The Best of the Best #6 (tie): 1999
Whatcom County high schools have produced some amazing basketball seasons, but of those 100-plus years of state championship seasons and all the other great successes at state tournaments, which years were the best for the county as a whole?
Well, we at www.whatcomhoops.com came up with our top 12 greatest years of boys basketball. Why 12? Because a top 10 just wasn’t enough.
Before you start arguing with our picks, remember that any time you pick the “best” or “greatest” you have to be somewhat subjective. That is really true when looking at seasons that span more than a century of changes.
For example, from the first state tournament in 1923 until 1957, our county’s schools, both big and small, almost always competed in the one “big” state tournament that included all the big-city teams. It may be no coincidence that we had to wait until the new Class A tournament for smaller schools was formed in 1958 for our first state title.
Then there’s the fact that we have more schools now — 12 — than we had for most of the past 100 years, and they are competing in four different classifications (3A, 2A, 1A and 1B). So it’s easier for more teams in the 21st century to qualify and place at state than it was in the 20th century.
Finally, this is not meant to rank the greatest teams or even best tournaments, which would be completely subjective (and maybe we’ll do that sometime in the future).
Our goal was to rank the county’s best years by looking at all the county teams’ accomplishments, particularly their state finishes. The only accomplishment we required to be eligible for the top 10 was that at least one county team had to have won a state championship that year.
And now, let’s count down the top 12 years for Whatcom County boys basketball:
#6 (tie)
1999
It was the middle of the Luke Ridnour Era with the first of Blaine’s back-to-back state titles. Setting 2A state scoring, assists, free throws and steals records, the Borderites’ junior star and future NBA standout, along with senior sharp-shooter Tony Nymeyer, helped give 26-0 Blaine its first state crown, beating undefeated Pullman in the final. Not to be outdone, Lynden Christian won another 1A state championship behind Grant Dykstra, who would finish his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. The Lyncs won convincingly with only one state game closer than 19 points. Joining Blaine at the 2A tournament was Nooksack Valley, and Lynden returned to 3A state after a one-year absence, but neither the Pioneers nor Lions placed.
???? Check out all the years in our count down!
