EDITOR’S NOTE: Apologies from your editor for getting the Lummi Nation boys and Lynden Christian girls stories out so late. But because of WiFi connection problems at our hotel, we had to wait until we returned home before posting. Thank you for your patience and support.
Lummi Nation boys basketball coach Jerome Toby Sr. knows how hard it is to bring home the “gold ball” state championship trophy no matter how high your team’s seeding or how high its expectations.
That’s why he wasn’t complaining when his top-seeded Blackhawks lost their final game of the season to Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian in overtime, 45-40, in a consolation game at the Class 1B state tournament on Saturday morning, March 2, in the Spokane Arena.
“I told the boys we had such high expectations that it might seem disappointing,” said Toby, who guided Lummi Nation to the 2015 state title. “But I’m so proud of the guys. Sometimes it doesn’t bounce your way.”
Despite the loss, the Blackhawks still placed sixth, marking the 11th time in 13 state appearances that Lummi Nation has earned a 1B state trophy.
For the stories and photos from all the state games involving our Whatcom teams, check out Whatcom Hoops.
“The boys battled from start to finish and got the trophy,” said Toby of Lummi’s state experience. “We’ll bring home some hardware to Lummi Nation.”
As for not bouncing their way, Saturday’s game was another example of how little difference there is between winning and losing. Against the third-seeded Lions, Lummi Nation was again short-handed because of an injury to sophomore point guard, Jerome Toby Jr., the team’s leading scorer and talented point guard.
Still, after falling behind by 10 in the first quarter, the Blackhawks battled back to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Lummi Nation had two chances to win the game in the final seconds of regulation but came up short and was outscored 7-2 in the extra period.
“Like yesterday, everyone contributed,” said Toby of Friday’s victory over Cusick. “We just came up a play short. It comes down to a couple of possessions.”
With Toby Jr. only playing a couple of minutes before being sidelined with an inflamed knee, the Blackhawks’ offense never got off the ground, scoring a season-low in points and turning over the ball 20 times.
Junior Karson Revey stepped into the starting lineup and led Lummi with 12 point and 7 rebounds. Senior Desmond Bailey had 10 points and 5 rebounds, senior Raymond Perkins had 8 points, and junior Tony Abrams added 7 rebounds.
Still, coach Toby wanted the players to remember the successes of the 23-3 season, including a 22-game winning streak and league, district, and tri-district championships. And, of course, a state trophy.
“It was a great group of seniors that continued the Blackhawk tradition,” he said, praising Bailey, Perkins, Tobias Francis, Mathias Johnson, and Landon Day. “We’ll miss them. Tobias and Demond have been with us since eighth grade.”
The Lions, who came into the tournament seeded third, finished their season with a 23-2 record and the fourth-place trophy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A big thank you from Whatcom Hoops to Heather Leighton for taking all the photos.
Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian 45, Lummi Nation 40
Lummi Nation 7 5 16 10 2—40
Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian 15 8 9 6 7—45
Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian: Treyson Kast, James Robertson 5, Max Gulenko, Antonio Serrato, Johnny Ferguson 27, Dennis Gulenko 11, Jonah Robertson 1, Seth Jensen, Caleb Jones 1.
Lummi Nation: Jerome Toby, Tobias Francis 2, Mathias Johnson, Dyson Edwards 5, Raymond Perkins 8, Landon Day, Tony Abrams 1, Trevon Lee, Karson Revey 12, Desmond Bailey 10, Deandre James 2.
CLASS 1B BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Spokane Arena
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Cusick 64, Muckleshoot Tribal 54 (loser out)
Mossyrock 69, Summit Classical Christian 68 (loser out)
Neah Bay 58, Oakesdale 45 (loser out)
Columbia Adventist 54, Naselle 51 (loser out)
Thursday, Feb. 29
DeSales 56, Cusick 48
Mossyrock 59, Lummi Nation 43
Neah Bay 62, Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian 42
Wellpinit 70, Columbia Adventist 50
Friday, March 1
Lummi Nation 54, Cusick 33 (loser out)
Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian 62, Columbia Adventist 42 (loser out)
Mossyrock 58, DeSales 54
Wellpinit 72, Neah Bay 57
Saturday, March 2
#3 Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian (23-2) 45, #1 Lummi Nation (23-3) 40, OT (winner fourth, loser sixth)
#4 DeSales (23-5) 56, #5 Neah Bay (19-7) 51 (winner third, loser fifth)
#2 Wellpinit (24-2) 60, #7 Mossyrock (19-8) 56 (winner first, loser second)
