While the Meridian girls can celebrate returning to the Class 1A state tournament after their biggest victory of the season, they won’t be joined by the Meridian boys team.
The Meridian girls defeated visiting rival Nooksack Valley, 51-29, on Friday in the consolation round of the Bi-District 1/2 tournament.
For updates on how our Whatcom County teams are doing in the 1B, 1A, 2A, and 3A tournaments, be sure to keep checking www.whatcomhoops.com.
In addition to avenging an earlier defeat to the Pioneers, the win gives the Trojans (18-5) one of the bi-district’s four berths into the state regionals, which will be held next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22 and 23.
Unfortunately for Nooksack Valley, the loss ends the Pioneers’ successful season at 16-9.
The same fate befell the Meridian boys, who lost to host Overlake of Redmond, 69-50. Despite finishing near the bottom of the tough Northwest Conference, the Trojans made a successful playoff run and finished just one game short of state.
Meridian finished the season at 10-14. Overlake, which earned one of the bi-district’s four state berths, is now 15-6.
CLASS 1A BI-DISTRICT 1/2 GIRLS TOURNAMENT
First round (Thursday)
Nooksack Valley 52, Bush 32 (loser out)
King’s 56, University Prep 16 (loser out)
Second round (Friday)
Meridian 51, Nooksack Valley 29 (winner to state, loser out)
King’s 58, Seattle Academy 39 (winner to state, loser out)
Championship (Saturday)
Lynden Christian (19-3) vs. Overlake (17-3) at King’s, 6:30 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both to state)
CLASS 1A BI-DISTRICT 1/2 BOYS TOURNAMENT
First round (Thursday)
Bear Creek 59, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 56 (loser out)
Meridian 72, Eastside Prep 50 (loser out)
Second round (Friday)
King’s 57, Bear Creek 33 (winner to state, loser out)
Overlake 69, Meridian 50 (winner to state, loser out)
Championship (Saturday)
Lynden Christian (22-0) vs. Seattle Academy (18-2), 5 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both to state)
(Full schedule and bracket at nwcathletics.com)
Jim Carberry is a former Bellingham Herald sports editor and author of several books on Whatcom County prep basketball. Follow him on Twitter @whatcomhoops and visit the Whatcom Hoops Facebook page.