Bonney Lake Boys Basketball: Building the Hill Through a Championship Summer
- The Insider
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
As summer winds down and Bonney Lake shifts its attention to football and tennis this fall, boys basketball is quietly giving the community every reason to circle winter on the calendar.
Last winter, Bonney Lake boys basketball made history. This summer, they made sure nobody forgot it was just the beginning.
Under head coach David Alwert, now entering his third season with the program, the Panthers capped his second year on the Hill by winning the school's first outright SPSL South Division Championship and posting the program's first 20-win season. It was the kind of season Bonney Lake basketball had never seen. Instead of celebrating, the varsity team spent its summer proving it wasn't a one-year story, and giving Panther fans a preview worth getting excited about long before the gym doors open for real in November.
The results speak for themselves. Bonney Lake finished the summer 25-3 overall, including a 20-1 mark in tournament play. The Panthers won the Kentwood Tip-Off Tournament, took home the title at the Battle at the Lake Tournament in Lake Stevens, and went undefeated at a team event hosted at the University of Washington. They closed the summer with a strong showing against elite competition at Gonzaga Team Camp. Bonney Lake's development team held its own too, finishing 13-6 and reaching two tournament championship games.
“Championships are earned every year, and what we accomplished last winter doesn’t guarantee anything this season,” Alwert said. “Our players embraced that mindset and had an outstanding summer.”
A Standard, Not a Finish Line
For Alwert, last winter's championship was never meant to be the ceiling. It was the floor.
“Winning the SPSL South Championship in our second season together, the first league championship and first 20-win season in school history, gave our players confidence, but we made it clear from day one that last year was the foundation, not the finish line,” Alwert said.
Ask him what stood out most about this summer's group, and the answer has nothing to do with the win column.
“Our togetherness,” Alwert said. “We have talent, but what separates this group is how connected they are. They genuinely enjoy competing with one another, celebrate each other’s success, and understand that winning comes from everyone embracing their role.”
That culture, Alwert said, didn't start with this year's roster. It started with the players who helped build the program from the ground up during his first two seasons.
“Our current leaders have embraced that responsibility and are now passing those same expectations on to our younger players,” he said. “That’s how great programs are built, one class investing in the next.”
Development Across the Roster
Alwert pointed to overall growth up and down the roster as one of the summer's biggest wins, separate from the trophies.
“Our returning players continued to improve, but we also saw several younger players make significant strides,” he said. “That’s exactly what summer basketball is about, creating opportunities for development and building depth throughout the program.”
On the court, the offseason emphasis was on the details: skill development, decision-making, shooting consistency, defensive discipline, and playing with pace, paired with a heavier focus on strength and conditioning to match the physical demands of the SPSL.
But Alwert is careful not to separate the pursuit of wins from the development of his players as people.
“We don’t separate the two,” he said. “The best way to win consistently is by investing in player development every single day. We want our players to leave Bonney Lake as better basketball players, but more importantly as better young men.”
Looking Ahead
A strong summer means little once the games actually count, and Alwert knows it.
“Summer success builds confidence, chemistry, and experience, but it doesn’t guarantee anything once the season begins,” he said. “Every team starts over when November arrives.”
Still, the ambition heading into 2026-27 is clear.
“Our immediate goals are to compete for another SPSL South Championship, earn a berth to the WIAA State Tournament, and put ourselves in position to make a deep postseason run,” Alwert said. “Ultimately, our vision is to compete for and win the 4A Washington State Championship.”
It's all part of what the program has branded #BuildTheHill, a mission Alwert said extends well beyond the scoreboard.
“It’s about building something bigger than ourselves, developing great students, great teammates, and great people while creating a basketball program our entire community can be proud of,” he said. “Building the Hill isn’t just about winning games, it’s about everyone doing their part, players, coaches, families, boosters, alumni, and fans, to create a culture that lasts.”
Alwert closed with a message for the community that's helped fuel the program's rise.
“The support we’ve received from our families, students, administration, boosters, alumni, and the entire Bonney Lake community has been incredible,” he said. “We’re excited for what’s ahead, and we’re committed to representing our school and community the right way every time we step on the floor.”
Fans looking to support the program directly can reach out to the Bonney Lake boys basketball boosters at blhsboysbasketballboosters@gmail.com.
It all started on the Hill. Now the Panthers are building on it, and come winter, the Hill will need a packed house behind them.
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