1A Boys State: LC Heads To Semis After Blasting Seattle Christian, 84-56

It takes some teams a day to get used to the state tournament setting and the unique environment of the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Not the Lynden Christian boys basketball team.

The Lyncs took a quarter to warm up and then burned Seattle Christian, 84-56, in the Class 1A state quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5.

The victory raised LC’s record to 24-1 and moved the second-seeded Lyncs one step closer to returning to the title game for the fifth time in the past six state tournaments. They will face a familiar rival, sixth-seeded King’s, in the semifinals Friday at 5:30 p.m.

For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ state games, click on State Games.

But the first day at state isn’t always easy, especially with the weight of Lynden Christian’s tradition on your shoulders.

“There’s a little bit of pressure,” said junior forward Kaden Veldman, who had 21 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, and even earned the team’s sportsmanship medallion for the game. “We’re LC. We have to live up to the name.”

It didn’t help that the Lyncs drew the seventh-seeded Warriors, who had beaten Nooksack Valley by 34 points opening round.

“I was nervous going in,” said Veldman. “They can shoot and rebound. But we had energy (today). We were going crazy.”

Lynden Christian coach Tim Zylstra agreed. “Our energy and effort for a first game was really good,” said Zylstra. “Everybody has to contribute and I thought everyone contributed today.”

Veldman provided the energy early on. With the Lyncs only leading by one after the first quarter, he put in a rebound and slipped outside for two 3-pointers. Fellow junior Gunnar Dykstra began his own 3-point barrage with a bomb, and when senior Boyce Robertson put in a reverse layup midway through the second period, Lynden Christian had a 14-point lead.

The Warriors would close the gap to seven midway through the third quarter, but the Lyncs closed the period on a 19-3 run. Veldman and Dykstra sparked the offense with Veldman putting in a couple of buckets and Dykstra hitting another 3, a driving layup, two free throws, and another jumper.

When junior Harvest Howell hit a jumper at the third-quarter buzzer, the lead was back up to 24 and the Lyncs were on their way to the semis.

“I’m proud of the boys,” said Zylstra. “We try to do the stuff we do all year (in the playoffs), to stay the course. That gets us through adversity. We weathered that (on Thursday) and hit a couple of shots to get back in it. ”

Dykstra would wind up with a game-high 27 points, hitting six of his nine 3-point attempts, and passing out 3 assists.

Junior Dawson Hintz added 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists; Robertson had 8 points and 3 assists; and senior Hayden Herwerden and sophomore Traden Ridnour came off the bench to have 5 points each with Herwerden also grabbing 7 rebounds.

With Thursday’s win, the Lyncs are now guaranteed a trophy and have now placed 10 times in the past 11 tournament.

Lynden Christian 84, Seattle Christian 56

Seattle Christian 13 11 14 18—56

Lynden Christian 14 27 21 22—84

Seattle Christian: E. Collier 2, Johnson, Lombardo , Althoff 8, A. Collier, Nelson 2, Ward, G. Collier 18, O’Hare 18, Young, Alvis 6, Jones 2.

Lynden Christian: Hintz 9, Dykstra 27, Howell 4, Maberry 2, Kamphouse, Ridnour 5, VanKooten, Robertson 8, Kooiman 3, Veldman 21, Herwerden 5, Vos.

CLASS 1A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Yakima Valley SunDome

Wednesday, March 4

Royal 61, Overlake 33 (loser out)

Chelan 60, Cascade Christian 44 (loser out)

Bear Creek 44, Wapato 42 (loser out)

Seattle Christian 78, Nooksack Valley 44 (loser out)

Thursday, March 5

Royal 63, Annie Wright 37

Zillah 68, Chelan 53

King’s 50, Bear Creek 29

Lynden Christian 84, Seattle Christian 56