concerned,” Ward said.

The Cardinals’ lineup is full of familiar names, notable among them being spark plug Mavrick Rasmussen.

“He has been so engaged in being a positive encouraging leader,” Ward said. “And he can really shoot the basketball.”

But that leadership — and those skills — were nearly sidelined by an undisclosed injury that very well might have benched the senior.

“But what we’ve found out today (Nov. 27) is that he’s going to be clear,” Ward reported.

The Cardinals’ roster is populated with other familiar names that competed in other sports.

“I think another name to really watch out for this year is Aiden Suddeth,” Ward said.

The football team’s quarterback will be a presence in the paint with his 6-foot, 6-inch size. “His shot keeps getting better and he’s our most consistent defensive player” Ward said.

“We have a lot of seniors who are gonna’ contribute,” Ward said rattling off names like Cody Peterson, Taylor Oliver, Alex Grubaugh, Josh Henry and Kolten Reid.

Medical Lake’s lone victory came this past January 3 over Riverside, but Ward is confident there will be more victories in 2023-24.

“I’m optimistic that we’re going to have a much better season than the boys did last year,” Ward predicted.