Lakeridge boys plan to compete this year

The Pacers are deeper, stronger and better than they were a year ago.

The Pacers are going to battle.

The Lakeridge boys basketball team knows it can’t necessarily control the “Ws” and “Ls,” but the Pacers know they can control their efforts and that’s just what they plan to do in 2022-23.

“We will be competitive,” said Lakeridge’s second-year coach David Duong. “The Three Rivers is the toughest league, top to bottom, in the state. For us to be successful, it is going to come down to being locked in defensively for 32 minutes every night, play physical and take care of the basketball.”

The 2022-23 version of the Pacers will be led by senior captain Jace Swygard (a 6-foot-3 guard who won all-TRL honorable mention honors a year ago), senior captain David Ghetie (a 5-11 guard), senior captain Tristan Davis (a 6-7 post who transferred from Wilsonville after winning a Class 5A state title with the Wildcats and being named to the all-Northwest Oregon Conference second team) and junior Patrick Napierala (a 6-4 junior guard).

“Swygard is a solid all-around player (with a) huge motor,” Duong said, adding that Ghetie is “crafty with the ball in his hand and an improved shooter from the outside,” called Davis a “big, physical athlete with the ability to score inside and outside,” and added that Napierala is a “lanky wing with the ability to defend the best player on the opposing team, (as well as being an) efficient scorer from the mid-range out to the ‘three.’”

The Pacers’ regular rotation will also include Cole Holum (a 6-7 junior post), Chili Stephens Jr. (a 6-0 senior guard), Kade Gjesdal (a 6-3 junior guard), Valentin Faucher (a 5-10 sophomore guard) and Daniel Basally (a 6-3 junior post).

Also ready for varsity time are: Nick Ghetie (a 5-11 junior guard); team captain Miles O’Sullivan (a 6-3 senior guard); Baylor Corbin (a 6-3 senior guard); Wyatt Pope (a 6-3 junior guard); Jacob Laff (a 6-5 senior post); and Willis Donaghy (a 6-0 senior guard).

As to the coming TRL race, Duong said there’s a ton of quality at the top, including reigning Class 6A state champion Tualatin and West Linn, last year’s third-place finisher.

“I would say West Linn is the early favorite, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tualatin, Tigard and Lake Oswego aren’t in the mix coming down the stretch,” he said.

See the West Linn preview by clicking here.

See the Lake Oswego team preview by clicking here.