It was a subdued opening week for the Whatcom County girls basketball teams as the weather forced several games to be postponed or canceled and four of our 11 schools will have to wait until Week 2 for their first action.
Of the seven teams that did get games in, all notched their first victories of the season, and the Nooksack Valley girls got a pair of wins.
For a look back at Week 1 for our county boys team, check out Whatcom Hoops boys recap.
Here are the girls highlights from Week 1.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Bellingham came back from a two-point first quarter and an 11-point halftime deficit for a 31-29 non-league win over Friday Harbor on Saturday. Sophomore Malia Hanks led the Bayhawks with 10 points, including 6 in the fourth quarter when Bellingham outscored the Wolverines, 11-5. “Considering that three girls were making only their third varsity start and one her very first, I was really proud of our effort the second half,” said Bellingham coach James Wolverton. “It is something to build on.”
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Mount Baker senior Maddy Barter had 30 points in the Mounties’ season-opening victory over Bellingham on Tuesday. … Nooksack Valley junior Devin Coppinger had 28 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, four 3-pointers, and 3 steals in the Pioneers’ season-opening win Monday over Archbishop Murphy and followed that with 29 points against Montesano on Saturday. … Grace Hintz had 20 points as defending 1A champion Lynden Christian opened its season Wednesday with a victory over 3A Snohomish. … Senior Adia Newcomb had 17 points to lead Lynden to a season-opening win over Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) on Thursday. … Senior Ellie Wolverton had 16 points in Bellingham’s victory over Marysville-Pilchuck on Thursday.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Nooksack Valley opened its season on Monday with an impressive 63-55 victory over Class 2A Archbishop Murphy and finished the week by demolishing Montesano on the road, 73-46, on Saturday. On Monday, Coppinger led four Pioneers in double figures with senior Tana Hoekema and junior Lainey Kimball collecting 12 points each and senior Hallie Kamphouse adding 11, including three 3-pointers. On Saturday, the Pioneers, who were ranked No.1 in the Scorebook Live Class 1A preseason poll, held the No.3 Bulldogs to eight first-quarter points and then blew the game open with a 26-point second period. Coppinger again led the way but got lots of help from Kamphouse (13 points, three 3-pointers) and Kimball (12 points) and the stingy Nooksack defense.
Bellingham lost its opener to Mount Baker, 53-23, on Monday, but then defeated Marysville-Pilchuck, 42-21, on Thursday and Friday Harbor, 31-29, on Saturday. Wolverton led the Bayhawks with 9 points in Monday’s non-league loss to the Mounties. The Bellingham defense led the way on Thursday, shutting out Marysville-Pilchuck in the fourth quarter for the Bayhawks’ first win of the season. Wolverton had 16 points, including a pair of 3s, freshman Mary Lockhart added 12 points, and Hanks had 8. On Saturday, the Bayhawks held the Wolverines to nine points in the second half for the victory. In addition to Hanks’ 10 points, Lockhart had 9 points.
Lynden had its Tuesday opener against Meadowdale postponed because of weather but came out hot with a 63-25 victory over Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) on Thursday. The Lions used a 22-point first quarter to take control and shut out the Eagles in the third quarter to nail down the victory. In addition to Newcomb’s 17 points on five 3-pointers, freshman Payton Mills started her varsity career with 15 points as 10 different Lions scored.
Lynden Christian won its opener over Snohomish, 53-39, on Wednesday, using a 17-7 second quarter to take control. Senior Reganne Arnold scored 9 of her 11 points in the second half, and freshman Ella Fritts added 9 points for the Lyncs.
Mount Baker opened its season with a 53-23 victory over Bellingham on Monday. Barter scored the Mounties’ first 13 points, junior Rhonda Madera had 10 points, including a pair of 3s, and the Mount Baker defense held the Bayhawks to seven or fewer points in each quarter.
Sehome had its opener against Mountlake Terrace postponed and rescheduled for Jan. 2, but the Mariners got off on the right foot with a dominating 59-41 victory at Edmonds-Woodway. Senior Mac Cooper led four Mariners in double figures with 14 points. Junior Emmy Hart had 13 on three 3-pointers, and juniors Macie Aven and Madi Cooper had 10 points each as eight different Mariners scored to give first-year coach Kim Stensgar her first win.
Blaine will open its season on Tuesday at Bellingham.
Ferndale will open its season on Tuesday at home against Lakewood.
Lummi Nation had its season opener with Muckleshoot Tribal on Thursday postponed and will open its season on Thursday at home against Providence Classical Christian.
Meridian had its scheduled opener at Renton on Wednesday canceled and will have its first game at Anacortes on Monday.
Squalicum dropped its season opener to Class 1B power LaConner, 50-27, on Monday; fell to Lake Stevens on Wednesday, 48-32; but came back with a 48-20 victory over Kingston on Saturday. Against the 4A Vikings, only three Storm players managed to score with junior Mari Binning and senior Callie McEachran scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively, and Binning sinking four 3-pointers. On Saturday, the Storm defense held Kingston to one field goal in each of the final three quarters to give first-year coach Jenalyn Brown her first win. Binning led the Storm with 15 points, and junior Caitlyn Richardson added 9 points.
WEEK 2
TOP GAME
Not only will Ferndale open its season on Tuesday night against Lakewood, but the Golden Eagles will unveil a new Eagles Nest when they play the first basketball game in their new gym.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Dec. 5: Lynden at Oak Harbor, Meridian at Anacortes, Kamiak at Nooksack Valley, Sehome at Squalicum
Tuesday, Dec. 6: Blaine at Bellingham, Lakewood at Ferndale, Burlington-Edison at Lynden Christian
Wednesday, Dec. 7: Mount Baker at Mount Vernon, Nooksack Valley at Sedro-Woolley
Thursday, Dec. 8: La Conner at Blaine, Squalicum at Ferndale, Lakewood at Lynden, Meridian at Sehome, Providence Classical Christian at Lummi Nation
Friday, Dec. 9: Lynden Christian at Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes at Mount Baker
Saturday, Dec. 10: Bellingham at Nooksack Valley, Oak Harbor at Blaine, Woodinville at Lynden Christian, Lummi Nation at Orcas Island
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Anacortes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bellingham | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Blaine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burlington-Edison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferndale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lakewood | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Lynden | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lynden Christian | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Meridian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mount Baker | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mount Vernon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Nooksack Valley | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Oak Harbor | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sehome | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Squalicum | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
NORTHWEST 1B LEAGUE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grace Academy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lopez Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lummi Nation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Providence Classical Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shoreline Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
