A strong, veteran team is ready to do what they can to get to the state tourney.

Last year, the Bainbridge boys basketball team were damned if they did, damned if they didn’t.

They had one of their best-ever seasons at 19-7, but five of those losses were to Seattle Prep and O’Dea, including the final two defeats that eliminated Bainbridge from district play – just one game away from the state tournament in Tacoma.

While it may have been frustrating for the Spartans to be unable to get past their division foes, when those same two teams make it to the 3A state championship game – and with the Panthers coming out on top – they aren’t getting too down about themselves.

“You have to feel good about it and where we’ve come from and the direction we’re headed,” head coach Scott Orness said.

“But are we happy with how far we got in the playoffs? No. I felt we were a top 10 team all season long and to not get into the final 16 (at state) is disappointing, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

Still, if Bainbridge is to make it to state for the first time in Orness’ six-year Spartan coaching tenure, they’ll have to make it past all the Metro League teams to do so.

The coach agrees.

“The district we play in is tougher than nails,” he said. “Our goal is to win our division and we’ll take it from there, but we’ve got to be able to handle those teams at the top.”

Bainbridge, ranked number one in a 3A preseason poll by HighVoltageHoops.com, hosts Port Angeles, Central Kitsap and North Kitsap in a non-league jamboree at 3 p.m. today at Paski Gymnasium. They start the season Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. when they host Ingraham.

The Spartans lost five players from last year including starters Chris Kelly and Theo Miller, but the team is made up of juniors and seniors that have been in the program for several years.

One player who will be instrumental to the Spartans’ success this season is Steven Gray.

The 6-4 senior guard, co-captain and future Gonzaga player led the team in nearly every offensive category last season and was named to just about as many all-basketball teams, including his first All-Metro team, his first All-Kitsap Newspaper Group team and his third straight Associated Press All-State first team.

Gray said he’s pumped for the season to begin.

“I’ve been talking with people around school and they’re really excited,” he said. “Seeing the level of excitement around this team, it’s going to be fun to play in front of the crowds we’re going to get.”

Other returnees include another All-Metro and All-Kitsap first teamer in senior center Coby Gibler, senior co-captain Charlie Fick, senior forward Austin Wood, junior point guard Nick Fling and junior guard Caleb Davis.

Orness likes Fling’s ability to handle the point, and thinks Gibler will have a standout year thanks to his hard work over the offseason.

“If he shows up ready to play with a good attitude and a competitive attitude, then it’s going to be a real key for us this year and how far we’re going to go,” the coach said.

Newcomers who are ready to contribute include senior guards Rudy Sharar and Paxton Kruse, senior forward Greg Korsak, junior forward Mike Walsh and sophomore 6-10 forward/center Ben Eisenhardt.

Eisenhardt has been out with a broken nose, but Orness said he should be ready by their first game.

“His presence and his wingspan will take some pressure off of Coby,” Orness said.

A big key for the Spartans will be their size – everyone on the team is six feet or taller – and add experience and versatility, as Orness feels his players can go in at different positions. One question mark is outside shooting, where the Spartans will need to find another scorer to complement Gray.

Orness also feels they are a more mature team.

“The guys don’t want to forget what happened at districts last year, so I think that pushes them,” he said. “I don’t have to get on them as much. They’re self-motivated and they come to play with a business-like attitude. But they also know how to have fun with the game.

“After the summer we had this year, these guys don’t like to lose. They know when to step it up.”

The Spartans will get their opportunity with this year’s schedule, which not only includes the usual tough league foes, but several big non-league contests.

The real test comes in early January.

Bainbridge travels to Eastside Catholic on Jan. 9 and O’Dea on Jan. 12, then plays South Kitsap, who finished in third at the 4A state tournament last year, at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Key Arena in Seattle.

The Spartans get Sunday off, then play Franklin, the 4A state champions, in the Martin Luther King Tournament at the Hec Ed Pavilion on the University of Washington campus at 6 p.m. Jan. 15.

Orness isn’t too crazy about the scheduling, but doesn’t feel it’ll be a make-or-break stretch.

“All the (games) can do is get us ready for the playoffs,” he said. “I see that whole week as this is how the state tournament is. We’re going to find out a lot about how tough we are mentally.”

Another concern is the “Michael Jordan syndrome,” where Gray’s teammates could get to a point during a game where the other four guys let him take over and not contribute as much.

Orness said he’s not as concerned as he was last year.

“Against big teams, we try to count on Steven for too much and he felt like he had to put us on our shoulders,” he said. “But this summer Steven wanted to make it a goal to try and get everyone involved, and I think that’s part of his game that’s really evolved.”

Gray agreed.

“This year it’s my job to keep everyone involved in the game,” he said. “I know I try to take it on myself to do everything, but I want to do whatever my team needs of me. But someone will be there to take the pressure off me.”

No matter what happens, Orness feels it’ll be a season to remember.

“I’m sitting at practice the other day and I’m going ‘I’m going to miss a jump shot like that,’ or ‘I’m going to miss a big guy that can throw down off an alley-oop,’” he said. “It’s not very often that you get a group of guys like this. Not just talent-wise, but they get along great.

“I’m going to savor every moment I have with this team.”

**********

Spartan boys basketball:

Dec. 1 – Ingraham, 8 p.m.

Dec. 5 – at Nathan Hale, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 – West Seattle, 6:15 p.m.

Dec. 12 – Lakeside, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 – at Blanchet, 8 p.m.

Dec. 20 – at Clover Park, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 – at North Kitsap, 7 p.m.

Jan. 5, 2007 – Seattle Prep, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 9, 2007 – at Eastside Catholic, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 – at O’Dea, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 – South Kitsap at Key Arena, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15 – MLK Tournament – Franklin at Hec Ed Pavilion on UW Campus, 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 – at Cleveland, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 19 – at Chief Sealth, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 23 – Rainier Beach, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 – at Lakeside, 8 p.m.

Jan. 30 – Bishop Blanchet, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 – at Seattle Prep, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 6 – Eastside Catholic, 8 p.m.

Feb. 8 – O’Dea, 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 12-17 – Metro Playoffs, sites and times TBA

Feb. 19-Mar. 3 – District Playoffs, sites and times TBA

Mar. 7-10 – 3A State tournament, Key Arena or Bank of America Arena, Seattle