Because last week was a quiet one — there were only three games involved Whatcom boys teams in Week 4 — and next week will bring a storm of holiday tournament results, it’s a great time to take inventory of where our teams are.
So instead of our weekly Whatcom Hoops recap, we’re going to look at each team at the break and where they stand at this point of their seasons.
For a look back at Week 4 for our Whatcom girls teams, check out Whatcom Hoops Girls Grades.
Granted, because of weather postponements and scheduling anomalies, some teams have fewer games, but we’ll take that into consideration. And it is still early in the season, so please take everything with a grain of salt knowing that all can change in just a week or two.
But, hey, it’s always fun to rank teams.
Like we’ve done in the past, we’ll use report cards for each team based on the elementary school grading system:
Outstanding: Teams that have reached their high goals so far this season or that have done better than expected.
Satisfactory: Teams that are about where they were expected to be so far and have a chance to do even better.
Needs improvement: Teams that will need to up their game the rest of the season to reach their postseason goals.
Incomplete: Teams that are difficult to judge because of early-season scheduling, injuries, and other circumstances.
Here where our boys teams stand after Week 4.
OUTSTANDING
LUMMI NATION BLACKHAWKS
Overall record: 6-1
Northwest 1B League record: 3-0, first place
Why outstanding: Expectations are always high for defending state champions, and with most of their team back and some big — literally — additions, the Class 1B champs were picked to be state favorites before their first game. And yet, the Blackhawks have not only met expectations so far with big wins over much bigger schools — their only loss was in a thriller at Lynden Christian (see below) — but they are playing at a level that will make them tough to beat in March.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN LYNCS
Overall record: 7-1
Northwest Conference record: 4-0, tied for first place
Week 4 results: In what was definitely the game of the week, the Lyncs put up 19 points in overtime to knock off Class 4A Arlington on Monday, 93-85. Junior guards Gunnar Dykstra and Dawson Hintz had 29 and 28 points, respectively, with Dykstra collecting 5 assists and Hintz dishing out 10 assists. Senior Eli Maberry had 13 points with three 3-pointers, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds; junior Kaden Veldman had 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists; and junior Harvest Howell had 8 points, including two huge 3s in overtime.
Why outstanding: Having put up big numbers against even 4A and 3A opponents, LC is proving to once again be among the 1A elite. The Lyncs’ only loss was by four to 4A Lake Stevens on the road, and by pulling out some tight games against tough opponents, the Lyncs are preparing themselves for the difficult challenges they expect to face in Yakima. Of course, lots can happen between now and the first week of March, but LC has proven it knows what it takes to bring home the state hardware.
SATISFACTORY
SEHOME MARINERS
Overall record: 4-3
NWC record: 3-1, tied for fifth place
Why satisfactory: In what is turning out to be a down year for many of our Whatcom boys teams, the experienced Mariners are right about where they expected to be a third of the way into the season. They’ve beaten teams that have less talent and have lost to teams with more talent. But starting Friday at Anacortes, Sehome begins the challenging part of its schedule, which also includes Lynden, Lakewood, and Burlington-Edison, all of whom the Mariners could see at district, and two of whom they’ll probably have to beat to reach the state tournament.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
MERIDIAN TROJANS
Overall record: 1-4
NWC record: 1-2, tied for eighth place
Why needs improvement: This will sound like a recording for the remaining 1A schools starting with Meridian, but they all will need to reach the next level on the court if they want to reach the next level beyond the district tournament. Each has strengths but each has weaknesses that have led to losing records so far — and all still have to face the Lynden/LC/Skagit gauntlet. For the Trojans, it will mean finding offense when they can’t score off their pressure defense, and if they can do that, it could lead to a third straight trip to Yakima.
BLAINE BORDERITES
Overall record: 3-5
NWC record: 1-3, tied for 11th place
Week 4 result: Blaine only managed 15 first-quarter points and couldn’t stop Class 3A Meadowdale, losing on Saturday, 64-37. Senior Landon Melton had 12 points and 4 rebounds, and junior Gus Dickson had 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Why needs improvement: It’s tempting to put the Borderites in the “incomplete” category because it feels like they are still rebuilding the program. There’s been improvement already and if it keeps up, who knows? But, again, like the other 1A schools besides LC, Blaine needs to find a way to rise above the rest of the pack. Their patient offensive style and physical defense bodes well, but it has been awhile since the Borderites have had a big, signature win, and they’ll need several down the road to move on.
MOUNT BAKER MOUNTIES
Overall record: 2-3
NWC record: 1-3, tied for 11th place
Why needs improvement: Before an injury sidelined one of their standout returnees for the season, the Mounties appeared to be the most complete of the other four 1A schools. But there again, Mount Baker has yet to beat a strong team and will need to prove itself. For the Mounties, escaping the losing cloud its been under for years may be as much mental as physical, and all that it would take would be a few victories over their 1A rivals to make a difference in February.
