The rivalry between the Lummi Nation and Neah Bay boys basketball teams goes way back, but the top-seeded Blackhawks didn’t let the relationship get in the way of continuing their quest for a second straight Class 1B state championship.
Lummi Nation went out strong on its first day in Spokane, running away with a 70-48 quarterfinal victory over the Red Devils on Thursday morning, March 5.
The victory puts Lummi Nation back in the semifinals on Friday at 3:45 p.m. The Blackhawks will take on fourth-seeded DeSales of Walla Walla, which is 22-4 this season.
For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ state games, click on State Games.
But first, let the Blackhawks celebrate their quarterfinal victory.
“It was a good quarterfinal game for the Blackhawks against a big, physical Neah Bay team,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Sr., whose top-seeded team is now 25-1-1 on the season. “They have a program with great tradition of excellence and experience at the state B tournament.”
On Thursday, it was the Blackhawks who showed off their own tradition of excellence and experience. They put up 20 points in both the first and second quarter to build up a 15-point halftime lead and coasted in the second half. It turned out to be similar to the two teams’ non-league game on Jan. 10, which Lummi won, 75-51.
“We had a solid start and everyone had a contribution in the win versus the Red Devils,” said Toby.
Leading the way against the seventh-seeded Red Devils was senior point guard Jerome Toby Jr. Last year’s tournament MVP had a team-high 20 points and 5 assists.
Senior post Chayce Waite-Kellar, who transferred in this season and was making his Spokane debut, did just fine, thank you. He made eight of his nine shots for 16 points, nabbed 3 steals, and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds as the Blackhawks won the war of the boards, 31-23.
But coach Toby wasn’t speaking figuratively when he said everyone contributed as all 10 Blackhawks got in the scoring column.
Junior Dyson Edwards had 12 points and a pair of 3-pointers to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and juniors Landon LaFontaine and Deandre James had 6 points each. LaFontaine also was awarded the team’s sportsmanship medallion for the game.
But once Thursday’s celebration was over, it was time to prepare for Friday afternoon’s semifinal.
“We will have a tough game Friday versus a scrappy DeSales team,” said Toby.
Neah Bay (19-7), which will take on sixth seed Liberty Christian in a consolation game Friday, was led by senior Tyler Swan, who had 30 points.
Lummi Nation 70, Neah Bay 48
Neah Bay 11 14 13 10—48
Lummi Nation 20 20 15 15—70
Neah Bay: M. Greene 3, Smith, C. Swan, R. Greene 3, Akin, F. Ray 3, T. Swan 30, Cumming 7, E. Ray 2, Arnold Jr.
Lummi Nation: Toby Jr. 20, LaFontaine 6, Edwards 12, Revey 1, Yrizarris 3, Hawk 2, Jones 2, Waite-Kellar 16, D. James 6, Toby-Williams 2.
CLASS 1B BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Numerica Veterans Arena (Spokane Arena)
Wednesday, March 4
Liberty Christian 71, Muckleshoot Tribal 38 (loser out)
Neah Bay 74, Sunnyside Christian 58 (loser out)
Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 47, Touchet 45 (loser out)
Columbia Adventist 57, Wahkiakum 52 (loser out)
Thursday, March 5
DeSales 78, Liberty Christian 74
Lummi Nation 70, Neah Bay 48
Tulalip Heritage 72, Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 53
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 80, Columbia Adventist 54
Friday, March 6
#6 Liberty Christian (23-4) vs. #7 Neah Bay (19-7), 9 a.m. (loser out)
#5 Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian (20-4) vs. #17 Columbia Adventist (19-8) 10:30 a.m. (loser out)
#4 DeSales (22-4) vs. #1 Lummi Nation (25-1-1), 3:45 p.m.
#3 Tulalip Heritage (22-6) vs. #2 Almira-Coulee-Hartline (24-1), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Consolation game, 8 a.m. (winner fourth, loser sixth)
Consolation final, 11:15 a.m. (winner third, loser fifth)
Championship game, 7 p.m. (winner first, loser second)
