By Coach Rob Mathison

It has been a season of stiff challenges so far for the Seattle Swagger. The 13-year-old Loyal Heights boys basketball team has a roster of just seven players, and has been pitted against teams filled with double-digit rosters and veteran players. It has been a battle to keep the legs fresh and the games close.

But it has also been a season of opportunity for the Swagger, and despite their record, the team has shown tremendous heart and solid improvement.

“We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” said guard Michael Johnson.

After a season-low of only two points against a flashy Yesler team, the Swagger rebounded to score 21 points against Rainier the following week, including a season-high of 14 points by Antonio Diaz-Mitchell, a pair of long three-pointers by Josh Brown, the team’s first free-throw by Robert Mathison, and a series of weaving, crowd-pleasing drives to the hoop by both Diaz-Mitchell and Johnson.

Against a hustling Meadowdale team, the Swagger was plagued by turnovers and a tight rim, but demonstrated a stingy half-court defense and solid rebounding, including several key rebounds by Michael Scherrer and a dramatic rebound by guard Remy Martin, who grabbed the ball from two larger Meadowdale players and forced a turnover to the delight of the home crowd.

Despite its improvement, the Swagger players agree they have more work to do.

“We need to work on passing,” said Scherrer. “We’ve shown good sportsmanship,” added guard Tim Malone, “But we need to show more court awareness.”

That work begins with their next game, this Saturday at 9:15 AM at Loyal Heights. You can read the results of that game and follow the Swagger throughout the season in The Ballard News Tribune.