Falcon offense rests on freshman Pope’s shoulders

Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2014

On the eve of the Falcon boys basketball team’s first game, first-year head coach Mike Washington was a little nervous, a little anxious. 

He was disappointed in a lackluster practice, which he credited to the Monday after Thanksgiving. He was worried about senior forward Mo Hamsa’s apparent ankle injury that kept him out of the second hour of drills.

Yet for all of the concerns, Washington was excited to see how freshman point guard Lewis Pope would fare in the opening game against island rival Coupeville on Tuesday.

“He’s a good player,” Washington said. “He just needs to get physically stronger.”

Lean and lanky, Pope’s prowess on the court comes from years of good coaching, genetics and an innate feel for the game, Washington said. His new coach, who formerly led the Oak Harbor Wildcats until leaving after the 2013-14 season, noted that Pope played select basketball, is the son of deceased Falcon coach Henry Pope — a former University of Washington men’s basketball player whose birth date will be honored by his son’s jersey number, 15 — and praised the young hoopster’s ability to keep his eyes up to scan the court.

“There’s really no other way to describe it. He’s smooth,” Washington said.

This will only be Washington’s third time starting a freshman on a high school varsity team. Last season, the Falcons fluctuated at the position, with now junior Ricky Muzzy running the offense at the start of the season before giving way to a cadre of players that includes senior Parker Collins. Having Muzzy come off the bench was a major bonus, Washington said, because each has a different style — Pope a potent passer and Muzzy a strong cutter. With two at his disposal, Washington said both, when on the court, will be the main ball handlers.

“I believe in the point guards getting the ball, bringing it up the court,” Washington said.

In practice during a full-court, five-on-five scrimmage, Pope put on a display. Three-point shots slipped through the net with a satisfying “thwap,” he was quick to see open long passes to beat trap defenses and made a hard drive to the rim before finishing with his left hand (Pope is right handed).

“He has a soft touch and a strong finish,” Washington said.

“He’s going to be good. He’s going to be really good.”

Tuesday’s rivalry game, after The Record went to press, was the first test and figured to be a good one.