The Lummi Nation boys and girls basketball teams know what it takes to play the best in the state, and they’ll get a chance to do it again in the Class 1B state regionals this weekend.
The Lummi boys also know what it takes to beat the best having won last year’s state championship. On Saturday, the top-seeded Blackhawks will begin their quest to repeat when they take on eighth seed Wahkiakum at noon at Lynden High School.
“We will have the target on our back, but we know what our end goal is,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Sr. of his 23-1-1 team. “Every team deserves to be there (at state). But our group is unselfish and focused and driven with the goal of leaving a legacy. We know what’s at stake, and we’re excited to play in Lynden.”
The Lummi girls have already played the best — three-time defending state champion Neah Bay — in a regular-season contest … and guess who the eighth-seeded Lady Blackhawks will meet Friday at 8 p.m. in their state regional at the University of Puget Sound: top-seeded Neah Bay.
But after losing by only four points at Neah Bay and holding the Red Devils to their lowest point total of the season, Lummi Nation coach David James said his team won’t be intimidated even though Neah Bay returns almost its entire roster from the state championship squad.
“There’s no other team that we match up with better than Neah Bay,” said James, whose squad will be making its third trip in a row to state. “A lot of the games (at state) will probably come down to the end … whoever is playing best that day.”
For previews of all the regional games involving Whatcom teams, check out Whatcom Previews.
The Lummi Nation girls will be shooting for their first state trophy since 2009, when they took fourth. And the Lady Blackhawks have the 3-point shooters to do it with seniors Ailina Rabang and Bri Metteba, junior Jemma James, and eighth-grader Jordy Reeder.
They’ve put together a 21-3 season, winning the Northwest 1B League and District 1 championships, and taking third in the tri-district tournament. Their only losses have been to Neah Bay, sixth-seeded Crosspoint Christian, and Mount Vernon Christian, which is seeded eighth in the 2B state tournament.
The Lummi Nation boys not only come into the tournament with one of the best records but perhaps the hardest schedule.
The Blackhawks only loss was at Lynden Christian, a 1A state favorite, and their tie was with 2A state contender Lakewood. Among the Blackhawks’ victims were two 4A teams, a 3A team, two 2A teams, and another 1B contender, Tulalip Heritage, four times.
“We challenged the boys,” said Toby. “That’s why we built that schedule, and they stepped up. They came through the gauntlet.”
The Blackhawks return four starters off the state championship team — juniors Dyson Edwards, Landon LaFontaine, and Deandre James, and senior Jerome Toby Jr., the 1B player of the year last season. They also were bolstered by senior transfer Chayce Waite-Kellar, a Central Washington University commit.
While the two Lummi teams are on opposite ends of the regional spectrum — the boys are No.1 and favored and the girls are No.8 and underdogs — their situation is exactly the same.
By being seeded in the top eight, both have already qualified for the state tournament in Spokane. And whether they win or lose this weekend, their outcomes would be the same.
If they win their regional games, they advance to the state quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5. Should they lose their regional games, they would have to win a loser-out game on Wednesday, March 4, to move on to Thursday’s quarterfinals and the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
Here’s a look at both Lummi Nation teams and their regional games:
1B BOYS
#1 LUMMI NATION (23-1-1) vs. #8 WAHKIAKUM (17-6)
Saturday, noon, at Lynden High School
If Blackhawks win: Play in quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5, 10:30 a.m.
If Blackhawks lose: Play winner of Willapa Valley vs. Columbia Adventist in loser-out game on Wednesday, March 4, 2 p.m.
Regional outlook: The Mules from southwest Washington shared the Columbia Valley League title and won their District 4 tournament, but with a young squad will have their hands full with the veteran Blackhawks. Comparing common opponents often means little, but the only team both Lummi and Wahkaikum played was Orcas Island and the Blackhawks won by 52 and the Mules won by three points.
