Happy New Year, Whatcom basketball fans! Believe it or not, we just wrapped up Week 5, which means we’re halfway through the girls basketball regular season.
So, instead of our weekly Whatcom Hoops recap, we’re going to look at each team and where they stand at the halfway point of their seasons.
Like we’ve done the past couple of years, we’ve come up with midseason report cards for each team using the following 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 after the first half of the season and have a chance to do even better.
Needs improvement: Teams that will need to up their game in the second half of the season to reach their preseason goals.
Incomplete: Teams that are difficult to judge because of early-season scheduling, injuries, and other circumstances.
For a look at the midseason report cards for our Whatcom boys teams, check out Boys Midseason Report Cards.
Here’s where our girls teams stand after Week 5 (Dec. 30-Jan. 4):
OUTSTANDING
LYNDEN LIONS
Overall record: 12-0
Northwest Conference record: 5-0, tied for first place
Week 5 results: Beat Mount Vernon on Saturday, 60-18 (Payton Mills 18 points, Finley Parcher 17 points, Kiki York 11 points, Rian Stephan 7 points)
Best surprise: How dominant they’ve been. The defending Class 2A state champs were expected to be good, but this good? They are winning games by an average of 30 points a game (46 in the NWC, but that will come down once they face the top teams) and their closest game was a 16-point win over a top-10 4A squad.
Biggest challenge: Parcher and Mills are once again playing at an all-state level and the defense is impenetrable. But what will make Lynden unstoppable is if the Lions’ supporting cast can consistently produce on offense, especially from the 3-point line when the stars are double-teamed.
Why outstanding: Because there’s no higher grade. Even as a work in progress, they’re one of the best teams in the state regardless of classification and, like last season, they’ll be even better come late February and March. Watch out, Yakima.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN LYNCS
Overall record: 8-2
Northwest Conference record: 4-0, third place
Week 5 results: Defeated Burlington-Edison on Friday, 56-44 (Ella Fritts 14 points, Allison Shumate 13 points, Tyra Dykstra 10 points, Estela Hernandez 8 points)
Best surprise: Their record. Despite playing only 4A, 3A, and 2A teams — and really good ones — the Lyncs have already chalked up some impressive victories, including Friday’s against a big and strong Burlington squad. And they’ve done it all without injured all-stater Grace Hintz, who is out for the season.
Biggest challenge: Reaching their potential. Last year, the inexperienced Lyncs took a big step forward when facing adversity and finished strong, just missing another trip to the 1A state finals. If they can take another big step — especially against bigger, more physical teams — it could be another great finish for LC.
Why outstanding: Like last year, the Lyncs have had to regroup after losing Hintz, but behind seniors Shumate and Danya Dykstra and especially junior floor leader Fritts, LC has proven it is still among the NWC elite.
MERIDIAN TROJANS
Overall record: 8-2
Northwest Conference record: 4-1, fourth place
Week 5 results: Defeated Mount Baker on Saturday, 56-48 (Melanie Short 13 points, Eden Bernardy 12 points, Brooklyn Fuller 11 points, Sofia Brooks 8 points)
Best surprise: Pretty much everything, including their record. The Trojans are young, many are inexperienced, they’re not especially big or even that skilled. But led by senior Fuller, no team works harder, especially on defense, which has overcome their supposed weaknesses.
Biggest challenge: As always, the playoff format. Only two of the five 1A teams from the NWC can qualify for state, and standing in the Trojans’ way once again are 1A favorite Lynden Christian and two-time defending state champion Nooksack Valley.
Why outstanding: If there is a team playing over its head, it’s Meridian. The Trojans have shown they can win close games against good teams like Sehome and Squalicum, and their only two losses are to Burlington-Edison, a strong 2A squad. If the youngsters continue to play up to their potential, this could be Meridian’s year.
For the story and photos from Saturday’s game, click on Meridian girls.
NOOKSACK VALLEY PIONEERS
Overall record: 7-3
Northwest Conference record: 5-0, tied for first place
Week 5 results: Beat Bellingham on Saturday, 58-26 (Payton Bartl 20 points, Grace DeHoog 12 points, Chayleigh Davis 11 points, Kate Shintaffer 8 points)
Best surprise: Where the Pioneers sit — atop the NWC standings. Granted, it’s not the same team that won back-to-back state titles and Nooksack hasn’t faced any of the other NWC leaders yet, but the Pioneers are in first place and you can’t do any better than that.
Biggest challenge: Senior Shintaffer and juniors DeHoog, Bartl, and Davis — all of whom saw limited action last season — have quickly matured into first-rate starters. But Nooksack will need help from its young and inexperienced bench in crucial playoff situations if it is to return to Yakima to defend its title. And like Meridian, the Pioneers face the NWC’s two-team 1A state limit and will have to knock off either LC or the Trojans to get back to the SunDome.
