EAST'S GREG MORRISON
. . . Guard Starter Tonight

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By JOHN K. SMITH

Sun Sports Writer

East Knights continue to experiment against non-league opponents tonight, hosting the Mount Tahoma Thunderbirds, while preparing for their first Olympic league competition and commencement of their annual class AA basketball tournament trail.

Game will start at 8 p.m.

Also tonight, Bainbridge will be at South Kitsap and Port Angeles at Sequim in a pair of out-of-class Olympic league contests. South and PA are double-A classification. Bainbridge and Sequim single-A.

A YEAR ago Knight-Thunderbird clashes were Capital league encounters. Now the T-Birds remain in the Capital alignment while East begins its first season back in the Olympic league to which it belonged before the Capital group was formed.

Thunderbirds of coach Don Moseid already have topped two opponents without setback this winter. A week ago they bowed in with a late rally that tipped West here, 53-50, and Friday bested new Tacoma school Lakes, 58-49.

Knights of coach Les Eathorne have plied the maple court only once so far, falling before non-league rival Bothell Friday with a case of first-game jitters similar to that which cost West against the Thunderbirds.

On the Olympic league front, both double-A schools could be in for a severe case of "under" class trouble. Neither PA nor SK could handle opening foes last Friday while both Sequim and Bainbridge have downed two quintets already. Sequim in particular, was impressive in riddling South Kitsap with center Lennie Beil, returning all-league performer, leading one of the taller fives on the peninsula this season.

PA LOST to West, 49-38, in its debut. Bainbridge clipped North Mason and Peninsula, the latter by a single point Saturday. Sequim belted Quilcene before thumping SK, 53-38.

Beil has been leading individual scorer of the young campaign, tallying 27 in his bow and 19 last Friday for a total of 46 and 23-point average.

Forward Jim Tienhaara has showed best of the Knight shooters, in practice as well as his 19-point performance against Bothell, however, accuracy from the floor has been most disappointing factor for the Knights.

"We haven't been hitting with the consistency I expected because these kids are good shooters," Eathorne said today. "They're mostly seniors; they should be accurate."

He has been pleased with defense and general floor play by the Knights.

STARTING TONIGHT will be Larry Beach at one guard in place of Dave Garrison who twisted an ankle against Bothell. Otherwise the starting unit remains intact with Darryl Fry at center and Tienhaara and Mike Holen at forwards. Expected to see a lot of action up front tonight also is Bill Carter, only 5-10 but fast.

Eathorne tabs Greg Morrison and Beach his fastest combo in backcourt where he has been platooning guards. He has been searching for the best five, however, believing he hasn't the experienced depth that has allowed him to platoon whole units some times in the past.

"We'll try to get everyone into the practice games, and that includes tonight, but we're out to win. We've lost one and we don't like the feeling. If we have to go with a first five and few individuals, we'll do it," Eathorne commented.

Knights probably will try to outrun the deliberate Thunderbirds and force mistakes by the visitors who unveiled an honest individual star in center Art Smith who tallied 30 points of his squad's 53 against West.