Shorewood’s Mark Haner talks to his team during a game against Meadowdale last month.

Shorewood’s Mark Haner talks to his team during a game against Meadowdale last month.

Shorewood girls could make some noise at district tourney

SHORELINE — In a recent game against Edmonds-Woodway, Shorewood girls basketball coach Mark Haner wasn’t able to hide his emotions — he was having a lot of fun.

The Thunderbirds were in a battle with the Warriors in a game that in all likelihood would decide the No. 3 seed from the Wesco 3A South going into this week’s district tournament, but Haner was smiling, laughing and joking as he interacted with his players in the game’s final minutes.

Haner’s looseness seemed to trickle down to his players and the Thunderbirds won the game 61-55 in overtime.

Having fun is something Haner has tried to emphasize since he took the job as head coach in June after two seasons as the varsity girls basketball coach at Jackson High School.

“Usually when a new coach comes in you don’t really know him very well and you kind of try to feel them out, but from the jump in summer ball he just made an emphasis to have fun and grow as a whole,” junior guard Jalyn Hizey said.

Haner may not have looked nervous against Edmonds-Woodway, but he insists otherwise.

“Whatever exterior was on, there were certainly some nerves,” he said. “That was a challenging game.”

Haner proved he can overcome those nerves, which is something his team has been doing most of the season. The Thunderbirds have come a long way from the team that used to take the floor with “sadness and fear” according to Hizey.

Earlier in the season, Haner and his players admit they would get down on themselves in pressure situations, which created a running joke that the team takes the court with sadness and fear.

“I feel like we didn’t really feel like we started our season very well, so we came out really intimidated against a lot of teams,” Hizey said. “We kind of just learned how to play together more and we’re not as intimidated by tougher teams.”

With some help from Haner, the players have learned to face their fears.

“When you play against the type of competition that we play against, you’re going to play against teams that are going to hit you in the mouth,” Haner said. “When that happens, getting sad isn’t going to do it for you. It’s going to be to your detriment — and that’s something we had to deal with at the beginning of the year.”

After losing back-to-back games to Arlington and Lynnwood in early January, the Thunderbirds have won five of their last seven to move into a third-place tie with Edmonds-Woodway and Shorecrest in the Wesco 3A/2A South. Shorecrest, a 2A school competing in a 3A league, will play in the 2A district 1 tournament and the Thunderbirds own the tie-breaker with the Warriors for the third seed.

Haner said he expected to be at Jackson for many years, but a few life changes opened the door for him to take over at Shorewood.

He grew up in Shoreline, graduating from Shorecrest High School in 2000 and later coaching the JV boys basketball team at his alma mater.

Returning to the district he grew up in played a role in his decision, but he was also transitioning from a career as a personal trainer to his new role as a teacher last year when a full-time sub position opened up at Shorewood. In the summer, the girls head coaching job as well as a full-time teaching position opened up.

The combination of returning home and teaching and coaching in the same district was too much for Haner to pass up.

“It’s been kind of a homecoming,” Haner said. “It’s back to the district that I know, which is nice. It’s the other side of the district, but it still feels like home.”

Still, Haner had a tough time leaving Jackson.

“Those girls at Jackson, they played hard for me and I really appreciate everything they gave me,” he said.

His time at Jackson also helped him evaluate his effectiveness as a head coach, which included examining his priorities.

“I’d like to think that I’ve grown some in my perspective,” Haner said. “The change has given me a chance to sit back and reflect and say that. It’s like, ‘look, am I doing this in a way that’s going to be enjoyable for the girls and enjoyable for myself.’ At the end of the day, it’s basketball and if you can’t have fun with basketball, boy, I don’t know.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve spent a lot of time in my coaching career really investing more than what is right into living and dying by wins and losses,” Haner added. “That doesn’t necessarily add to the wins and losses, but it can detract. A tough loss just crushes you.”

Haner’s new approach has been met with appreciation and excitement from his players.

“His positive attitude really affects us too,” junior forward Taryn Shelley said. “Usually we would be really sad and mad at each other and not have really good attitudes, but he rubs off on us and makes us excited to play and work hard in the late parts of the game.”

Finding an approach that works has been important for Haner. While he knew he was taking over a talented roster, the competition in the Wesco 3A is some of the best in the state.

Lynnwood is ranked No. 1 and is the defending state champions. Arlington is ranked third and placed fourth at state a year ago. Both teams are just one win away from finishing the regular season undefeated.

After the Royals and Eagles, Glacier Peak, Edmonds-Woodway and Stanwood have all proven to be perennial contenders in recent years.

“I’d put this district up against any district in the state and I think that we win that battle,” Haner said. “I’m not afraid to say that.”

The Thunderbirds know that to advance to the state regional round, they likely will have to beat at least two of those teams, which seems to be a daunting task.

“I’ve been playing in this league for four years, so that’s all I’m used to,” senior forward Lily Gustafson said.

“It’s fun playing a team that good,” Gustafson added. “We know we can compete, we just have to play well and composed. It’s just an opportunity to get better, even if we don’t get the win. Every team we play that is that good pushes us to be better.”

The rest of the team doesn’t appear to be intimidated either, in large part thanks to Haner.

“I can’t get into my kids heads as much as I’d like to, but I always tell them, ‘don’t ever fear anyone that breathes the same air as you,’” Haner said.

Aside from Lynnwood, which hasn’t received much a challenge from any of the teams it has faced this season, the Thunderbirds have found their share of success against the other elite teams in the league. Though they lost to Arlington by 14, they proved they could compete with the Eagles and they have beat Glacier Peak and Edmonds-Woodway this season.

For all the fun the Thunderbirds have had this season, there wouldn’t be a better way to cap it off than with a trip to state.

“This group right here, I want it for them so desperately,” Haner said.

“I’m going to do everything I can to get them in that position,” he added. “I’ve got my fingers crossed that if I coach the game right and the shots fall, maybe something good will happen.”

Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.

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