Why outstanding: When you graduate the best player in the state and three other all-stars, expectations are naturally low. But with the inspired play of the veterans, Nooksack Valley is still a team that’s getting better and will need to be taken seriously come playoff time.
SATISFACTORY
FERNDALE GOLDEN EAGLES
Overall record: 4-5
Northwest Conference record: 3-2, tied for sixth place
Week 5 results: Beat Lakewood on Friday, 51-30 (Jillea Fox 20 points, Kayla Washington 11 points, Abbey White 10 points, Brooklyn Larrabee 8 points)
Best surprise: Larrabee’s return. The athletic sophomore skipped last season to concentrate on other sports, but her decision to play basketball gives Ferndale another offensive weapon and one of the best defenders in the league.
Biggest challenge: Dealing with big teams. At 5-foot-10, Fox is the only Golden Eagle taller than 5-8 and she’s more of a forward than a post. Ferndale is quick and its press keeps the Golden Eagles in games, but in the 3A ranks they’ll face teams with plenty of size.
Why satisfactory: They’re still young with only two seniors and they depend on their outside shooting, which is always risky, but their defense has kept them in most games. If their 3-point shooting is on, they can be dangerous, and since the NWC’s other three 3A teams (Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and Oak Harbor) aren’t among the top squads, Ferndale could secure a better berth in the the district playoffs.
LUMMI NATION BLACKHAWKS
Overall record: 8-3
Northwest 1B League record: 4-0, first place
Week 5 results: Finished 1-2 in Mount Vernon Christian Holiday Tournament, losing to Mount Vernon Christian on Thursday, 68-41 (Jemma James 13 points, Brianna Metteba 9 points, Kashlyn Mack 8 points); beating Crosspoint Christian on Friday, 53-50 (Mack 22 points, Ailina Rabang 10 points, James 9 points, Metteba 6 points, including game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer); and losing to Pateros on Saturday, 48-46 (James 13 points, Rabang 12 points, Mack 12 points)
Best surprise: How Mack has fit in. When the B.C. transfer joined a team that already had two legitimate stars in James and Rabang, it could have been a train wreck. Instead, the Lady Blackhawks have shown how unselfish they are as Mack has become the third weapon the team needed.
Biggest challenge: The Blackhawks fly around with a fastbreak offense and pressing defense, they’ve got good outside shooters, and despite not having any senior starters are experienced. But … they are small. Really small with no starter taller than 5-5. While their quickness makes them a matchup nightmare for other teams, the reverse is true when facing bigger, physical squads.
Why satisfactory: The Blackhawks are running roughshod over the NW1B League and won’t get tested until the tri-district tournament that features some of the best 1B schools in the state, including defending state champ Neah Bay. The expectations are high for Lummi Nation return to Spokane and make back-to-back state appearances for the first time since 2010.
MOUNT BAKER MOUNTIES
Overall record: 5-4
Northwest Conference record: 1-4, 13th place
Week 5 results: Lost to Meridian on Saturday, 56-48 (Rebeca Soares 29 points, Reace Brown 7 points)
Best surprise: Soares, although maybe she shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing as how her two sisters led the Mounties to their only state championship. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Brazil joined a team that was reeling after its two best players transferred out and instantly became one of the top players in the league.
Biggest challenge: Finding other offensive weapons. The Mounties have the athletes to play defense, but Brown is the only other dependable scorer. If teams can negate Soares either with double-teams or with pressure on the Mounties’ inexperienced guards, it makes for a long day.
Why satisfactory: Still, despite its struggles, Mount Baker has already won more games than it did all of last season. And imagine where Lynden or Lynden Christian would be if their two best players transferred out. So, give the Mounties credit for what they’ve done, which is put together a winning record.
For the story and photos from Saturday’s game, click on Mount Baker girls.
SEHOME MARINERS
Overall record: 4-6
Northwest Conference record: 2-3, tied for eighth place
Week 5 results: Lost to Anacortes on Friday, 45-44 (Taylor Turrell 15 points, Kaitlyn Schroeder 14 points)
Best surprise: Turrell. In a season where freshmen have made big impacts for Squalicum, Meridian, and Lynden Christian, Sehome’s 5-foot-8 point guard has stood out. She can dribble, shoot, and pass, reminding Sehome fans of a young Madi Cooper.
Biggest challenge: Finding their identity. The Mariners graduated almost their entire team, which had been together for years, and didn’t return any seniors this season. So everyone is learning their roles and figuring out how this whole varsity thing works while facing some of the best teams in the state.