SQUALICUM STORM
Overall record: 3-3
NWC record: 1-3, tied for 11th place
Why needs improvement: Squalicum’s record is a little misleading since the Storm have already played three of the NWC’s best teams (Lynden, Burlington-Edison, and Lakewood) so don’t be surprised if they start picking up wins, especially with their best player coming off the injury list in January. But like Lynden and Sehome, the Storm need to find a way to break up the Skagit stranglehold on top of the NWC’s 2A standings. Expect Squalicum to improve, but we’ll see how much come playoff time.
FERNDALE GOLDEN EAGLES
Overall record: 1-4
NWC record: 0-2, 14th place
Why needs improvement: Ferndale lost as much as any Whatcom team to graduation so the Golden Eagles started with one strike to start the season. A tough early-season schedule — maybe even the toughest among NWC teams — gives them a misleading losing record so far. But those reasons aside, the biggest obstacle for the Golden Eagles is playing in the 3A ranks, where there’s no room for error. They’ll have to improve just to get into the district tournament, and then they’ll face the big boys from down south. It will be a difficult task.
NOOKSACK VALLEY PIONEERS
Overall record: 2-3
NWC record: 0-3, 15th place
Week 4 result: The Pioneers couldn’t slow Lakewood on Monday, falling behind by 20 in the second quarter, and were never able to cut the margin to single digits in the 91-59 loss. Sophomore Treven Scheenstra led Nooksack with 14 points, senior Owen Wichers had 13 points, and senior Weston Silves added 10 points.
Why needs improvement: Like Ferndale, the Pioneers were decimated by graduation and like the Golden Eagles, Nooksack has started off with the most challenging part of its league schedule. So expect some wins to come as this athletic Valley bunch gets more experience in big games. But like Baker, Blaine, and Meridian, the Pioneers have to figure out how to be playing their best when it counts — against Baker, Blaine, and Meridian in the district playoffs with a state tournament spot on the line.
BELLINGHAM BAYHAWKS
Overall record: 2-4
NWC record: 0-4, 16th place
Why needs improvement: The Bayhawks are hard to figure, sometimes playing up to their athletic talent and appearing ready to earn a statement win or two yet then unable to put it together for a full game and still looking for their first league victory. Another up-and-down season may be in store, but that won’t get you far in one of the strongest 2A districts in the state. They’re fun to watch and have moments of brilliance, but they need to focus that fun into winning basketball for full games.
INCOMPLETE
LYNDEN LIONS
Overall record: 5-3
NWC record: 3-1, tied for fifth place
Week 4 result: Without their two tallest starters and senior leaders, the Lions fell behind by 23 points at halftime against the bigger Class 4A Cougars and couldn’t make up the difference in a 66-51 non-conference loss on Monday. Junior Gordy Bedlington led Lynden with 11 points and 4 assists, junior Malachi Koenen had 9 points and a pair of 3-pointers, sophomore Jayden Navarre had 8 points, and junior Lewis Whitney had 6 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.
Why incomplete: The Lions are missing two of their top players and the only veterans left from the state championship run two years ago due to injuries so don’t judge Lynden yet. Until they return — and the hope is sooner than later — Lynden will have to survive the regular season and then make its traditional playoff push. But getting a 2A state berth, even with three spots available, will be tough with the three undefeated Skagit schools and dangerous Sehome all in the fray.
NOTE: A big thank you to the coaches and Tyler Anderson of WhatcomPreps.com for providing statistics. For a look at NWC boys highlights, check out Ted House’s Northwest Conference Basketball Report.
WEEK 5
Eight of our boys teams will be playing in holiday tournaments at the beginning of this week, and then Northwest Conference and Northwest 1B League games will start up again on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2 and 3.
For a preview of all the holiday tournaments, click on Holiday Tournaments.
Two league games to watch on Friday will be Sehome at Anacortes and Lynden Christian at Burlington-Edison. Then on Saturday, Mount Baker is at Meridian in another Class 1A girls-boys doubleheader.
Here’s a look at the non-tourney games this week.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Dec. 30: Edmonds-Woodway at Ferndale
Friday, Jan. 2: Lummi Nation at Mount Vernon, Sehome at Anacortes, Blaine at Squalicum, Lynden Christian at Burlington-Edison, Lakewood at Ferndale
Saturday, Jan. 3: Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) at Blaine, Nooksack Valley at Bellingham, Mount Baker at Meridian
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lakewood* | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Lynden Christian | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Anacortes | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Burlington-Edison | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Lynden | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Sehome | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Meridian | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Mount Vernon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Oak Harbor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Blaine | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Mount Baker | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Squalicum | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Ferndale | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Nooksack Valley | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Bellingham | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
NORTHWEST 1B LEAGUE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lummi Nation* | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Grace Academy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Shoreline Christian | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Providence Classical Christian | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lopez Island | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
* Does not include non-league tie.
