CLALLAM BAY — There is good news and bad news about the Clallam Bay loss to LaCrosse-Washtucna in the state Class B-8 football semifinals Saturday afternoon.
The bad news, of course, is that the Bruins lost the game and will miss a chance to play for the state championship.
The good news, however, is that they can get a jump-start on their boys basketball season starting this week.
Head boys basketball coach John Wilson, who is not celebrating the football loss, had only one varsity player out for the team as of Saturday. But that’s normal for the Bruins, who traditionally go deep into the football playoffs, and most of their gridiron players also compete in basketball.
That’s why Wilson always sets up a late start for the cagers.
While most teams open their basketball seasons this week, the Bruins don’t start until Dec. 11 when they begin the year at home against Seattle Lutheran.
Players need five practices under their belts before they can play.
Wilson has been working with just five players in practice during the first two weeks of the preseason but he expects a total of 22 to 23 to turn out once football season ends.
The Bruins went 17-7 last year and missed going to state by one win. Wilson is expecting the whole team back since no one graduated from last season’s team.