Why satisfactory: Returnees Schroeder and Aspen Barge have provided leadership to the young and inexperienced Mariners. They have been blown out by some of the state’s best but have held their own against everyone else and could just as easily be 6-4. Like several other Whatcom squads, this could be a team of the future.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
BELLINGHAM BAYHAWKS
Overall record: 4-5
Northwest Conference record: 1-3, 12th place
Week 5 results: Lost to Nooksack Valley on Saturday, 58-26 (Merritt Jensen 8 points, Malia Hanks 7 points, Mary Lockhart 6 points)
Best surprise: The hot start. With senior Hanks, junior Lockhart, and sophomore Jensen leading the way, the Bayhawks jumped out of the gate and won four of their first five games, all of them by eight or more points, giving them more victories than they had all of last season.
Biggest challenge: Reaching their potential. With most of the team returning, including the starting lineup, the Bayhawks appeared ready to take the next step up the Northwest Conference ladder. But even without state powers Lynden, Lynden Christian, and Burlington on their schedule, the Bayhawks may still be a year away.
Why needs improvement: There is no let-up in the NWC schedule even without the biggies. And while Bellingham returned almost everybody from last season, it’s easy to forget they only have one senior starter. To get to the next echelon and possibly upset a favorite, they’ll have to recapture that early-season magic.
SQUALICUM STORM
Overall record: 4-5
Northwest Conference record: 2-3, tied for eighth place
Week 5 results: Defeated Blaine on Friday, 50-6 (Carli Kiesau 10 points, Kai Perez 10 points, Loretta Murphy-Kangas 8 points, Tiana Thompson 7 points, Lexi Robbins 7 points)
Best surprise: Their attitude. With a young team with only one senior — Murphy-Kangas — it would be easy to be defeated by the defeats. But they are only a couple of possessions away from being 6-3 and in the conversation come playoff time.
Biggest challenge: Managing expectations. There was no pressure on the fabulous freshmen last year, but now sophomores Kiesau, Thompson, Robbins, and Addison Kettman bear the weight of the Storm’s success. Toss in a new freshman standout, Kai Perez, and that’s a lot of youth still to be served.
Why needs improvement: It would be easy to call the Storm’s season so far “satisfactory.” But this is a competitive group that’s not satisfied with just satisfactory. They might not be ready to shock the 2A powers yet, but if they keep improving, it will be just a matter of time.
INCOMPLETE
BLAINE BORDERITES
Overall record: 2-6
Northwest Conference record: 0-4, 15th place
Week 5 results: Lost to Squalicum on Friday, 50-6 (Kate Koreski 3 points, Courtney Roff 3 points)
Best surprise: Two victories. Let’s be honest, every game is a victory when there was a really good chance that there wouldn’t be a Blaine team this season. Then to celebrate two wins when no one expected you to even come close might almost be as special as winning a title.
Biggest challenge: Staying positive. Let’s be honest again. With a team made up of athletes from other sports, there’s going to be a lot of ugly losses. Imagine taking a group of basketball players and asking them to play soccer or softball at the varsity level. (Just ask Michael Jordan.) So give credit to the coaching staff and team leaders like senior Brie Smith and sophomore Koreski for giving 100 percent even in the face of continual defeat.
Why incomplete: For every other team, the measurement of success is whether they reached their goals (a state title, making the playoffs, a winning season). But for the Borderites, the only goals will be for the girls to enjoy their season saving Blaine basketball and maybe turning out next year. Let’s ask them at the end of the season.
WEEK 6
TOP GAMES
It’s showdown time in the Northwest Conference. Meridian is at Lynden Christian on Monday in a 1A battle, and on Thursday, Nooksack Valley is at Burlington-Edison and Ferndale is at Mount Vernon in a key 3A matchup.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 6: Meridian at Lynden Christian, Ferndale at Squalicum
Tuesday, Jan. 7: Everett at Ferndale, Sehome at Nooksack Valley, Bellingham at Oak Harbor, Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) at Lummi Nation
Wednesday, Jan. 8: Mount Baker at Blaine, Sedro-Woolley at Lynden
Thursday, Jan. 9: Ferndale at Mount Vernon, Nooksack Valley at Burlington-Edison, Anacortes at Meridian, Lummi Nation at Tulalip Heritage
Friday, Jan. 10: Lynden Christian at Blaine, Oak Harbor at Sehome
Saturday, Jan. 11: Bainbridge at Lynden Christian, Mount Baker at Squalicum
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lynden | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Nooksack Valley | 5 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Lynden Christian | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Meridian | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| Burlington-Edison | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Anacortes | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Ferndale | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Mount Vernon | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Sehome | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Squalicum | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bellingham | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Lakewood | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Mount Baker | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Blaine | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Oak Harbor | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
NORTHWEST 1B LEAGUE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lummi Nation | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Lopez Island | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Grace Academy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Providence Classical Christian | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Shoreline Christian | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
