Whatcom Hoops December-17-2023
Jonah Brillowsky (1) and the Golden Eagles grabbed a win on their home court.

Ferndale Boys Top Mount Baker For Long-Awaited Home Win 

For the Ferndale boys basketball team, the exciting 59-46 victory over Mount Baker on Saturday, Dec. 16, wasn’t just another win, even another Northwest Conference win. It was an historic win. The Golden Eagles’ triumph was their first in their “new” gym, which was inaugurated a year ago but had to wait until this season … Read more

Whatcom Hoops December-10-2023
Harmon Wienkers (21) is congratulated after the Bayhawks' big win.

Bellingham Boys Pass Test, Hold Off Nooksack

In a game both coaches said would be early-season tests for their squads, it was the Bellingham boys basketball team that passed with flying colors in holding off Nooksack Valley, 64-50, on Saturday night, Dec. 9. The visiting Bayhawks (3-0 overall, 2-0 in Northwest Conference) built a 10-point halftime lead and then had an answer … Read more

Whatcom Hoops December-9-2023
Squalicum freshman Addison Kettman (Photo courtesy of Bellingham School District)

Addison’s Story: Squalicum Freshman Inspires Others

Like most high school freshmen, Addison Kettman doesn’t want to be different. But she is and not just because she plays basketball with an artificial limb. The 15-year-old Squalicum student not only made the varsity team but is among the first players off the bench for the Storm. She’s played in all but one quarter … Read more

Whatcom Hoops December-6-2023
Blaine's Teia Dube (left) and Kaitlyn Ritter Von Trautmann battle Bellingham's Mary Lockhart for a rebound.

Aggressive Blaine Girls Take Down Bellingham

To the victor go the spoils, the saying goes, but in high school basketball, the spoils often go to the aggressive, which the Blaine girls proved by beating Bellingham, 53-30, in both teams’ Northwest Conference opener on Tuesday night, Dec. 5. The veteran Borderites used their pressure defense to force the young Bayhawks into too … Read more

Whatcom Hoops December-5-2023
Even the Sehome boys watch Madi Cooper's 3-point shot.

Sehome Girls, Boys Sweep Squalicum In Exciting Fashion

The Sehome girls and boys basketball teams got the wins in Monday’s doubleheader with visiting Squalicum, but the coaches agreed that it was a good night for all four of their teams. In the first game, the Squalicum girls scored the first seven points of the game, but the Mariners rallied behind their defense and … Read more

Whatcom Hoops December-3-2023
Noah Tavis helps drive Blaine to an early lead.

Blaine Boys Learn Lessons In First Loss

The inexperienced Blaine boys basketball team learned some valuable lessons in its 59-46 non-league loss to visiting Archbishop Murphy on Saturday night, Dec. 2. “We learned we have a group of guys who don’t quit,” said Blaine coach Nate Sullivan, whose squad fell to 1-1. “They just kept playing. I was proud of them.” Having … Read more

Whatcom Hoops November-30-2023
Dave Zylstra is making the call — for new officials to join him.

It’s Official: We Still Need More Referees (So Please Help)

As our new high school basketball season tips off this week, Whatcom County will not lack for great players and successful teams. But there is something we are lacking: officials. Across the nation there has been an unfortunate decline in the number of basketball officials over the past couple of years. Before COVID hit in … Read more

Whatcom Hoops November-29-2023
Luke DuChesne gets his point across to the Golden Eagles.

Welcome Four New (Sort Of) Varsity Head Coaches

There are four new head coaches among our 22 Whatcom County varsity teams this season, but two of them are hardly new to the Northwest Conference and the other two may be new to head coaching but not to Whatcom hoops. Rob Adams is back on the bench for the Lynden girls, who he previously … Read more

Whatcom Hoops November-28-2023
Violet Fox and Rhonda Madera helped the Mounties win Monday's opener.

Mount Baker Girls, Boys Split Opening Doubleheader

The Mount Baker girls and boys tipped off the 2023-24 basketball season on Monday, Nov. 27, and although they were at different ends of the scoreboard, both young squads had a lot to be happy about in their home doubleheader against Coupeville. The Baker girls held the Wolves to single digits in each quarter in … Read more

Whatcom Hoops November-26-2023
Expect another NWC dogfight with LC's Wright and Lynden's Heppner (22), Canales (21), and Elsner in the thick of it.

Boys Preview: Lynden, LC Favorites In Competitive NWC

Can Whatcom County continue its amazing run of boys basketball success? Last season, Lynden and Lynden Christian repeated as state champions, Blaine placed third at state, and Sehome and Lummi Nation made it to state. If it is to be another great March for Whatcom teams, expect the usual suspects to be in the postseason … Read more