Submitted photo – The McKinleyville JVs finished the season 23-2.

By Ray Hamill — The varsity team wasn’t the only success story of the winter for McKinleyville boys basketball.

The Panthers varsity boys were crowned co-champions of the Big 5 after a memorable regular season, and so too was the program’s JV team, which recently concluded its season.

The JVs finished 7-1 in the Big 5 and lost just two games all year on the way to a very impressive 23-2 campaign.

Just as important, the success of the young players should benefit the varsity team over the next two years.

“As a coach, you just want your players to improve,” JV head coach Brandon Fike said. “When they move on, you hope they move on as better players than when you got them.”

Judging by his team’s outstanding record, Fike and his coaching staff appear to have achieved that goal.

Not only did the young Panthers win this year’s Big 5 championship, but they also took home championship trophies from three of the four tournaments they competed in, placing first at the winter Fortuna, Eureka and St. Bernard’s tournaments.

Just as impressive, their two losses were by just a combined four points.

“We were four points away from having an undefeated season,” Fike said. “It was special group of players.”

The team was known for strong defense and stellar 3-point shooting, most notably by Jeremiah Smith and Henry Turner, who combined for a remarkable 94 3-pointers in their 25 games together.

“They played really well for us,” the head coach said of the talented duo.

Versatile freshman Gaelen Creighton — the younger brother of influential senior Flynn Creigton — also played a pivotal role on the team and appears to have a bright future at Mack High.

“He could play point guard, he could play the 2, or the 3, or the 4 or the 5. He could everywhere, and he could play every position at a high level,” Fike said. “Gaelen was a Swiss Army knife for us and I can’t wait to watch him grow as a player.”

But it was the overall team IQ and the players’ approach that really paved the way to success.

“I could call a timeout and nine out of 10 times you could count on them to run the play correctly,” the coach added. “They’re smart players and their basketball IQ got better and better throughout the year.”

Ray Turner, Ruger Baxter, James Fike, Cody Wilson, Thomas Brown, Daymond Brown, Romario Gomez and Brenden Bates rounded out the talented roster and, according to the coach, all of them played key roles in the teams’ success.

“They shot the ball well, a lot better than teams I’ve had in the past,” said Brandon Fike, who has been coaching with the program for the past seven years, including the past three with the JVs.

Assistant coaches Ronnie Roubidoux and Tehan Buehler also played a key role in the team’s championship run, as did Mark Sundberg.

And Brandon Fike believes the quality of coaching around the league helped bring out the best in the McKinleyville players and coaches.

“Playing in the league here, there are a lot of good coaches you have to compete against,” he said.

The Mack varsity team, meanwhile, will try to keep its season going when the Panthers play a hugely anticipated North Coast Section playoff game at Arcata High on Saturday night.

And, according to Brandon Fike, the whole McKinleyville boys program is in good hands right now.

“I’m really happy with our whole program in McKinleyville,” he said. “First-year coaches AJ Stubbs (freshmen) and Chris Davis (varsity) both did a great job this season.”