The Lummi Nation boys basketball team shocked No.1-ranked Almira-Coulee-Hartline in thrilling fashion, 53-50, to win the Class 1B state championship Saturday night at the Spokane Arena.
It was the second state title for the Blackhawks and coach Jerome Toby Sr. And please don’t force him to compare the two.
“Our title in 2015 was the school’s first, so that was history,” said Toby. “To win the school’s second title with my son Jerome on the team is special. You can never say one title is better than the other because so many people had a hand in both teams’ success.”
No one has had a bigger hand than Toby, whose Lummi Nation teams have now taken six trophies in 14 state appearances.
But for most of Saturday’s game, Toby and the Blackhawks found themselves trailing the Warriors from Coulee City, who were the top seed and the heavy favorite to claim the title.
Of course, that was not surprising since ACH came into the game with a 25-1 record and a 22-game winning streak, its only defeat coming to two-time defending state champion Wellpinit, a loss the Warriors avenged twice this season.
ACH led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but these Blackhawks have played 1A and 2A
playoff teams and weren’t rattled. They fought back through the fourth period and were down by three with two minutes to go.
That’s when junior Jerome Toby Jr., Whatcom County’s steals leader, made the first of three big steals and took it in for a layup. ACH countered with a pair of free throws, but sophomore Deandre James, who was hampered by foul trouble all game, put in an offensive rebound with just over a minute left.
Down by one, Toby grabbed another steal. The Blackhawks moved the ball around before senior Karson Revey drove into the lane, drew a defender, and passed to James for an easy layup to give Lummi Nation the lead with 28 seconds to go.
It was now ACH’s turn and the Warriors set up for a last shot. But there wouldn’t be one because there was Toby’s third steal with 10 seconds left. He managed to dribble until getting fouled and iced the game by hitting both free throws with five seconds left.
ACH tried to get off a last shot, but it wasn’t close and Lummi Nation had won its second state title.
Toby would finish with 23 points, sinking three 3-pointers, and hitting 6 of 8 pressure free throws in addition to collecting 5 steals, and 3 assists. For his efforts, he was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
“This is one of the greatest moments of my life,” the 5-foot-8 point guard told the NFHS Network. “It’s been my dream since I’ve been a little kid. I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s amazing.”
Besides hitting the game-winning basket, James had eight more points as well as a team-high 8 rebounds. Landon LaFontaine had 9 points on Lummi’s other three 3-pointers, and fellow sophomore Dyson Edwards had 6 points.
Revey led the team with 4 assists, including the biggest one of the game. Despite having started much of last year, the senior not only battled back from an injury but modeled what his coach said about the group’s character by coming off the bench to help the team.
“What makes this year’s group so special is how unselfish all our players are,” said coach Toby. “They are always putting the team first and sacrificing minutes and points for the best interest of our team.”
And in the biggest game of their lives, the Blackhawks truly did put their state championship team first.
Joining Toby on SBLive 1B boys all-tournament team were sophomore Max Grindy of Almira-Coulee-Hartline, junior Davien Parks of Tulalip Heritage, junior Spencer Green of DeSales, and junior Tyler Swan of Neah Bay.
SBLive 1B girls all-tournament: junior Qwaapeys Greene, Neah Bay (MVP); junior Elena Flansburg, Garfield-Palouse; junior Bradyn Henley, Oakesdale; senior Danea Norman, Wellpinit; sophomore Delaney Nelson, Waterville-Mansfield.
Lummi Nation 53, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 50
ACH 10 16 17 7—50
Lummi Nation 12 11 17 13—53
Almira-Coulee-Hartline: Carter Pitts 5, Josh Booker 18, Nolan Grindy 9, Brady Roberts, Max Grindy 16, Caden Correia, Tucker Bayless 1.
Lummi Nation: Jerome Toby Jr. 23, Landon LaFontaine 9, Dyson Edwards 6, Tony Abrams, Trevon Lee 4, Karson Revey 1, Deandre James 10.
CLASS 1B BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Spokane Arena
Wednesday, March 5
Tulalip Heritage 70, Summit Classical Christian 51 (loser out)
Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 57, Muckleshoot Tribal 47 (loser out)
Neah Bay 58, Garfield-Palouse 47 (loser out)
Ocosta 48, Wellpinit 38 (loser out)
Thursday, March 6
DeSales 54, Tulalip Heritage 38
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 63, Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 48
Neah Bay 50, Willapa Valley 44
Lummi Nation 67, Ocosta 27
Friday, March 7
Tulalip Heritage 67, Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 54 (loser out)
Willapa Valley 51, Ocosta 46 (loser out)
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 64, DeSales 56
Lummi Nation 49, Neah Bay 45
Saturday, March 8
Tulalip Heritage 64, Willapa Valley 46 (winner fourth, loser sixth)
DeSales 65, Neah Bay 59 (winner third, loser fifth)
Lummi Nation 53, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 50 (winner first, loser second)
The 2025 Class 1B state champion Lummi Nation Blackhawks
