1B Boys State: Lummi To Play For Title After Downing DeSales, 74-58

It was where the Lummi Nation boys basketball team figured to be against an opponent they Blackhawks were destined to play one more time — except this time it is for the gold ball.

Lummi Nation defeated DeSales in the Class 1B semifinals, 74-58, on Friday, March 6, in the Spokane Arena and the defending state champion Blackhawks will now look to repeat when the play in the state final Saturday at 7 p.m.

Their opponent? Tulalip Heritage, which Lummi has faced four times — and beaten four times — already this season.

“We are happy to be back in the state championship game,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Jr. “To get a win today and advance (to the finals) has been something our team has been striving for all season.”

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

DeSales was the fourth seed, and the team from Walla Walla came in with an impressive 22-4 record. The Irish also came into the game fired up, taking a 16-10 lead after one period and looking to pull off the upset against the top-seeded and heavily favored Blackhawks.

But the Lummi Nation offense got in gear in the second quarter with 23 points and the Blackhawks would go on to outscore the Irish, 64-42 over the next three periods.

Junior guard Dyson Edwards led the Blackhawks with a game-high 21 points, three 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Senior point guard Jerome Toby Jr., last year’s state tournament MVP, added 20 points, a pair of 3-pointers, and 6 assists.

Senior post Chayce Waite-Kellear had 15 points thanks to 7-of-9 shooting from the field, and 13 rebounds; junior guard Landon LaFontaine had 10 points; and junior forward Deandre James had 7 points and 7 rebounds.

With the victory, the Blackhawks raised their record to 25-1-1, their only loss coming to Lynden Christian, which is playing for the Class 1A state title. Lummi Nation already is the champion of the Northwest 1B League, District 1, and District 1/2/3. Among its many victims were the Hawks — all four times.

Lummi Nation won 65-62 at Tulalip and 75-62 at Lummi during the regular season, then 57-56 in the district championship game, and 59-44 in the tri-district championship game.

All that’s left is the state championship game.

“We have one more game versus a really good Tulalip Heritage team that had a good win versus Almira-Coulee-Hartline (in Friday’s semifinal),” said coach Toby of the third-seeded Hawks. “We know it’s going to be another battle and we have to be ready for 32 minutes of fast-paced action.”

Lummi Nation 74, DeSales 58

DeSales 16 16 10 16—58

Lummi Nation 10 23 19 22—74

DeSales: Green 19, Raymond 8, Warwick, T. Wood, McGhan-Kezele, Jimenez, Chvatal, Bingham 2, C. Wood 8, Man. Filan 3, Mad. Filan 18.

Lummi Nation: Toby Jr. 20, LaFontaine 10, Edwards 21, Revey, Yrizarris 1, Hawk 2, Jones 2, Waite-Kellar 15, D. James 7, Toby-Williams 2.

CLASS 1B BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Numerica Veterans Arena (Spokane Arena)

Wednesday, March 4

Liberty Christian 71, Muckleshoot Tribal 38 (loser out)

Neah Bay 74, Sunnyside Christian 58 (loser out)

Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 47, Touchet 45 (loser out)

Columbia Adventist 57, Wahkiakum 52 (loser out)