Yelm High School’s boys basketball team is still working toward its first win in the 4A South Puget Sound League after a 64-44 loss to the Bonney Lake Panthers on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Though Yelm was without one of its top offensive players, Comboni Loku, in the 4A South Puget Sound League matchup last week, the Tornados found offensive efficiency from another sophomore who emerged in recent games.
Urijah Aalona has stood out defensively all season for the Tornados due to his hustle and aggressiveness and found himself comfortable with the ball all night as he went for 27 points during Yelm’s SPSL loss to Bonney Lake. His season high was followed up with Raziah Patterson’s 11 points, Zayden Homann’s four points and Zarrick Roberts’ two.
“We’re injured. We’re missing a lot of players. [Aalona] managed the game and let the game come to him. When we let the game come to us and don’t force anything, you tend to score. That’s one of the things that happened. [Aalona] let the game come to him,” Yelm’s head coach Dave Wasankari said after the game. “He did well on the offensive and defensive side. If you move the ball, it will find you. That’s what happened to him tonight, and he hit shots.”
The Tornados couldn’t find an answer for the Panthers’ 3-point barrage throughout the evening and often gave up multiple offensive rebounds due to a size disadvantage with Loku’s absence.
Despite that, the Tornados defense played aggressively and hustled all evening, including when sophomore post MJ Wadley attempted to save a live basketball by diving over Bonney Lake’s bench.
“The team plays super, super hard. I think all of us at times play hard. We’re competing. It’s just sometimes we don’t hit shots or we turn the ball over,” Wasankari said. “Lack of effort is not an issue, and it won’t be for us.”
Because Loku and other Tornados are out with injury, Wasankari said freshmen Roberts and Henry Aranyos have seen the court more frequently. He’s optimistic this court time will kickstart the young Tornados’ development and noted the two athletes looked comfortable while earning minutes.
“This is the youngest team I’ve ever coached in years of coaching. When you lose kids to injury and you don’t have a lot of depth, I guess the best thing to do is keep things positive and know that we work as a team all the time, no matter who is out there,” Wasankari said. “Sometimes you lose a couple good players and it’s tough, but it also provides opportunities for other players.
“In basketball, we can make it as difficult as we want but it can be a simple game. Everybody has to do their job,” he added. “Everybody has to be accountable with what they do on both sides of the ball. That’s what we’re trying to find with this young team. We want everybody to stay disciplined, to do their job and do it collectively.”
Wasankari said, at times, the Tornados have collectively “put it together” and looked good, but also times where they’ve looked undisciplined and sloppy. He’s hopeful to see his team compete, prepare in film and before games and understand what it’s like to engage from the bench during the final stretch of the regular season.
“They know little of that right now, but we’re trying to get there and get them to buy in,” Wasankari said. “Slowly at times we get there, but at other times we don’t. They’re playing hard and battling through adversity, but step by step and day by day they’re getting better.”
Yelm’s final home game of the regular season will take place Tuesday, Jan. 28 as the Tornados host the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles. Opening tip will be at 7 p.m., and those interested in watching the game online can do such at www.NFHS.com.
