The Lummi Nation girls basketball team wants one more crack at three-time defending state champion Neah Bay.
For the second time this season, the Lady Blackhawks nearly upset the top-seeded Red Devils, losing in the final seconds, 43-41, in the Class 1B state regionals on Friday, Feb. 27, at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.
Unfortunately, eighth-seeded Lummi Nation, which fell to 21-4 on the season, will have to go the difficult route if they are to meet Neah Bay again.
The Lady Blackhawks had already qualified for the state tournament in Spokane and will now play a loser-out contest on Wednesday at 9 p.m. against the winner of Saturday’s regional contest between No.9 Almira-Coulee-Hartline and No.16 Muckleshoot Tribal.
Should Lummi Nation win on Wednesday, it would move on to Thursday’s quarterfinals and the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The Blackhawks are shooting for their first state trophy since 2009.
For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ regional games, click on State Regionals.
On Friday night, however, it was a case of close but no upset — again. Lummi Nation lost to the Red Devils on Jan. 10, 42-38, and the regional contest turned out to be another defensive battle.
Neah Bay jumped ahead with an 18-point first quarter, but the Lady Blackhawks limited the Red Devils to one point in the second quarter to tie the game at halftime.
Watch for the Whatcom Hoops state preview on Sunday. For a look at each of our teams and tournament schedules, click on State Preview.
Lummi Nation had to rally again after falling behind in the third quarter and finally took a 41-40 lead with under a minute left in the game. But Neah Bay scored an inside bucket and, after a Lummi miss, the Blackhawks were forced to foul with time running out.
Neah Bay made one free throw with just over a second left and the Blackhawks couldn’t get off the tying shot.
“A couple of mental mistakes cost us the game,” said Lummi Nation coach David James. “We took an unnecessary 3 when we were up 1 …. then we ended up letting them burn 20 seconds off the clock (at the end). By that time it was over.”
Junior Jemma James led the Lummi Nation comeback with five of her team-high 17 points coming in the fourth quarter. Eighth-grader Jordy Reeder had 13 points and three 3-pointers including one in the final period, and senior Brianna Metteba had 6 points on a pair of 3s.
Neah Bay (22-2), which moves on to Thursday’s quarterfinals, was led by all-state guard Qwaapeys Greene’s 23 points.
Neah Bay 43, Lummi Nation 41
Lummi Nation 11 8 9 13—41
Neah Bay 18 1 14 10—43
Lummi Nation: J. James 17, Rabang 4, B. Metteba 6, Reeder 13, Dennis 1, Lajuan, C. James, M. Metteba.
Neah Bay: H. Martin, Ca. Moss 2, Yallup, Ce. Moss 6, Q. Greene 23, A. Halttunen 2, W. Martin 10, McGimpsey.
CLASS 1B GIRLS STATE REGIONALS
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Muckleshoot Tribal 53, Evergreen Lutheran 42 (loser out)
Valley Christian 55, Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 30 (loser out)
Taholah 64, Concrete 37 (loser out)
Pomeroy 63, Lopez Island 7 (loser out)
Friday, Reb. 27
Neah Bay 43, Lummi Nation 41 (both to state tournament)
Saturday, Feb. 28
Waterville-Mansfield 73, Crosspoint Christian 67 OT (both to state tournament)
Oakesdale 61, Yakama Tribal 49 (both to state tournament)
Pomeroy 56, Naselle 53 (winner to state tournament, loser out)
Pe Ell 54, Valley Christian 29 (winner to state tournament, loser out)
Liberty Christian 43, Taholah 37 (winner to state tournament, loser out)
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 53, Muckleshoot Tribal 41 (winner to state tournament, loser out)
Garfield-Palouse 47, Pateros 44 (both to state tournament)
