1B Boys Regional: Lummi Puts Down Stubborn Mules, 78-49

It took a while for the Lummi Nation boys basketball team to shake the stubborn Mules, but once the Blackhawks did, they were on their way to 78-49 victory over Wahkiakum in a Class 1B state regional on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28.

The top-seeded Blackhawks are also on their way back to the Spokane Arena to defend their state title. With Saturday’s win, they move on to a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. against the winner of Wednesday’s loser-out game between No.7 Neah Bay and No.10 Sunnyside Christian.

“Getting back to Spokane was one of the goals of this team,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Sr., whose team improved to 24-1-1. “We’re where we want to be. Everyone wants to get that gold ball (state championship trophy), but we want to keep it.”

For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ regional games, click on State Regionals.

Lummi Nation took the first step by dispatching eighth-seeded Wahkiakum in the first game of a quadruple-header at Lynden High School, which turned out to be the perfect site for the Lummi faithful to come in mass.

“We are happy to be playing here,” said Toby with a smile. “It was almost a home game.”

But it was a slow start for the usually high-flying Blackhawks, who thrive on speeding the game up on offense and defense. The Mules from the southwest Washington town of Cathlamet came in with a 17-6 record after sharing the Columbia Valley League title and winning the District 4 tournament and were determined to give the champs a hard time.

They slowed the game down and didn’t allow Lummi Nation to hit one of their patented 3-pointers until less than three minutes remained in the first half. The combination kept the Mules close through the first two quarters and they only trailed by 10 at intermission.

Watch for the Whatcom Hoops state preview on Sunday. For a look at each of our teams and tournament schedules, click on State Preview.

But Toby’s halftime talk put a spark in the Blackhawks’ attack. The third quarter started with Jerome Toby Jr. sinking a floater in the lane, then junior Landon LaFontaine hit a 3-pointer, senior Chayce Waite-Kellar scored inside, and Toby made another 3, and two and a half minutes into the third period, the lead was suddenly 20.

“We had to match their aggressiveness,” said Waite-Kellar, who dominated inside and finished with 18 points and another crowd-pleasing dunk. “We knew we were better, so it was just a matter of proving it. I’m very confident in my team. We believe in each other.”

When Toby made the last of his four 3-pointers with just under six minutes left in the game, Lummi Nation’s lead had ballooned to 30 and both benches got to finish out the game.

“We knew it would be a battle against a scrappy Wahkiakum team,” said coach Toby, whose squad has already claimed District 1 and District 1/2/3 tournament titles. “I liked the way we responded.”

His son responded with his usual calm game, running the show from his point guard position and scoring a game-high 26 points, 15 of them coming in the second half.

“There’s absolutely pressure (being the top seed), but we don’t feel it that much,” said the senior, who has gone to the state tournament every year since starting as an eighth-grader. “You can’t overlook anybody. We have to be ready.”

Waite-Kellar, who transferred to Lummi Nation this year, certainly is ready to go to Spokane.

“This is definitely new for me …” said the 6-foot-8 Central Washington University commit, who also earned the team’s sportsmanship medal for the game. “… trying to live up to what they did last year.”

Joining Toby and Waite-Kellar in double figures was junior Dyson Edwards, who had 14 points and a pair of 3-pointers. LaFontaine added 8 points, and junior Deandre James had 6 points.

Despite the loss, Wahkiakum also advanced to Spokane, but will have to play a loser-out contest against 17th-seeded Columbia Adventist on Wednesday.

Lummi Nation 78, Wahkiakum 49

Wahkiakum 10 17 11 11—49

Lummi Nation 19 18 22 19—78

Wahkiakum: Filkowski, Merz 2, West 8, Robinson 5, Moon, Carlson 5, Scott, Sexton 3, Leitz 10, Ohrberg 9, Stoddard 6, Hilton 1.

Lummi Nation: Toby Jr. 26, LaFontaine 8, Edwards 14, Revey, Yrizarris 3, Hawk, Jones, Waite-Kellar 18, D. James 6, Toby-Williams 3.

CLASS 1B BOYS STATE REGIONALS

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Wellpinit 58, Evergreen Lutheran 57 (winner to regionals, loser out)

Garfield-Palouse 60, Entiat 27 (winner to regionals, loser out)

Summit Classical Christian 47, Oroville 34 (winner to regionals, loser out)

Columbia Adventist 57, Concordia Christian 56 (winner to regionals, loser out)