It’s the holiday season, and for Whatcom County boys and girls basketball teams that means holiday tournaments — both around here and far away. Here’s a look at the tournaments our local teams are playing in this week.
CLOUD 9 SPORTS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
Lynden Christian will be hosting the biggest high school tournament in the area with 12 girls teams and eight boys teams. There are so many teams that games will be played at both LC and Lynden high schools.
The girls tournament is loaded with locals Lynden Christian, Meridian, Sehome and Ferndale, as well as 4A squads Glacier Peak of Snohomish and Tahoma of Maple Valley; 2A power White River of Buckley; and undefeated Bellevue Christian in 1A.
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A rare treat will be to watch De La Salle North Catholic of Portland, which reached the Oregon 3A state playoffs last year. The highlight on the girls side may be Friday evening when the defending 1A state champion Lyncs take on defending 3A state champion Gig Harbor.
Lynden Christian and Sehome will be the only locals on the boys side. They will be joined by Glacier Peak, Mariner of Everett and Monroe of the 4A Wesco League, and the De La Salle boys, who won the Oregon 3A state tournament last year.
Thursday, Dec. 27
Girls: Montesano vs. Bellevue Christian, noon; Gig Harbor vs. Meridian, 3:15 p.m.; Lynden Christian vs. White River, 6:15 (all at LC); Sehome vs. Mariner, 1:30 p.m., Tahoma vs. Ferndale, 4:45 p.m.; De LaSalle vs. Port Angeles, 6:15 p.m. (all at LHS)
Boys: Bellevue Christian vs. Montesano, 1:30 p.m.; De LaSalle vs. Mariner, 4:45 p.m.; Lynden Christian vs. Glacier Peak, 8 p.m. (all at LC); Sehome vs. Monroe, 3 p.m. (at LHS)
Friday, Dec. 28
Girls: Bellevue Christian vs. Sehome, 11 a.m.; Ferndale vs. White River, 2:15 p.m.; Port Angeles vs. Tahoma, 3:45 p.m.; Lynden Christian vs. Gig Harbor, 7:30 p.m. (all at LC); Meridian vs. Montesano, 12:30 p.m.; Mariner vs. De La Salle, 2:15 p.m. (all at LHS)
Boys: Mariner vs. Sehome, 12:30 p.m.; Lynden Christian vs. Bellevue Christian, 5:30 p.m. (all at LC); Montesano vs. Monroe, 11 a.m.; Glacier Peak vs De La Salle, 3:45 p.m. (all at LHS)
BLAINE HOLIDAY INVITE
The Borderites will be hosting six boys teams and six girls teams, including the Bellingham girls and Mount Baker boys, all at the Blaine High School gym.
On the girls side will be a couple of 3A schools, Lynnwood and Shorewood of Shoreline. On the boys side will be Tulalip Heritage and Lummi Nation, two of the top five 1B teams in the state.
Thursday, Dec. 27
Girls: Bellingham vs. Lynnwood, 2 p.m.; Shorewood of Shoreline vs. Renton, 5 p.m.; Blaine vs. University Prep of Seattle, 6:30 p.m.
Boys: Tulalip Heritage vs. Mount Baker, 12:30 p.m.; Lummi Nation vs. Granite Falls, 3:30 p.m.; Blaine vs. Lynnwood, 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
Girls: Lynnwood vs. Renton, 1 p.m.; University Prep vs. Bellingham, 2:30 p.m.; Shorewood vs. Blaine, 5:30 p.m.
Boys: Lynnwood vs. Mount Baker, 4 p.m.; Granite Falls vs. Blaine, 7 p.m.
SUNDOME SHOOTOUT
The Wilbur-Ellis SunDome Shootout in Yakima is one of the state’s biggest high school tournaments with 22 boys teams and four girls teams. Representing Whatcom County will be the Lynden and Bellingham boys.
The defending 2A state champion Lions will take on 1A power Zillah at 6 p.m. on Thursday and 2A power Selah at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Red Raiders will face Mark Morris of Longview at noon on Thursday and West Valley (Yakima) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Although they don’t involve local teams, the girls games will be of interest to county fans as three of the 1A state favorites — Cashmere, Zillah and LaSalle of Union Gap — will be facing off.
SAN DIEGO SURF ’N SLAM TOURNAMENT
The Lynden girls are back at the tournament at Mission Bay High School and will face 4A Puyallup at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. They also are scheduled for games on Friday and Saturday with the times depended on outcomes of the other games.
The Lions, who are No.1 in the state’s latest 2A rankings, are in the same eight-team division with Washington schools Ballard, Eastside Catholic of Sammamish and Overlake of Redmond as well as Bishop Canevin of Pittsburgh, Penn.; Colony of Palmer, Alaska; and Semiahmoo Secondary of South Surrey, B.C.
CRUSH IN THE SLUSH TOURNAMENT
The Ferndale boys and Squalicum girls will be heading to the Olympic Peninsula for the tournament at Port Townsend High School, which features eight boys teams and six girls teams.
The Golden Eagles will open against Sequim on Friday at 10:25 a.m. and then take on Friday Harbor at 10:25 a.m. on Saturday. The Storm will face 4A teams Battle Ground on Friday at 3:25 p.m. and Auburn on Saturday at 12:05 p.m.
STERLING CHRISTMAS SHOOTOUT
The Squalicum boys will represent the county in the tournament at Kennedy High School in Seattle. The Storm will take on Fife at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Depending on whether they win or lose, the Storm will play either host Kennedy Catholic or North Kitsap of Poulsbo on Thursday. Placing games in the eight-team tourney will be Friday.
