2A Girls Regional: Lynden Celebrates Victory And Milestone

When the Lynden girls basketball team wrapped up a five-game extravaganza on Saturday, March 1, at Mount Vernon High School with another blowout and a Whatcom sweep, it was time to reflect on the future and the past.

The Lions took care of the present with a dominating 58-26 victory over Bainbridge in a Class 2A state regional the sends them into Thursday’s state quarterfinals in Yakima.

Which is the future for the Lions. They will take their No.1-ranking and 25-0 record to the SunDome and face the winner of Wednesday’s Port Angeles-Columbia River loser-out game at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s like Christmas to me,” said Lynden coach Rob Adams, whose Lions will be looking to repeat as state champions for the first time in school history. “You set your goals at the beginning of the year … and you want to get to Yakima and want to play on the last day.”

Lynden took the first step on Saturday by easily defeating the Spartans, who fell to 19-6. The Lions were heavily favored even before finding out two of Bainbridge’s best players were injured.

Not that it mattered as the Lions started the game with a 12-2 run and were up by 23 at the half. The lead was 34 before reserves played almost the entire fourth quarter.

“The energy and effort was there,” said Adams praising both starters and the bench. “We thought our depth, length, and speed would cause some problems, and they did.”

Causing the most problems for Bainbridge was Lynden all-state sophomore guard Finley Parcher, who finished with a game-high 19 points. Junior Payton Mills had 13 points — more on her later — and sophomore point guard Lexi Hermanutz had 11 points. Junior forward Rian Stephan added 7 points.

The starters enjoyed the final period on the bench and even had some chest bumps to celebrate their teammates’ play.

Speaking of celebrating, the team did that after the game, which brings us to the past and back to Mills. With a 3-pointer in the second period, the all-state forward went over the 1,000-point mark for her career.

Special basketballs, a banner, and lots of photos with teammates and family made the post-game festivities almost as much fun as the game itself.

“It’s a great individual accomplishment,” said Adams. “It’s a great testament to her teammates and that she was able to capitalize on her opportunities. And she’s got one more year to go.”

Mills recognized her teammates part in the milestone. “I’m grateful for my teammates to set me up,” she said. “They are awesome.”

As for heading back to Yakima to defend their title, she acknowledged that this year’s team isn’t the same as last year’s, which graduated five valuable seniors and ended up snapping Ellensburg’s 75-game winning streak and dethroning the two-time state champion.

“We’re very excited,” she said “It’s a new team this year. Last year, we were the underdogs. This year, we’re the upper dogs.”

Lynden 58, Bainbridge 26

Bainbridge 8 5 7 6—26

Lynden 17 19 18 4—58

Bainbridge: Ava Bounketh, Maia Greiwe 10, Ada Reitz, Kaela Cole 3, Hannah Bounketh 5, Jordan Gardner, Sierra Berry 4, Bella Ramirez, Ali Paulson-Hoser, Anna Rowe, Elsa Drugge 2, Carolyn Moore, J. Knapp 2.

Lynden: Degitu Bowler 4, Lexi Hermanutz 11, Reese Nyhoff, Rihanna Newcomb 2, Jules Slayton, Rian Stephan 7, Izzie Stephan, Melanie Anderson, Kiki York 2, Finley Parcher 19, Audrey Basart, Payton Mills 13.

CLASS 2A GIRLS STATE REGIONALS

Friday, Feb. 28

#2 Ellensburg 78, #7 Columbia River 28 (both to state tournament)

#11 Eatonville 55, #14 Ridgefield 51 (winner to state tournament, loser out)

#3 Deer Park 52, #6 Prosser 38 (both to state tournament)

#12 North Mason 44, #13 Renton 30 (winner to state tournament, loser out)

Saturday, March 1

#10 Port Angeles 46, #15 Cedarcrest 38 (winner to state tournament, loser out)

#9 Woodland 59, #16 Sultan 28 (winner to state tournament, loser out)

#5 Archbishop Murphy 53, #4 W.F. West 41 (both to state tournament)

#1 Lynden 58, #8 Bainbridge 26 (both to state tournament)

CLASS 2A GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT