The Class 1A girls basketball state tournament will once again have a Whatcom County feel as Nooksack Valley and Meridian claimed impressive victories Thursday night, Feb. 20, and will be headed to regionals next weekend.
In the consolation bracket of the 1A Bi-District 1/2 tournament, Meridian pulled off the tourney’s biggest upset by shocking King’s in Seattle, 35-32, and Nooksack Valley overpowered Overlake, 62-33.
With the wins, Meridian and Nooksack Valley will join Lynden Christian in the regional round of the state tournament.
The Trojans and Pioneers are done with the bi-district tournament, tying for third place, but the Lyncs have one more game — the championship game against Seattle Academy on Friday at 5 p.m. at Shorewood High School in Shoreline.
Unfortunately, the Class 3A state tournament will not have a Whatcom County entry after the Ferndale girls lost a heart-breaker to Meadowdale, 47-45, Thursday night. The loss eliminates the Golden Eagles from the 3A District 1 tournament and ends their season.
1A Bi-District: Pioneers Blow out Overlake
Perhaps the most surprising thing in No.12 Nooksack Valley’s victory was that the score was tied 13-13 after the first quarter. After that, it was all Pioneers (20-6) as they outscored Overlake, 42-11 over the next two quarters.
Freshman guard Hallie Kamphouse had her second great game in a row with a game-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Tehya Moore added 14 points and a pair of 3-pointers, senior guard Kora Larsen had 8 points, and junior guard Maya Galley and junior forward Jenna Compton had 6 points each.
But it was the Pioneers’ defense that again was the difference, holding Overlake (14-9) to nine points in the second half and guaranteeing Nooksack Valley a berth in regionals after a one-year absence.
Nooksack Valley 62, Overlake 33
Nooksack Valley 13 23 19 9—62
Overlake 13 9 2 7—33
Nooksack Valley: Kora Larsen 8, Tehya Moore 14, Maya Galley 6, McKenna Wichers 4, Hallie Kamphouse 18, Ellie Van Berkum, Renae Hoekema 2, Jenna Compton 6, Taylor Lentz 4.
Overlake: Addie Sapirstein 6, Mariam Cosmos 5, Annabelle Wiley 8, Jessica Colleran 2, Anhar Idris, Zoe Len, Seedy Idris, Jamison Foster, Joyin Akinola, Eliza Friend 12.
1A Bi-District: Third Time Is Charm For Trojans
No.20 Meridian (15-13) came close in two previous games against No.6 King’s (17-7), but came up short both times — once during the regular season and once at district. But not this time.
The Trojans held the Knights to their third-lowest point total of the year and now force King’s to play in a loser-out consolation game on Saturday to qualify for state.
CLASS 1A BI-DISTRICT 1/2
Monday, Feb. 17
Meridian 57, University Prep 25 (loser out)
Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 60, Bear Creek 48 (loser out)
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Meridian 65, Bush 27 (loser out)
Nooksack Valley 75, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 32 (loser out)
Thursday, Feb. 20
Meridian 35, King’s 32 (winner to regionals)
Nooksack Valley 62, Overlake 33 (winner to regionals)
Friday, Feb. 21
Lynden Christian vs. Seattle Academy at Shorewood HS, 5 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both to regionals)
Saturday, Feb. 22
King’s vs. Overlake at Shorewood HS, 5 p.m. (winner fifth, to regionals; loser out)
3A District: Golden Eagles Can’t Fulfill State Dream
No.10 Ferndale (16-7) came close to qualifying for the state tournament for only the second time in the past 10 years and only the fifth time in school history, but it was not to be as the Golden Eagles fell to No.17 Meadowdale (15-7).
It was Ferndale’s second close loss in row and ended their tournament run.
First-year coach Terri Yost’s squad will lose four seniors — guards Breanna Byrnes, Ashley Thomas, and Jocelyn Seig and forward Chelsey LaPlante.
CLASS 3A DISTRICT 1
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Marysville-Getchell 55, Lynnwood 40 (loser out)
Everett 48, Stanwood 34 (loser out)
Friday, Feb. 14
Ferndale 66, Edmonds-Woodway 53
Arlington 75, Marysville-Getchell 52
Snohomish 57, Meadowdale 39
Shorecrest 58, Everett 34
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Edmonds-Woodway 59, Marysville-Getchell 34 (loser out)
Meadowdale 63, Everett 42 (loser out)
Arlington 55, Ferndale 46
Shorecrest 48, Snohomish 36
Thursday, Feb. 20
Snohomish 48, Edmonds-Woodway 33 (loser out)
Meadowdale 47, Ferndale 45 (loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 22
Snohomish vs. Meadowdale at Everett CC, 2:30 p.m. (winner third, to regionals; loser out)
Shorecrest vs. Arlington at Everett CC, 6 p.m. (winner first, loser second; both to regionals)
