With the return of senior Jakob Davis, healthy and strong after missing last season with a knee injury, and the addition of highly-skilled freshman Yanni Fassalis, the Washougal High School (WHS) boys basketball team jumped out to a hot start this season, winning five of its first eight games.
“It’s so good to be back out on the court,” Davis said after the Panthers beat visiting Mountain View High School 88-58 on Dec. 9.
Davis scored 25 points and Fassalis tossed in 18 for the Panthers.
“(Fassalis) is a heck of a player,” WHS head coach A.J. LaBree said.
The Panthers are well on their way to topping last season’s 8-12 record.
“We’ve got a great team, a great brotherhood,” said Fassalis, who has quickly become a fan favorite. “I love all the coaches, and we are going to make a run this year.”
The Panthers opened some eyes in their first game of the season with an 86-50 victory over Stevenson High School. WHS also posted impressive wins over Hudson’s Bay and Mark Morris high schools before losing close contests to Camas High School and traditional 2A powerhouse W.F. West High School.
The Panthers then surprised Sequim High School at the Cloud 9 Christmas Classic Tournament at Lynden High School on Dec. 27, making 10 3-pointers in the win. Davis had 17 points and Fassalis added 15. However, on the final day of the tournament, the Panthers were beaten by Ferndale High School 71-51.