by Marty Zier

Sports contributor

Gregg Sasan starts his fourth year leading the Lady Vikings basketball team, often seen with his trademark smile but always intent on the strict fundamentals of team basketball.

Sasan offers a tremendous amount of coaching experience to the Vikings as the previous coach of boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball.

The Lady Vikings had a successful season last year, finishing third in the league and making the playoffs.

“It’s still a lot of fun watching the new kids refine their skills and all the girls improve,” said Sasan. “It’s a hard-working group of players and we have a full team, which is nice. We had 19 girls turn out this year and we only graduated three seniors last year. We have six veteran players returning and a group of good freshmen that have been playing together through Swish and middle school basketball. I think a couple of the new girls will be able to help us on varsity.”

Commenting on the status of his team and the league this year, Sasan says, “We lack height, so we are going to have to work on speed and quickness. Our offense will be run fast, shoot the ball, run fast and get back on defense. Our defense will be run fast, steal the ball and run fast and get on offense. I expect the same teams to be strong – LaConner, Friday Harbor and Mt. Vernon Christian – but Darrington and Concrete are always there for a tough game.”

The Lady Vikings start their season with a non-league game versus Bush Academy on Dec. 2. The girls won, 55-26.