Wildcats open 2024-25 season

tonight against Suquamish

GAMEDAY and the start of the Bremerton Wildcats 2024-25 season. A season that has the potential to deliver many surprises.

Tonight (Oct. 2^nd) is also the opening of the Bremerton Parks & Rec Men’s Fall Basketball League. Which consist of two division, with the Wildcats playing in the upper Div. I league. The six (6) Div. I teams consist of the Admirals Rec, Bremerton Wildcats, Cyclones, DC Alumni Redemption, Suquamish Tribe, and Under8ted.

Last fall the Wildcats finished 3^rd of 8 teams in league play. Then lost by two points, 67-to-65, to the league champions, Team Hops, in the post-season tournament championship.

Following a name change, Team Hops is now known as Under8ted.

Tipoff for tonight’s Wildcats game is 8:00 p.m. at Sheridan, also known to locals as ‘The Bremerton Brick Palace’. Their opponent is Suquamish Tribe.

PORTUNE

“Suquamish is not one of the teams I like to open the season against,” stated Jim Portune, head coach and general manager of the Bremerton Wildcats. “They are tough and always give us a good game.”

Since 2014, the Wildcats and Suquamish have faced off 14 times, with the Wildcats holding a 11 & 3 (.786) advantage. But, in this summer’s Olympic College Men’s Summer League the Wildcats were beaten by Suquamish, 73-to-60, the opening night of the league.

“They are superb outside shooters,” explained Portune, “and you can not let them get hot early in the game. If you do, you are doomed.”

How the Wildcats will fair again Suquamish tonight is unknown. Because the Wildcats are virtually a new team, with the retirement of all-time leading scorer and rebounder Deonte Dixon and departure of D’Angelo Moore (Olympic College), Kanye Taylor (Olympic College), Joo Johnson (Bellue College), Ruppe Wilson (Skagit Valley College), Caleb Washington (The Evergreen State College), and Japrea Pedesclaux (Eastern Washington University) to school.

Point guard Joseph Kroger, a 2015 Bremerton High alumni, small forward Teni Vaoifi (c/o 2016), and Jumier Johnson, a 2016 Olympic High alumni, are the only Wildcats returning from last year Wildcats roster.

“For the last month and a half I have been out recruiting virtually even night after work,” Portune stated. “Focusing specifically on active duty Navy ball player at PSNS (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard). They are untapped potential because the majority of the local coach can’t get on base.”

Coach Portune is retired US Navy submariner and has access to both the PSNS and Subase Bangor gymnasium whenever they are open.

During that time he offered three (3) sailors stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) – ABF3 (Aviation Botswain’s Mate) Isaiah Duran, EM3 (Electrician Mate) Brandon Byrdsong, and ABF3 Antwon Adams – and four (4) players off the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) – Ethan Boyer, James Howard, Damien Farley, and Brandon Cain – an opportunity to play basketball offbase with the Wildcats.

“But there is one problem,” coach exclaimed sadly, “both the Nimitz and Reagan are out to sea right now and they won’t be returning to PSNS until November. Except Cain. He is current home on baby leave and will suit up tonight.”

In order to have a team for tonight’s game Portune also recruited players from other local teams. Four in all will suit up tonight for the first time as Wildcats. Hunter Sears, from last year’s Baddies team, will share the point guard position with Kroger. Samuel Tucker, who last played at Grays Harbor College, and Maurice Modestine (Mongoose) will alternate as the team’s shooting guard. Dwain Clark, from Admirals Rec, will be the scoring forward, and Cain will join Vaoifi and Johnson down low.

“I like the team we have for tonight’s game,” Portune added. “Our challenge, beside beating Suquamish, will be to find our new team identity as fast as possible.”