Interview: In order for Skyview to succeed, steady-handed Squeeky Johnson had to assume the point

BATTLE GROUND — The end of Squeeky Johnson’s first year in Skyview’s starting lineup was bitter. Despite dynamic point guard Alex Schumacher and the Storm’s

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports | Mar 1, 2020

Interview: In order for Skyview to succeed, steady-handed Squeeky Johnson had to assume the point /

BATTLE GROUND — The end of Squeeky Johnson’s first year in Skyview’s starting lineup was bitter. Despite dynamic point guard Alex Schumacher and the Storm’s best efforts, they lost in a loser-out, entangled in the wrong side of a bi-district loser-out scenario.

A year and a positional shift later, Johnson’s 11-seed Storm are headed back to the Tacoma Dome.

Johnson scored 20 points, and senior forward Kyle Gruhler had a game-high 22 points to beat 14-seed Jackson, 66-56, on Saturday in a 4A regional loser-out game at Battle Ground High School.

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Jace Chatman added 16 for Skyview. Three Jackson players scored in double-figures: Jesse Hoiby had 12 points, Jaylen Searles added 11 and Bryston Galbert added 11.

The Storm now take on West Valley (Yakima) on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome in the first round of the 4A state tournament.

For Johnson, a junior, bringing his own identity, strengths and feel to the point guard position was crucial entering his junior season. Especially replacing a volume scoring point guard in Schumacher. Johnson’s cool hand and efficiency as the team’s floor general has been instrumental in the Storm’s postseason run, which has seen several loser-out games already leading up to Saturday.

Watch him speak about a return trip to the Tacoma Dome, and that transition to point guard:

Published Mar 1, 2020

ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.