Ilwaco players work on fast-break drills.

ILWACO — Ilwaco graduated a huge cadre of basketball players.

But head coach Eric McMillan is full of optimism knowing returning squad members honed their skills during summer ball.

If You Go

If You Go

Ilwaco Boys Basketball

Dec. 5 Wahkiakum (h)

Dec. 11 Ocosta (h)

Dec. 16 Mossyrock (h)

Dec. 19 Tenino (a)

Dec. 21 Warrenton (h)

Dec. 27-28 Home tournament, games TBA

2025

Jan. 3 Forks (h)

Jan. 7 North Beach (a)

Jan. 10 Chief Leschi (a)

Jan. 11 Naselle (h)

Jan. 16 Raymond-South Bend (a)

Jan. 18 Hoquiam (a)

Jan. 20 Castle Rock at Lower Columbia College, Longview, TBA

Jan. 22 Forks (a)

Jan. 24 North Beach (h)

Jan. 25 Oakville (a)

Jan. 28 Chief Leschi (h)

Jan. 30 Willapa Valley (a)

Feb. 4 Raymond-South Bend (h)

All varsity games 7 p.m.

“We graduated seven of the nine main guys we played last season, so this year we will have a lot of new guys as we look to ‘reload,’” the coach said. “Guards Dylan Pelas and Jacob Gordon (both juniors) will be asked to step up and lead while increasing their production from last year as the returnees. Both are extremely hard workers and have a full year of varsity under their belts.”

IHS made it to the district tournament last season but lost their chance to qualify for state in Spokane in a four-point overtime loss to Wahkiakum, finishing with a 17-6 record. The Mules have dropped down to 1B, but will travel to Ilwaco gym Dec. 5 to open the season.

Last year the Fishermen’s senior-heavy squad, including the Pacific League’s most valuable 2B player Beckett Turner, earned the school its second league championship in three years.

“The league should be wide open this year,” McMillan said. “Everyone in our league graduated a lot of talented players, so there will be a lot of new faces.”

Ocosta has also moved down to 1B while Raymond and South Bend will field a combined squad.

“With our success in recent seasons, our expectation will remain the same — to compete for a league title with the ultimate goal of making it to Spokane at the end of the year,” the coach said.

“Because we had so many seniors last year, we were able to keep a lot of guys on JV that will get the opportunity to play with their same group this year at the varsity level,” McMillan said. “Robert Sanders (a senior) played for me on JV when he was in eighth grade and I’m excited for him to get varsity time after waiting his turn.

“Spencer Needham and Diego Hernandez (both juniors) showed some real growth this summer, while Chase Cunningham (a sophomore) spent a lot of time on his skills, which has really helped his confidence.”

The lure of fishing in Alaska took incoming junior Cooper Petit away from summer sports, but McMillan predicts he will play a key role. “His competitive nature and physical presence inspires confidence in his teammates, so we are excited to have him back.”

McMillan is a 2014 Ilwaco High School graduate. It is his seventh year with the program and his third as head coach. Ryan Cadwell will coach Ilwaco’s JV team and Chris Hill will assist both squads.