State preview: Lummi Nation has to be the favorite and is not afraid of being the target. But the Blackhawks remember how Almira-Coulee-Hartline was the favorite last year and lost to Lummi in the finals. The second-seeded Warriors are back with a 22-1 record and along with third seed Tulalip, will be looking for some revenge against the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks coach Jerome Toby: “Having the strong schedule … it prepared us to be where we’re at. They were wins we are proud of. The No.1 seed was a reward for what they’ve done. Each was a stepping stone. We’re on the right track.”
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)
Friday, Feb. 27
#14 Garfield-Palouse (19-7) vs. #11 Muckleshoot Tribal (20-5), 6 p.m., at Auburn HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#15 Wellpinit (15-9) vs. #10 Sunnyside Christian (19-7), 8 p.m., at Grandview HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 28
#1 Lummi Nation (23-1-1) vs. #8 Wahkiakum (17-6), noon, at Lynden HS (both to state tournament)
#3 Tulalip Heritage (20-6) vs. #6 Liberty Christian (22-2), noon, at Mount Vernon HS (both to state tournament)
#2 Almira-Coulee-Hartline (22-1) vs. #7 Neah Bay (18-5), 2 p.m., at Wenatchee HS (both to state tournament)
#13 Summit Classical Christian (19-8) vs. #12 Touchet (15-8), 4 p.m., at Richland HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#4 DeSales (20-4) vs. #5 Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian (19-2), 6 p.m., at Richland HS (both to state tournament)
#17 Columbia Adventist (17-7) vs. #9 Willapa Valley (17-7), 8 p.m., Tumwater HS (winner to state tournament, loser out
1B GIRLS
#8 LUMMI NATION (21-3) vs. #1 NEAH BAY (21-2)
Friday, 8 p.m., at University of Puget Sound
If Lady Blackhawks win: Play in quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5, 5:30 p.m.
If Lady Blackhawks lose: Play winner of Almira-Coulee-Hartline vs. Muckleshoot Tribal in loser-out game on Wednesday, March 4, 9 p.m.
Regional outlook: The Lady Blackhawks won’t be intimidated by the Red Devils on Friday, especially since the game is in Tacoma, a more neutral site. But Lummi Nation will certainly have its hands full since Neah Bay knows what it takes to win it all and its only two losses this year were to a 19-win 3A school and a 2B state team. With these two run-and-gun squads, it may be decided by who plays the better defense.
State preview: While Neah Bay is the obvious favorite, there’s no shortage of contenders. Second seed and last year’s state runner-up Garfield-Palouse has a 15-game winning streak and its only loss to a Washington school was to Neah Bay in December. Yakama Tribal is another dangerous two-loss team, and Crosspoint Christian had a 13-game winning streak before losing to Neah Bay in the District 1/2/3 championship game.
Lady Blackhawks coach David James: “We hope to bring back the big trophy, but I’d be happy with any trophy. This group, they know what they want. They’re not satisfied with just making it to state.”
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
#1 Neah Bay (21-2) vs. #8 Lummi Nation (21-3), 8 p.m., at University of Puget Sound (both to state tournament)
Saturday, Feb. 28
#3 Waterville-Mansfield (17-5) vs. #6 Crosspoint Christian (20-5), noon, at Wenatchee HS (both to state tournament)
#4 Yakama Tribal (23-2) vs. #5 Oakesdale (20-3), noon, at Davis HS (both to state tournament)
#13 Pomeroy (18-6) vs. #12 Naselle (17-6), noon, at Kelso HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#15 Valley Christian (19-6) vs. #10 Pe Ell (16-7), 2 p.m., at Tumwater HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#14 Taholah (17-6) vs. #11 Liberty Christian (16-7), 2 p.m., at Richland HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#16 Muckleshoot Tribal (15-11) vs. #9 Almira-Coulee-Hartline (18-5), 4 p.m., at Wenatchee HS (winner to state tournament, loser out)
#2 Garfield-Palouse (21-2) vs. #7 Pateros (17-6), 6 p.m., at West Valley (Spokane) HS (both to state tournament)
