1A Girls State: LC Loses On Last-Second King’s Shot

The Lynden Christian girls basketball team was one second away from fulfilling its dream of returning to the Class 1A state championship game, but that one second was the difference as the Lyncs lost to King’s on 3-pointer just before the final buzzer, 45-44, on Friday, March 7.

The loss in the state semifinals means that Lynden Christian will have to settle for the consolation final for the second straight year. They will play Annie Wright on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. with the winner taking third and the loser fifth.

And while they weren’t able to reach their goal of winning the school’s 15th state championship, at least one of the Lyncs tried to keep their disappointment in perspective.

“It didn’t go the way we wanted, but at least we can go out on a win,” said senior Danya Dykstra, who was at the end of the bench her freshman year when the Lyncs won their last title in 2022.

“We’re giving God all the glory. We know we have a team that God loves and who supports us. It’s not always about the basketball.”

Coach Brady Bomber, who has been on both ends of last-second shots to win games, also tried to see the big picture, which included season-ending injuries to two key players even before the season started.

“This group has come a long ways,” he said of the 22-4 squad. “I’m really proud of the young ladies we have in this program. I’m sad that tomorrow is our last day with them. I told them we only have 24 more hours together. We get one more night together and one more game together.”

While the image that most LC fans will leave with is King’s star Kaleo Anderson sinking her shot to win the game, perhaps a more telling image might be what happened seconds later.

While the Knights celebrated, LC juniors Ella Fritts and Estela Hernandez were overcome with heartache. And immediately, the Lyncs’ two senior leaders — Dykstra and Allison Shumate — went over to comfort their teammates, even when they’d just seen their own dreams evaporate.

Despite their No.1-ranking, the Lyncs never had control of the game. The Knights clogged the middle in an attempt to stop Shumate inside and Lynden Christian had an off-day shooting outside. The best 3-point shooting team in the Northwest Conference only managed to hit six of 22 from beyond the arc.

King’s, meanwhile, rode their star and Anderson managed to escape the presence of LC’s best defenders on the way to a 20-point game. The Knights started the second half on a 10-0 run and eventually led by five going into the final period.

But the Lyncs are the Lyncs and they never go down easily. Fritts hit a 3-pointer to give LC the lead with 3:18 to go and, after a King’s bucket, she hit another jumper with 2 minutes left to keep the lead at one.

But Anderson made a lefthanded hook shot with just over a minute left. It looked like it would come down to a last shot and when Dykstra hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds to go to give LC a 44-42 lead it seemed like the win was within reach.

Unfortunately for Lynden Christian, Anderson only needed seven seconds to dribble to the 3-point line and sink the game-winner under pressure.

“We wanted to make everything difficult for her,” said Bomber of the Lyncs’ game-long strategy. “You just have to tip your hat to her.”

Fritts and Shumate would lead Lynden Christian with 10 points each and help LC win the rebounding war, 40-19, by grabbing 8 and 7 boards, respectively. Dykstra had 9 points on three 3-pointers, and freshman Tyra Dykstra had 8 points.

“I’m super proud of how hard they played,” said Bomber. “This group has a lot of character. They played their hearts out.”

King’s 45, Lynden Christian 44

King’s 13 4 19 9—45

Lynden Christian 14 7 10 13—44

King’s: Kaitlin Cramer 12, Molly Kyler, Eleanor Gaydos 3, Kaleo Anderson 20, Cat Ellard 8, Bella Trias-Ruiz 2, Adeline Cox.

Lynden Christian: Danya Dykstra 9, Tyra Dykstra 8, Estela Hernandez 3, Ella Fritts 10, Alisa Scott 2, Allison Shumate 10, Sara Van Loo, Kayla Yun, Ellie Pierce, Jocelyn Eshuis 2.

CLASS 1A GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Yakima SunDome

Wednesday, March 5

Zillah 78, Wapato 41 (loser out)

Cashmere 35, Montesano 28 (loser out)

Annie Wright 71, Lakeside (9 Mile) 57 (loser out)

Naches Valley 41, Nooksack Valley 37 (loser out)

Thursday, March 6

King’s 78, Zillah 68

Lynden Christian 45, Cashmere 32

Annie Wright 48, Seton Catholic 39

Bellevue Christian 45, Naches Valley 25