They did it. The Lummi Nation girls basketball team defeated Pateros, 54-45, to earn fourth place in the Class 1B state tournament on Saturday, March 7, in the Spokane Arena.
The eighth-seeded Lady Blackhawks, who finished the season with a record of 24-5, were already guaranteed a trophy after winning a consolation game on Friday. But taking fourth was extra special since it equaled the highest finish in school history for the girls program.
For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ state games, click on State Games.
“We had a very successful season and bringing a state trophy back to the girls program after 17 years means a lot,” said Lummi Nation coach David James.
It was a slow start on Saturday morning for Lummi Nation with only nine points in the first quarter and it wasn’t until late in the second quarter that the Blackhawks took the lead for good. But when they did, there was no slowing them down.
“The girls played really well today,” said James. “They wanted to go out with a win, so they left everything on the court.”
Ailina Rabang, one of three seniors on the team, had her best game of the tournament with a game-high 18 points thanks to a pair of 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists.
Junior Jemma James had 12 points on three 3s, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists; eighth-grader Jordy Reeder also had 12 points and 4 rebounds; and senior Brianna Metteba had 5 points and 10 rebounds.
The Blackhawks used their quickness to outrebound the taller Nannies, 38-35, and took 15 more shots. And they were clutch from the free throw line, where they made 12 of 15 shots.
In addition to Rabang and Metteba, the Blackhawks’ other senior was Laveena LaJuan.
“I’m definitely sad that this was our seniors’ last game in a Lady Blackhawks uniform, but I’m extremely proud of them and really happy they were able to go out with a win and bring home some hardware,” said coach James.
This wasn’t the team’s only hardware this season. Lummi Nation won the Northwest 1B League and District 1 championships, took third in the tri-district tournament, and now fourth at state. They also won the Trojan Storm Winter Classic holiday tournament.
Their only losses were to eventual state champion Neah Bay (twice), state runner-up Garfield-Palouse, state qualifier Crosspoint Christian, and Mount Vernon Christian, which reached the 2B state tournament.
And the two losses to Neah Bay were by four and two points, the closest the Red Devils have come to losing to a 1B school in three years.
The Blackhawks also got a little revenge against the Nannies, who knocked Lummi out of the state tournament last year. Pateros finished this season with a 19-9 record and took sixth place.
Lummi Nation 54, Pateros 45
Lummi Nation 9 18 20 7—54
Pateros 16 8 12 9—45
Lummi Nation: J. James 12, Rabang 18, B. Metteba 5, Reeder 12, Dennis 3, Lajuan, C. James 4, Morris.
Pateros: L. Dial, Simpson, K. Dial, Simmons 12, Bowen 2, Wilson 12, Agular 4, Ravenstein 6, Henton 9.
CLASS 1B GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Numerica Veterans Arena (Spokane Arena)
Wednesday, March 4
Crosspoint Christian 53, Liberty Christian 44 (loser out)
Pateros 59, Pe Ell 45 (loser out)
Yakama Tribal 50, Pomeroy 39 (loser out)
Lummi Nation 56, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 48 (loser out)
Thursday, March 5
Oakesdale 55, Crosspoint Christian 36
Neah Bay 55, Pateros 26
Waterville-Mansfield 65, Yakama Tribal 51
Garfield-Palouse 41, Lummi Nation 33
Friday, March 6
Pateros 62, Crosspoint Christian 55 (loser out)
Lummi Nation 38, Yakama Tribal 35 (loser out)
Neah Bay 56, Oakesdale 23
Garfield-Palouse 43, Waterville-Mansfield 42
Saturday, March 7
Lummi Nation 54, Pateros 45 (winner fourth, loser sixth)
Waterville-Mansfield 48, Oakesdale 44 (winner third, loser fifth)
Neah Bay 54, Garfield Palouse 41 (winner first, loser second)
