When Chris Scrimsher fought long and hard to improve enough to make his high school basketball team after being cut his first two years, his inspiration at Bellingham was Red Raiders great Tim Dickerson, who was two years older.
Who is Scrimsher now inspiring as the veteran coach at Whatcom Community College? None other than Derek Dickerson, the younger half of perhaps the best long-range father-son shooting combo in Whatcom County history.
Derek, who won two Class 2A state titles as a phenomenal 3-point shooter at Squalicum, played his freshman year at Western Washington University for coach Brad Jackson, for whom Tim starred on Jackson's first three teams through 1988.
Yes, indeed, this can be truly a small local world when it comes to hoops.
Derek, however, wants to explore the college basketball universe in California or some other sunny climate. That's why the 6-foot guard is playing his sophomore season at WCC with former Squalicum backcourt star Patrick Voeut and their one-time summer basketball buddy, former Burlington-Edison standout Evan Coulter, both of whom enjoyed solid freshman seasons with the Orcas.
Derek is well aware that Scrimsher has a reputation for making it a priority to help his players move on.
"We currently have 14 players active in university basketball (from his last three teams), with seven at the Division II level," said Scrimsher. "We've sent close to 50 kids on (in Scrimsher's first 12 seasons)."
It wouldn't have been fair from Derek's viewpoint to stay at Western, after the 6-foot guard realized he definitely wants to play his final two seasons out of state.
"I have great respect and a great relationship with Coach Jackson," Derek said. "I went right to him first and told him of my plans before I talked (with WCC). I'm still rooting for Western at their games. The Western guys were great to me when we scrimmaged them. But I've been in Bellingham all of my life, and I'd like to see what it's like someplace else. I think it will help me grow as a person. Bellingham is a great place to raise a family, so if I get married and have kids, Bellingham would be my first choice where to live."
That would be fine with local fans, who might be treated to a third generation of Dickerson bombers.
Derek is off to a fine start with WCC (4-1), which faces South Puget Sound on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. at Orca Pavilion.
He averaged 17.8 points in his first four games including shooting 41 percent from 3-point range (17 for 41). Last season, he averaged 14.6 minutes while playing in every Western game, mostly in reserve roles, and finished with .462 3-point accuracy (43 for 93).
Tim Dickerson was noted as an iron man, a rugged defender and fine passer as well as a 3-point shooter. He holds Western's record with 1,135 minutes played during the Vikings' 28-8 season in 1987-1988, and shot .446 and .439 from 3-point range his final two years, and went a school-record 39 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer.
So who's the better gunner? Neither Dickerson has ever met a long shot he didn't like.
"Derek's the better shooter," Scrimsher said. "Tim will laugh, but he'll agree. I'll tell you, though - Tim was a great player, and he could take a charge better than anyone I've seen."
Scrimsher says Derek is working hard to hone his overall game well enough to attract scholarship offers.
"As a three-guard unit, this is the best in the NWAACC," said Scrimsher, who has missed qualifying for the league tournament only twice during his WCC tenure. "I wouldn't trade that threesome for anyone. We are really excited to have them together."
The Orcas also have two talented frontline starters, in 6-6 post Marcus Bagnerise from Pasadena (Calif,) Blair and 6-3 sophomore Will Perry, a former Central Kitsap standout who played last season at Olympic CC.
The Orcas also have three feisty freshmen from Mount Baker, guard Caleb Buchanan, 6-5 Zach Stalin and 6-7 Chris Tanis, and 6-2 freshman Jared Wells from Bellingham. Scrimsher says they provide quality depth and he's trying to develop the same from five other freshmen from outside Whatcom County.
Stalin, in fact, averaged 14.3 points in his first four games, nicely complimenting Dickerson (17.8), Coulter (16.8), Voeut (14.8), Perry (12.8) and Bagnerise (9.3).
Scrimsher figured he had a pretty solid outlook even before Dickerson transferred in.
"Derek is a coach's dream," he said. "He's a great student, hard working, very coachable and just loves basketball. When I saw him at Squalicum, he had the quickest release with the best 3-point accuracy in the area. He has zero attitude, and he really enjoys playing with Patrick Voeut and Evan Coulter. Nobody cares who scores - these guys are all about winning."
It would be Derek's dream, in fact, to have some college coach recruit himself and Voeut as a package.
"I'm now using the game as a tool to get my college degree paid for," he said. "I would love to be offered a full scholarship. I'm open to all offers."
Dickerson, a total "gym rat" since he was a little kid, figures he could not have had a better coaching progression - his dad, Squalicum coach Dave Dickson, Jackson and now Scrimsher.
"I've been a very fortunate player," he said. "I couldn't have asked for more so far."
WCC MEN'S 2011-12 SCHEDULE
Nov. 25 Lane (at Tacoma) W 96-83
Nov. 26 Shoreline (at Tacoma) W 118-109
Nov. 29 Bellevue (at Tacoma) L 83-78
Dec. 1 at Highline W 85-84, 2OT
Dec. 3 Centralia W 94-73
Dec. 10 South Puget Sound 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Centralia Crossover TBD
Dec. 17 at Centralia Crossover TBD
Dec. 18 at Centralia Crossover TBD
Dec. 30 Washington Rampage 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 Everett 7 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Edmonds 6 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Peninsula 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 Shoreline 6 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Bellevue 6 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Olympic 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 Skagit 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Seattle 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Everett 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 Edmonds 6 p.m.
Feb. 8 Peninsula 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Shoreline 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 Bellevue 7 p.m.
Feb. 18 Olympic 6 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Skagit 6 p.m.
Feb. 25 Seattle 6 p.m.
WCC MEN'S 2011-12 ROSTER
No. Player Pos. Ht. Yr. High School
1 Will Perry G/F 6-3 So. Central Kitsap
2 Daniel Nielsen G 6-1 Fr. Grandview
3 Jared Wells G 6-2 Fr. Bellingham
5 Marcus Bagnerise P 6-6 Fr. Blair
10 Theo VandenEkart G 5-11 Fr. Sultan
11 Ian Tevis G 6-1 Fr. Federal Way
12 Derek Dickerson G 6-0 So. Squalicum
13 Peris Felder G 6-2" Fr. Archbishop Murphy
14 Evan Coulter G 5-11" So. Burlington
20 Jonathan Hill G 5-11 Fr. John Muir
21 Caleb Buchanan G 5-10 Fr. Mt. Baker
24 Pat Voeut G 5-10 So. Squalicum
40 Zach Stalin P 6-5 Fr. Mt. Baker
54 Ernie Cardenas P 6-7 Fr. Lynden
55 Chris Tanis P 6-7 Fr. Mt. Baker
Coach: Chris Scrimsher
Assistants: David Dunham, Tom Rawlings
