SOAP LAKE — Two years removed from playing in the Central Washington B district championship game, the Soap Lake Eagles returned their entire roster from a year ago in hopes of making another playoff run this winter.

“We’re really excited,” Soap Lake coach Daniel Simon said. “We’ve got everybody back from our varsity this year, and a lot of kids that basketball’s been a big part of their life growing up the last few years.”

With all 11 Eagles coming back this season, Simon said it speeds up the process of preseason practices.

“It’s really important, it allows you to skip a few steps in the preseason because you’ve already put in offense and defense,” Simon said. “You can figure out how to utilize strengths and weaknesses with guys. That’s always exciting, I think it’ll pay off down the stretch this year.”

Headlining the returning Eagles are seniors Pavlo Stoyan and Andrey Sushik, who both received all-league honors last winter. Stoyan received a first-team nod, while Sushik was put on the honorable mention list.

“Pavlo and Andrey have been all-league the last couple years, and will be four-year starters for us,” Simon said. “They have a lot of experience under their belts at the varsity level.”

The Eagles went 16-8 in the 2021-22 season but dropped to 10-11 last winter.

Part of that decline in wins was closing out closely contested games. In 2021-22, the Eagles showed a propensity to come out on top of close games. Last season Soap Lake struggled in games that finished with a score differential in the single digits, losing five of six games.

“We’re always trying to improve on how we execute things,” Simon said. “That’s a high school basketball, college basketball, hoops in general, but we’re always looking to improve how we execute specific things offensively and defensively.”

This year, an extra season of experience could help Soap Lake close out such games with wins.

“We have a lot of big game, close game experience dating back to the district championship game two years ago against MLCA,” Simon said. “Other than two or three guys, it’s the same team that we have right now.”

Soap Lake averaged 54.5 points per game during the 2022-23 season, and the offense looks to be carrying over this year’s team.

“We’re versatile offensively,” Simon said. “We’ve got shooters, we’ve got slashers, we’ve got guys that can score in the post, guys that run the floor well. We have a dynamic approach.”

Soap Lake opens the year with a home game against Tekoa-Rosalia on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“I’m hoping to see us play at a faster pace than last season,” Simon said. “Compete the same way versus whoever we play, and that means showing up for big games with big-game energy and confidence.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Soap Lake Boys Basketball Schedule

Dec. 1 — vs. Tekoa-Rosalia — 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 —  vs. Republic — 6 p.m.

Dec. 5 —  vs. Pateros — 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 —  @ Riverside Christian — 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 —  @ MLCA/CCS — 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 — vs. Wilson Creek — 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — vs. Manson — 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 —  @ Waterville-Mansfield —  7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 — vs. Thorp — 6 p.m.

Jan. 9 — vs. Entiat — 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — vs. Riverside Christian — 6 p.m.

Jan. 16 — vs. MLCA/CCS — 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 — @ Pateros — 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — vs. Waterville-Mansfield — 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — @ Wilson Creek — 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — @ Entiat — 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — @ Thorp — 6 p.m.

    Soap Lake senior Andrey Sushik (13) leaps up for a jump ball to open the game against Wilson Creek last season.
  

    Soap Lake Head Coach Daniel Simon said the Eagles are hoping to get back to the Central Washington B district championship game this season, after making it to the game two seasons ago with many of the same players.