District Previews: Whatcom Teams Ready For Playoffs

Whatcom Hoops February-5-2023
It's tournament time and the Lummi Nation boys are already winners.

It’s playoff time! And all but one of our 22 Whatcom boys and girls teams are heading into the postseason with the goal of making their respective state tournaments and taking a shot at the gold ball that is the state championship trophy. Action starts this week with district tournaments for all four of our … Read more

LC Boys Stun Lynden In Another Thriller

Whatcom Hoops February-5-2023
The Lyncs are hopping happy after beating the Lions.

On a night when Lynden High School recognized its historic 100 years of boys basketball, it was only appropriate that the Lions and Lyncs had another battle worthy of the history books. And, as is often the case between these two, it went down to the final seconds as Lynden Christian took a thriller from … Read more

LC Girls Down Lynden In Rivalry Battle

Whatcom Hoops February-5-2023
The LC bench is excited as the Lyncs beat the Lions.

Call it a pre-playoff game with a sold-out gym, screaming fans and flying cheerleaders, a booming band, and two of the best teams in the state. Or just call it Whatcom County’s best girls basketball rivalry as Lynden Christian edged visiting Lynden, 58-50, in their regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4. Technically, both teams had … Read more

Meridian Basketball Helps Ukrainian Find Refuge From War

Whatcom Hoops February-3-2023
Ruslan Berzhatyi proudly wears the Ukrainian flag.

Sports have always used war terminology like football’s bombs, volleyball’s kills, and basketball’s shooters. But Meridian basketball player Ruslan Berzhatyi knows that real war is no game. Eight months ago, Berzhatyi, his parents, and his younger brother were living amidst the horrors of real war in their homeland of Ukraine. “Living in our old house … Read more

Seniors Help Lummi Nation Girls, Boys Sweep Tulalip

Whatcom Hoops January-31-2023
Great Scott! Everybody watches as Payton Scott puts up a shot.

On a special evening when Lummi Nation School honored its senior basketball players, those seniors paid it back by leading the Blackhawks to a doubleheader sweep of Tulalip Heritage in their regular-season finale on Monday night, Jan. 30. With much of the Lummi Nation community in attendance, the Lady Blackhawks overpowered the Lady Hawks, 79-12, … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Boys Week 9 Recap (Jan. 23-28)

Whatcom Hoops January-30-2023
Harmon Wienkers had 18 points in both of Bellingham's wins.

The Northwest Conference and Northwest 1B League have one more week to go in their regular seasons, and while the playoff seeding has begun to shake out after some big games last week, there’s still much to be decided. When the Class 2A playoffs tip off on Feb. 9, all 10 teams in the District … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Girls Week 9 Recap (Jan. 23-28)

Whatcom Hoops January-30-2023
Makayla Heaton led Squalicum in scoring in all three games last week.

It’s the final week of the regular season for the Northwest Conference and Northwest 1B League and while the playoff seeding has begun to shake out after some important games last week, not everything has been decided. When the Class 2A playoffs tip off, all 10 teams in the District 1 will qualify for the … Read more

Sehome Boys, Lynden Girls Post Shocking Wins

Whatcom Hoops January-28-2023
Sehome's Grant Kepley (41) swats away Cameron Petersen's shot.

The emotions and meaning from three special  ceremonies were expected at the Jake Maberry Gymnasium. What wasn’t expected were the results of the two basketball games the packed crowd saw on Friday, Jan. 27. In the opener between two of the top five Class 2A teams, the Lynden girls dominated Sehome in the second half … Read more

LC Boys, Girls Notch Big Wins Over Blaine

Whatcom Hoops January-27-2023
LC's Dawson Bouma puts up a shot against Blaine's defense.

One was played for seeding in the playoffs, the other for an historic milestone, and in both games it was Lynden Christian that came out on top on Thursday, Jan. 26. In the boys nightcap of the doubleheader at Blaine, the visiting Lyncs fought off every challenge from the Borderites and won the showdown between … Read more

It’s All Relative: Whatcom Hoops Are Family Affairs

Whatcom Hoops January-24-2023
Lyncs legacy: Dykstras, Zylstras, and Sipmas

Having grown up as a military brat with our closest relatives 2,500 miles away and only knowing one teammate before joining my high school team,* I’ve been amazed at how close the family ties are in Whatcom County sports. Almost every season you have parents coaching children, siblings playing with each other, and cousins galore … Read more