2A Girls State: Lynden Uses Defense To Crush Clarkston, Advance To Final

The Lynden girls basketball team is defending its state title — two of them, in fact — so the Lions know a little about defense.

And in the Class 2A state semifinals on Friday, March 6, they gave a defensive clinic by shutting down Clarkston, 50-30, in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

The victory — for all the numbers nerds — was Lynden’s 26th without a loss this season and upped their winning streak to 74 games. But all that matters to the Lions was that it put them back in the championship game with a chance to win a third straight state title, something no other 2A girls team has ever done.

“I’m very excited; I can’t believe I’m here,” said Degitu Bowler, one of six seniors on the team. “I love playing with these girls.”

For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ state games, click on State Games.

Their opponent for Saturday’s 5 p.m. championship game will be third-seeded Prosser, which prevented a Lynden-Ellensburg final for the third straight year by beating the Bulldogs in the semifinals Friday.

But Lynden coach Rob Adams didn’t want his team stressing about the opponent or the winning streak or anything else. He wanted them to enjoy the moment.

“Playing in the chapionship game … it’s incredible,” said Adams, who has guided Lynden teams to five state titles, including three of the past five.

“We know we didn’t play to our standard (on Friday), but I tell them, how many people in the world would love to play in one of these and you’ve played in three. We have a cool oppportunity that not a lot of athletes get.”

The Lions certainly didn’t play up to their standards offensively since they average more than 67 points a game. And Friday, in the first quarter, they only scored a total of five points. Of course, Lynden also held the Bantams to only four points, two of them coming on free throws after the buzzer on a late call.

“Offensively, we were abysmal the whole first half,” said Adams. “Once we got to halftime, it allowed us to settle in. (After that) we felt like we were in control of this one.”

The Lions actually took control in the second quarter, putting together a 13-1 run and giving up only five points in the second period to take a 15-point lead at halftime. They held Clarkston to an uber-abysmal 8 percent shooting and only two field goals in first half.

“Coach always says, ‘Defense wins games,’” said Bowler. “That’s why we play hard. It was hard (today), but it was fun. I feel like we earned it.”

Said Adams with a smile, “Defense travels. The kids executed the defensive strategy really well.”

And these Bantams weren’t bantamweights. They were ranked third, had only lost to a 4A state contender and to second-ranked Deer Park twice, and had scored more than 80 points three times during the season. But on Friday, the Lions held Clarkston to its lowest point total of the season.

While the Lynden offense wasn’t at its most efficient either, the Lions got the usual efficient game from all-stater Finley Parcher. The junior guard made seven of 10 shots for 21 points and added 22 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

Bowler came off the bench to provide 8 points, a pair of 3-pointers, and 4 rebounds; Payton Mills contributed 6 points and 11 rebounds as the taller Lions outrebounded Clarkston, 53-33; and fellow senior Rian Stephan added 6 points and was awarded the team’s sportsmanship medallion for the game.

Lynden 50, Clarkston 30

Clarkston 4 5 9 12—30

Lynden 5 19 9 17—50

Clarkston: Ja. McCormack-Marks 3, Jo. McCormack-Marks 11, McManigle 2, Bergamo, Dempsey 3, Janikowski, Augir 9, Blaydes, Leavitt, Judy 2.

Lynden: Bowler 8, Hermanutz 4, Nyhoff, Newcomb 2, Slayton, R. Stephan 6, I. Stephan 3, Parcher 21, Mills 6, Dykstra, Basart, Somma.

CLASS 2A GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Yakima SunDome

Wednesday, March 4

Nathan Hale 83, W.F. West 71 OT (loser out)

Deer Park 67, Mark Morris 32 (loser out)

Archbishop Murphy 53, Port Angeles 29 (loser out)

Selah 56, Fife 42 (loser out)